The Annual Meeting for Oakdale Electric Cooperative (OEC) was held on Saturday, April 27, at Tomah Recreation Park. By 9 a.m., 119 members were registered with 213 total attendees.
General Manager & CEO Chris Tackmann reported on the two solar gardens constructed in 2023 that have a combined total output of 4.5 megawatts (MW) and can provide energy to approximately 1,000 homes each year. Plans are in place to add another 4.5 MW of solar in 2025 or early 2026. To improve power reliability, Tackmann explained the 2024 capital budget to include the construction of three new substations in the Castle Rock, Oakdale, and Armenia areas.
Operation Round Up raised more than $80,000 in 2023, with 16,688 participating member accounts. It is projected that more than $100,000 will be raised in 2024 and donated back to community groups and organizations.
Although OEC does everything in its power to keep cost and electric rates down, Tackmann explained there is a possibility of a rate change later in the year. Members will be notified prior to any changes to the rate structure.
Tackmann added that $1.2 million will be going back to the membership in the October timeframe this year. The floor was opened up for member comments and questions. Tackmann outlined unanswered questions in his column in the June Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News and is outlined below.
INCENTIVES
Our incentive/rebate program is managed by Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC). One requirement for the appliance incentive is the appliances need to be ENERGY STAR-certified products. ENERGY STAR is a government-backed energy efficiency program administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Certification as “ENERGY STAR approved” is a helpful standard for energy efficiency thresholds and is a straightforward way for co-op members to confirm expected energy efficiency and related cost savings. Additionally, it qualifies for efficiency standard requirements outlined in the incentive programs offered to our members.
Members can also get incentives through our participation in Focus on Energy, a Wisconsin-based program. Please go to www.oakdalerec.com/focus-energy to learn more about available energy-saving incentives.
BATTERY STORAGE
Currently, OEC does not have any large-scale battery storage systems established on our distribution network. We are closely monitoring this technology and have tentative plans to deploy a system within the next five years. Right now, these batteries are expensive, and depending on the size, last for only four to six hours before being fully discharged and needing to be recharged. Although the batteries do not last long, we are evaluating how battery storage could be used during our peak demand times. They could eventually put stored energy back onto our grid so there would be less demand on our substations.
SOLAR SAVINGS
Since December 2023, OEC has had two solar gardens in operation that combined generate a total of 4.5 MW of energy annually. Although OEC does not technically own these two solar gardens, we have a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the developer, which means we purchase the electricity at a set price.
We purchase the electricity for less than if we bought it from our wholesale provider DPC, which provides small savings for the entire membership annually. Unfortunately, due to the small savings, you will not see a lower electric bill each month. There would need to be a more significant amount of solar energy (at a lower cost) installed on our system before we’d really see a difference in our bills.
Cooperative members had three voting options to vote by mail-in, electronic, or in-person for a little over 1,300 ballots cast in the uncontested director election. District #2 James Van Wychen, District #4 Richard Barrett, and District #5 Martin Potter were all reelected to the board of directors.
Two bylaw changes were passed. The first amendment changed the number of members required to sign a nomination petition for a candidate for a director position from fifteen (15) to ten (10) members.
The second amendment will create a quicker/expedited voting procedure when one of the elections for a director position is uncontested (i.e. only one person has been nominated at the time of voting).
Special guests in attendance were OEC’s attorney John Behling; Wisconsin State Representative Nancy Vandermeer; and Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association representative Dana Kelroy.
At the reorganizational meeting, all officer positions remained unchanged. They are as follows: board chairman, Richard Barrett; vice chairman, Gregory Eirschele; secretary, Jonathan Williams; treasurer, James Van Wychen; assistant secretary, Deana Protz; DPC director, Robert Hess; and alternate DPC director – Richard Barrett.
Co-op Cash cards were drawn in place of bill credits and those winners are: ($250) Kris F., ($100) Les H., Sue P., Arden E., Duane W., and Sandra B.
Two bird houses made by OEC member and retiree Dan Hoag, and those winners were Nana G. and Joan H.
Two maple trees were drawn, and those winners were Steven S. and Sandra J.
An additional game was incorporated prior to the business meeting called the EV & Ice Cream to go for a drive in one of OEC’s electric vehicles and have ice cream on the co-op. The winners were Karen A., Tim J., and Don S.
Refreshments and donuts were served prior to the meeting. Following the business meeting, members were given a $10 Kwik Trip grocery card and homemade cookie from Cranberry Country Market.