On January 31, Oakdale Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and employees, along with other Wisconsin electric cooperative representatives, were in Madison to discuss important electric industry issues with our elected officials such as Right of First Refusal (ROFR) and Electric Vehicle (EV) legislation. Meeting with elected officials is important for several reasons:
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Representation: Elected officials are meant to represent the interests and concerns of their constituents. Meeting with them allows us to express our views, share our concerns, and ensure that our voice is heard in the decision-making process.
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Influence: While emails, letters, and phone calls are important, face-to-face meetings can be powerful tools for influencing policymakers. Personal interactions can help humanize issues and make a stronger impact than written communications.
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Policy Advocacy: Meeting with elected officials provides an opportunity to advocate for specific policies or changes in legislation. It allows us to present well-reasoned arguments, provide relevant information, and engage in direct dialogue that can help shape their understanding of the issues.
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Information Exchange: Elected officials often rely on information from various sources to make informed decisions. By meeting with them, we can provide firsthand knowledge, expertise, and data that may influence their decision-making process.
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Building Relationships: Developing a relationship with our elected officials is beneficial in the long run. When they are familiar with us and our concerns, they learn that they can trust us and our opinions, even if we do not agree.
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Feedback: Elected officials benefit from direct feedback. By sharing our experiences and providing feedback, we contribute to a more informed decision-making process and help officials understand the real-world impact of their policies.
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ROFR - This legislation gives incumbent utilities the “right of first refusal” to build long-range transmission projects within their service areas. In Wisconsin, there are three incumbent transmission owners: American Transmission Company (ATC), Xcel Energy, and OEC’s generation and transmission coop, Dairyland Power Cooperative.
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EV - This legislation will help create a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the state by utilizing approximately $80 million in federal funds. Most importantly, the legislation creates an exemption allowing retailers to sell electricity (by kWh) without being regulated as a utility.
If you ever have the chance to discuss topics of importance to you with your elected officials, I strongly recommend that you take advantage of the opportunity. Whether it’s a local council member or a national representative, your engagement can make a difference in the democratic process.