March 2000

Minutes

News & Views from Your Elected Representatives

After twenty years in the membership of Salem Electric, I have achieved a milestone unique to consumer-owned electric cooperatives.
     
I am now eligible and have received my first patronage refund in the amount of $14.28, which represents my share of Salem Electric’s net savings after paying all expenses for the 1979 budget year.
     
Each year the board of directors reviews the financial condition of Salem Electric and determines repayment of past capital credit reserves.
     
Currently, capital credits are being refunded (in seniority order) after being held for approximately twenty years.
     
Over the years ending with budget year 1999, our cooperative has authorized the refund of $6,141,700 to our members.
     
As of December 1999 we still have $840,500 payable in unclaimed credits for years up to 1979.
     
If you move off the system, you are still eligible for these credits. To insure you receive future capital credit refunds, please notify Salem Electric of any change in your mailing address.

      Jeff Anderson

      Director

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Minutes of the Meeting Held on:

January 25, 2000

The meeting was called to order by Nancy Towslee at 7 pm. All board members were present.
      The board spent time reviewing in greater detail the year-end Financial Reports, Operations Report and Annual Customer Contact Summary.

Financial Report
Jack Belleque noted that a total of $6 million has been authorized for payout to past members since the revolvement program began. Of that, a total of $4.5 million has been paid to date. It was noted that the names of those eligible for annual payouts are published four times annually in the Statesman Journal in March, April, May and June.
     
It was also highlighted that the long-term debt has been reduced $500,000 from the previous year. The debt relates to funds borrowed for the purchase of the BPA substations and remodeling of the main office building. The remodeling loan will be paid in full in 2000.

Operations Report
Roger Kuhlman noted that new construction was down in 1999 and will probably remain down through 2000.
     
There were only 46 sustained interruptions of service in 1999. The average customer was out of service 1.82 minutes for internally-caused interruptions and 7.46 minutes for externally-caused interruptions. This is an extremely admirable record attesting to the quality and reliability of our engineering and line crew staff. 

Customer Contact Summary
This report was provided by Cecelia Darby who noted that the high number of customer contacts this past year related to the board’s decision to purchase wind power and participation in the For the Sake of the Salmon (4SOS) program.
     
General Manager Speckman advised the board of the annual membership meeting to be held at 7 pm on Tuesday, May 9, 2000, at the Salem Electric office. Specific employees will be making presentations pertaining to various aspects of Salem Electric operations.
     
Terry Kelly was congratulated for being awarded the "Jack Kelly Community Service Award" from the West Salem Business Association.

           
Meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm.

Curt Culver

Secretary/Treasurer

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