Notes from the CEO

So, where is your cooperative headed?

09/01/2010 - 12:00pm

Back in the May article, we discussed the Balanced Scorecard and the need for an organization to be able to measure how well it stacks up to its competitors. This scorecard is a very important tool in determining what to focus on in any organization to make it better. However, before an organization can utilize these business metrics and apply them to identify areas of improvement, there must be a clear and simple understanding of what...

What about these windmills?

08/01/2010 - 12:00pm

It seems somewhat ironic to be writing about windmills in August. The typical Midwest August includes scorching temperatures and very little wind. However, I have had several inquiries about Tipmont’s use of power supplied by the windmill fields in White and Benton County. In particular, I have been asked how much these windmills, and those planned for the surrounding areas in the near future, are going to help lower our members’ bills. Unfortunately, the short answer is…..they’...

Come and join us!

07/01/2010 - 12:00pm

If you read this article regularly, you know that one thing I have expressed repeatedly is the need for our members to be involved. The articles I have written on climate legislation have continually encouraged our members to contact their legislators and let them know how you feel.

Some Tips for Summertime Conservation

06/01/2010 - 12:00pm

Some tips for Summertime Conservation June has finally arrived and if the warm weather this spring was any indication, we may have a more typical Midwest summer this year. The cool weather and lower humidity levels we saw last year may give way to the sweltering heat and intense humidity levels we are accustomed to in this part of the country. If this prediction holds, cooling costs will be one of your biggest energy expenses over the next three to four months. Here are a few tips on how to control some...

You Have to Know the Score

05/01/2010 - 12:00pm

In business, just like in sports, one must be able to measure how well an organization stacks up to its competitors. To do this an organization must define key performance metrics to apply to its business practices that compare consistently with others in that business. To this end, you may have noticed a new item call the Balanced Scorecard on our web site recently. Its mentioned on the bottom of our home page.

Welcome Back Spring

04/01/2010 - 12:00pm

We all know the old saying about April showers bringing those May flowers. It’s a nice sentiment to help usher in spring as we look forward to putting away the winter coats, hats, gloves, and boots. It makes spring sound like a very pleasant time doesn’t it? What it fails to account for is the lightning, high winds, and occasional random tornado that bring down electric lines and cause extended power outages that can test the patience of the most understanding and satisfied cooperative...

This year's annual meeting to see some registration changes

03/01/2010 - 12:00pm

As you know, each year the cooperative holds an annual meeting that all members are invited to attend. We try to make the meeting enjoyable by providing a small breakfast, some entertainment, displays from each of the cooperative’s departments, and some nice prizes. I’ll be honest; we do all these things to provide an incentive to you, the member, to come to the meeting to fulfill our legal requirement.

Back to Climate Change

02/01/2010 - 12:00pm

With some of the other topics that came up in the last few months I had to move away from my promise to continually talk about climate change legislation and cap and trade until you collectively tell me you can’t take it anymore. Well, it’s time to get back at it and provide an update on where our lawmakers stand on this legislation.

Together We Can Make A Difference

01/01/2010 - 12:00pm

A few months ago I wrote about a member that had sent me a lengthy letter explaining all the little things his family was doing to conserve energy around their household. The items weren’t huge lifestyle changers. A couple simple things he mentioned were drying clothes on a clothes line when possible rather using a dryer and installing motion detecting lights in their home that go off when no one is in a room.

Putting It All Out There

12/01/2009 - 12:00pm

Throughout my career in this industry I have heard many theories from consumers about unscrupulous things utilities might be doing with any margin they may make from the sale of energy. Unfortunately, for the honest organizations, some of these have proven true. The troubles at Enron a few years back cast a long shadow over the entire energy industry that I still hear consumers discuss today. Enron was not a distribution company but anything associated with energy took lumps over what that organization...