Mountain View Electric Association, Inc. (MVEA) hosted its 63rd annual meeting of members at the Lewis-Palmer High School in Monument, Colo., on June 5. Almost 350 people attended the event. MVEA educated guests and members on new electric technologies, green power opportunities, electrical safety and ways to protect their electrical equipment.Joe Martin, MVEA board president spoke about the benefits of the “Operation Round-Up” program and announced there would be no rate increase in the coming year, which instigated a round of applause. Martin reviewed the election process for this year’s meeting, and explained how capital credits make cooperatives unique. MVEA refunded almost $1.5 million back to members in 2003. Growth is an issue for MVEA. To help increase the cash flow for the association, MVEA has updated its line extension policy. The cash flow will be increased the first few years by almost $2 million. After 2007, when the construction allowance is reduced to zero, the cash flow is projected to be almost $4 million per year.General Manager Jim Herron reported on MVEA’s finances and presented an overall view of MVEA’s current projects and the legislative issues that could affect the association. Herron also introduced the winners of the co-op’s essay contest: Morgan Parker, winner of the youth tour trip to Washington, D.C. and Alana Andersen and Cody Jolly, MVEA’s representatives to the Colorado Electric Education Institute’s Cooperative Leadership Camp in Clark, Colo.Fifteen graduating seniors received scholarships provided by MVEA, Tri-State Generation & Transmission, Basin Electric Power, and the E.A. “Mick” Geesen Memorial Foundation.The MVEA by-laws require an annual membership meeting to conduct business meeting, elections and allow members a chance to make suggestions and comments concerning the cooperative’s operational process. There were cash door prizes and other gifts at the meetings, and attendees were able to survey the countryside from the bucket of one of MVEA’s repair trucks. MVEA linemen demonstrated the dangers of high-voltage lines, and, after the meeting, MVEA members enjoyed a barbeque lunch prepared by Troy’s Specialties and entertainment by Rick Cofer.MVEA is an electric cooperative serving approximately 35,000 members in a 5,500 square mile territory. MVEA is a not for profit cooperative, and members share in the company’s margins. The association is actively involved in the community and the organizations located within its service territory, and provides low cost, reliable electricity to its members. MVEA is owned by the people it serves.
