Manager’s Message

Explaining Our Rates

Now that we’ve wrapped up 2022 and head into winter storm season, I want to remind everyone to prepare for possible outages affecting your electric service. When storm related outages hit, our crews work as quickly as safety allows to restore service. During major storms, this effort could take a few days. We always post updates to our website and Facebook page during a widespread outage. Your patience while our crews work hard to restore service is greatly appreciated. I am proud of our hardworking and dedicated staff who are quick to answer the calls and respond to service interruptions.

Last month, our budget committee set the budget for 2023. After careful thought and consideration, it was determined a rate adjustment is necessary to keep up with the
increasing cost of service. We have scheduled a rate information meeting at 5:30 p.m. January 24 at the WOEC headquarters in Vernonia. A notice in the mail will contain the projected rate adjustment and meeting information.

I am often asked why our rates are so high. This is a fair question. There are several key factors that determine our rates from a historical perspective and looking ahead. WOEC was formed more than 75 years ago to serve a small group of people with no access to power. There was not enough return on the investment it would take to run the lines out to all the scattered accounts to motivate investor-owned utilities to branch out. The cost factors were and are very significant.

The areas we service cover parts of five counties, and the long distances we travel make service work, outages and maintenance costly and time consuming. Our service territory is heavily forested with rough terrain, creating more work and maintenance than urban areas.

I am also asked about the base charge. The fixed costs of servicing an account— regardless of how much energy is used—contains the labor, trucks, other equipment and operational expenses. The base charge on your power bill, which is $52 for residential members, covers only a small part of the cost of servicing and maintaining our system. If we were to charge the actual cost to maintain each account, the base charge would need to be about $100 per month instead of $52. This is determined through independent cost of service studies conducted every two years. Realistically, each account—like telephone and gas companies require—would pay the full amount of fixed costs. Because we do not charge the full amount, the kilowatt hour charge is higher. Our neighboring utilities have a more condensed service area with a larger number of consumer accounts, have a better balance of commercial and industrial loads compared to residential, and have more customers per mile. WOEC has more trees per mile that need to be maintained to protect our system. Our service territory sees minimal growth; the little growth we do see is primarily residential. This causes our rising costs to exceed our revenues.

Despite these challenges, we are your member-owned and -operated cooperative. We provide good service, are responsive to our members, manage costs the best we can and work to keep the lights on under any conditions. We are a not-for-profit utility that is focused on balancing our revenues and expenses. WOEC is committed to serving our member-owners at the lowest cost possible while providing safe and reliable electric service.

Billi Kohler

General Manager

 

The Power Behind Your Power

You likely have noticed West Oregon Electric Cooperative’s crews out and about, working on power lines and other electrical equipment in our community. It’s no secret a lineworker’s job is tough—but it’s a job that’s essential and must be done, often in challenging conditions.

I want to share some interesting facts about electric lineworkers with you.The work can be heavy, in more ways than one. Did you know the equipment and tools a lineworker carries while climbing a utility pole can weigh up to 50 pounds? That’s the same as carrying 6 gallons of water.

Speaking of utility poles, lineworkers are required to climb poles ranging from 30 to 120 feet tall. Needless to say, if you have a fear of heights, this likely isn’t the career path for you.

Lineworkers must be committed to their career because it’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle. The long hours and ever-present danger can take a toll. In fact, being a lineworker is among the most dangerous jobs in the United States.

Lineworkers often work nontraditional hours outdoors in difficult conditions. The job requires technical skills, years of training and hands-on learning. Did you know that
becoming a journeyman lineworker can take more than 7,000 hours of training, or about four years? That’s because working with high-voltage equipment requires specialized skills, experience and an ongoing mental toughness. Shortcuts are not an option, and there is no room for error in this line of work.

Despite the many challenges, WOEC’s lineworkers are committed to powering our local community. During severe weather events that bring major power outages,
lineworkers are among the first ones called. They must be ready to leave the comfort of their homes and families unexpectedly, and they don’t return until the job is done, often days later. That’s why the lineworker’s family is also dedicated to service. They understand
the importance of the job to the community.

Nationwide, there are approximately 120,000 electric lineworkers. WOEC has 10 journeyman lineworkers and two apprentice lineworkers who are responsible for keeping power flowing 24/7, 365 days a year. To do this, they maintain 700 miles of power lines across five counties and 1,200 square miles of rugged terrain with gravel roads and millions of trees.

In addition to the highly visible tasks lineworkers perform, their jobs go far beyond climbing utility poles to repair a wire. Today’s lineworkers are information experts who
can pinpoint power outages from miles away. Line crews now use laptops, tablets, drones and other technologies to map outages, survey damage and troubleshoot problems.

Our lineworkers are absolutely essential to the life of our community. Without their dedication and commitment, we would not have the reliable electricity we need for
everyday life.

So, the next time you see lineworkers, please thank them for the work they do to keep power flowing, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions. After all, lineworkers are the power behind your power.

Billi Kohler

General Manager

October 2022

Common Sense on Dams

While it’s hard to dispute our political process has its challenges, sometimes a bit of common sense emerges and gives us hope.

In late 2021, Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray announced a process to examine if there are reasonable means for replacing the benefits provided by the lower Snake River dams.

Because these dams are a critical source of energy for Oregon electric co-ops, we actively participated in this process.

Several studies were commissioned from outside experts to assist Inslee and Murray in their decision-making. These experts confirmed what electric co-ops have been saying for years: If the low-cost, carbon-free lower Snake River dams were breached, customers would experience severe rate shock, regional climate goals would be obliterated and there would be a high likelihood of blackouts because rapid replacement of these resources is technically infeasible.

After extensive review, Inslee and Murray recently released what we consider to be commonsense recommendations. They concluded that while is it technically possible to breach the dams, it is “not a feasible option in the near term.” Furthermore, they were adamant that even before pursuing any breaching option, “the replacement and mitigation of the benefits must be pursued.”

In other words, the U.S. Congress would need to authorize and expend approximately $31 billion to conduct a herculean infrastructure program to replace the benefits of the lower Snake River dams. This staggering expenditure of scarce taxpayer dollars would go a long way toward other pressing needs: repairing roads and bridges, ensuring Americans have access to broadband and delivering clean water to American families.

The debate about the lower Snake River dams is certainly not over. West Oregon Electric Cooperative will continue to engage in any process that affects our members and the reliability of the electric grid. But whether the dams could be replaced is not the right question anymore. Perhaps the better question is, “Knowing what we know, why would we?”

Together, as co-op members, we need to ensure our voices are heard on energy policies that affect not only our ability to deliver affordable, reliable power, but also the communities we call home. Join ORECA-Action’s Voices for Cooperative Power and become part of a growing team of electric cooperative member-advocates in Oregon and across the country who are working together. Sign up today by visiting voicesforcooperativepower.com/Oregon.

General Manager Billi Kohler

September 2022

Know the Signs of a Scam

It’s no secret that consumers with a water, gas or electricity connection have long been targets for utility scams, but fraudsters have changed

their tactics since the COVID-19 pandemic began. As consumers became more reliant on technology for work, school and commerce, scammers noted these shifts and adapted their tactics to this changed environment.

Imposter scams are the No. 1 type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission. While scam artists may come to your door posing as a utility worker, in today’s more connected world, attempts are more likely to come through an electronic device, via email, phone or text.

Common Types of Scams

A scammer may claim you are overdue on your electric bill and threaten to disconnect your service if you don’t pay immediately. The scammers want to scare you into immediate payment, so you don’t have time to think clearly.

If this happens over the phone, hang up. If you’re concerned about your bill, call us at 503-429-3021. Our phone number can also be found on your monthly bill and at www.westoregon.org. If the scam is by email or text, delete it before taking any action. If you’re unsure, use the SmartHub app to check the status of your account. West Oregon Electric Cooperative will never demand immediate payment after just one notice.

Some scammers may falsely claim you have been overcharged on your bill and say they want to give a refund. It sounds easy. All you have to do is click or press a button to initiate the process. If you proceed, you will be prompted to provide banking or other personal information. Instead of money going into your bank account, the scammers can drain your account and use personal information such as a Social
Security number for identity theft.

If this “refund” scam happens over the phone, hang up and block the phone number to prevent future robocalls. If this scam attempt occurs via email (known as a phishing attempt) or by text (smishing), do not click any links. Instead, delete it and, if possible, block the sender. If you do overpay on your energy bill, WOEC will automatically apply the credit to your next billing cycle. When in doubt, contact us.

Defend Yourself Against Scams

Be wary of calls or texts from unknown numbers. Be suspicious of an unknown person claiming to be a utility worker who requests banking or other personal information.

We want to help protect our community against utility scams, and you can help create the first line of defense. Please report any potential scams to us so we can spread the word to prevent others in the
community from falling victim.

WOEC Contractor

WOEC partners with outside contractors. When these contractors perform work on a member’s property or come into your home, they are professionals and will always identify themselves.

Starting this month, Davey Resources Group will conduct a field inventory assessment. They will physically visit each pole, meter and pad-mounted device WOEC owns. They will work Monday
through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends when necessary. Please contact us if you would like more information.

General Manager Billi Kohler

August 2022

Dear Members,
This year, we celebrate 78 years as West Oregon Electric Cooperative. Our annual meeting is Saturday, August 20, at 11 a.m. at Vernonia High School. Registration begins at 10 a.m. We are pleased to hold this year’s annual meeting in person after two years in a virtual setting.

The past two years have been challenging. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, WOEC successfully provided the same quality service members expect. I want to thank all WOEC employees who performed with admirable strength and resilience during this time.

As we look ahead, WOEC remains focused on improving system reliability through capital projects and vegetation management. Like most businesses, we are facing extreme cost increases in fuel, materials, supplies and labor. From a historical perspective, when these costs rise, the cost of power tends to rise as well. We are working creatively and efficiently to navigate through these pressures and will manage mindfully.
As we consider inflationary costs affecting our operations, another topic comes to mind. Consumer-owned utilities across the region are prioritizing preservation of our renewable and carbon-free source of energy from the Federal Columbia River Hydro System. Political discussions continue about removal of the lower Snake River dams. Removing the dams would affect the cost and availability of power regionally and would have a negative impact on WOEC. We are part of a collaborative effort across the region to engage in these discussions. It would not be wise to remove the lower Snake River dams without a reliable and affordable alternative.

In 2021, WOEC enhanced its long-term financial well-being by selling its ownership interest in LS Networks. The cooperative’s share of the proceeds was approximately
$12 million. WOEC’s board of directors is considering how these funds will best benefit the cooperative and its members.
For the first time in 22 years, WOEC will distribute capital credits. WOEC’s board of directors authorized retirement for 1969 to 1979. In the coming months, we will notify those who were members of the cooperative during that time.

We are committed to providing safe and reliable service to our members. We work hard every day to power our communities.
I look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting Saturday, August 20.

July 2022

Dear Members,

As you may recall, the West Oregon Electric Cooperative Board of Directors approved a two-step plan to increase rates in 2022, with a partial increase in January and the remainder in July. There will be a $3.50 increase to the base charge and a half cent increase to the kilowatt-hour charge for your July use. The new rate will be reflected on your August bill.

I often am asked why our rates are so high. Several key factors go into setting our rates both from a historical perspective and looking ahead. WOEC was formed more than 75 years ago to serve a small group of people who did not have access to power. There was not enough return on the investment needed to motivate investor-owned utiltites to run the lines out to all of the sparsely scattered accounts in our territory.

The cost factors were—and remain—significant because the areas we serve cover parts of five heavily forested counties. Our service areas are so spread apart that the long distances we travel make service work, outages and maintenance extremely costly and time consuming.

Another question I am asked is, “Why not sell or merge with another utility since rates are forecasted to rise?” This is a fair question, and one I would like to address.
In 2018, our board directed management to explore the possibility of WOEC selling the system to another utility. Any such arrangement would have to satisfy the board’s fundamental principles: WOEC members’ rates would be substantially reduced by the sale to another utility; and WOEC members would be treated the same as the acquiring utility’s existing customers both in terms of service and rates. Under Oregon law and WOEC’s bylaws, any sale of the system would have to be approved by two-thirds of WOEC’s members.

One utility expressed interest in buying our system. WOEC and the potential purchaser began a long and thorough analysis of the economics, logistics and legal requirements for a sale proposal. Unfortunately, after four years of thorough examination, the realities of WOEC’s service territory—along with current cost drivers—made it clear the sale would not result in meaningful rate reductions, if any. Given that information, the board decided to terminate the discussions.

We are a not-for-profit cooperative with a strong internal focus on controlling costs and operating efficiently. We understand the economic challenges our members face. We will continue to work hard to contain costs while providing safe and reliable service to our communities!

-General Manager, Billi Kohler

June 2022

In one of the most notable inaugural speeches, John F. Kennedy spoke his now famous words, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

President Kennedy urged Americans to take actions that benefited the greater good. In essence, he was saying our country thrives when we all contribute our talents to the common good. On a smaller scale, I think the same can be said about our co-op, specifically with
regard to our board members.

West Oregon Electric Cooperative’s board members are community-minded individuals with a variety of skill sets. We rely on their many talents to help us make informed decisions on long-term priorities and investments. Our directors live right here in the co-op’s service area. We consider them the eyes and ears of the community because they provide their perspective on important community issues.

WOEC’s board elections are in August. We begin the election process by mailing nomination meeting notices to members who reside in the districts that will open for reelection. These notices will be mailed out this month, along with meeting details. We will share this information on our website as well.

Serving on WOEC’s board means you’re making a difference locally, using your individual talents and perspective to guide big decisions about the co-op that, in turn, benefit the larger community.

While day-to-day decisions are made by co-op staff, major decisions are made by board members who strive to look out for the vitality of the co-op and the community. On a granular level, WOEC’s board members typically provide input and guidance on:

• Co-op goals and direction.
• Budgets.
• The co-op’s community/charitable contributions.
• Capital investments and upgrades in equipment and technology.
• Renewable investments and the energy mix.
• The co-op’s role and involvement in economic development.

While you don’t need to be an expert in electricity or business to run for a seat on the board, you do need to have a passion for the community and a willingness to actively serve and learn.

Our board meets regularly. We offer specialized training opportunities to help board members make informed decisions. Board members gain a deeper understanding of the electric utility industry, the cooperative business model and local economic development efforts.

Ultimately, our board is the community pulse for the co-op and helps keep us on the right track. We love our community and want to help it thrive. If you share the same commitment and want to contribute to the greater good in a tangible way, I hope you will consider running for a board position. To learn more about WOEC’s director election process and 2022 details, please visit www.westoregon.org.

General Manager Billi Kohler

April 2022

Dear Members,

It is hard to believe one year has passed since I stepped in as interim general manager here at West Oregon Electric Cooperative. The past year has been educational—from the various meetings I attended, interactions with staff and the board, reading the never-ending emails and mail, and working with different organizations.

As I reflect, I am pleased to say the membership is well served by an excellent staff. The level of work they do and the dedication they have to serving you is encouraging. I am proud to be a part of a strong and dedicated team that puts our members first.

The WOEC Board of Directors is highly dedicated to members and the cooperative.Directors take their role and fiduciary responsibility seriously. Every decision is thoroughly discussed, and its impact on the members is weighed. For the first time in WOEC history, the entire board is certified through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Certified Cooperative Director Training. This is extremely valuable for the cooperative. An educated and engaged board of directors is critical as we navigate through ever-changing times.

Our purpose is to provide safe and reliable service to our members, but the level of service and reliability we provide comes at a cost. Major storms have an impact on our budget. During December’s snowstorm, WOEC crews worked alongside mutual aid teams from our neighboring utilities and contractors for five days to restore service to multiple areas. The cost associated with this storm was approximately $597,000.

For WOEC to be more resilient during extreme weather events, it is necessary for us to continue to invest in our infrastructure and improve the reliability of our system. We aim to operate efficiently at the lowest cost possible to reliably service our area. Storms and outages are inevitable, but continued infrastructure improvements will help mitigate unforeseen costs and service interruptions.

Lineworker Appreciation

America’s electric cooperatives have designated the second Monday of April as National Lineworker Appreciation Day. We proudly recognize WOEC’s hardworking linemen for the services they perform around the clock in dangerous conditions to keep power flowing and protect the public’s safety. Their service to our community is invaluable, and we appreciate their dedication to serving our membership.

March 2022

Dear Members,

Spring is near, and warmer weather is on the way. If your spring plans include remodeling, installing a fence or sprinkler system or planting a tree, remember to call 811 first.

811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number. Before you begin a project that involves digging, call 811 to request that the approximate location of buried utilities be marked with paint or flags to avoid contact with an underground utility line.

You must give 48-hour notice for a digging project, which gives all utilities the opportunity to locate their facilities. Once all utilities have marked their buried lines, consider how close your project is to the existing utility line for safety.

Every digging job requires a call. Digging without calling can disrupt service, harm you or those around you, and potentially result in fines and repair costs. For more information, visit www.digsafelyoregon.com.

If you are getting ready to plant trees, look around to see where overhead power lines may be affected by their growth. In its lifetime, a 2-foot tall fir seedling will grow to more than 100 feet tall and about 30 to 50 feet wide. Larger trees should be planted at least 30 feet away from the lines.

Trees are a great way to add to your landscape or add natural shade to keep you home cool in the summer, but they can interfere with the liability of our system. Trees require regular attention. West Oregon Electric Cooperative has two contracted tree-trimming crews that work tirelessly year-round to keep our communities safe and reduce the chance of power outages.

Proactive tree trimming is a critical part of our fire mitigation efforts as well. As crews rotate throughout the service territory, they look for branches near power lines and branches that could fall through lines. They work on trees determined to be a possible threat—usually those planted directly below the lines. It is sometimes necessary to trim branches from trees outside rights-of-way that are too close.

If you plan to prune or trim your trees, check for overhead power lines. Safety should be your main concern. If you see lines in or near the tree you are planning to work on, call us at 503-429-3021.

Let’s work together to keep everyone safe, reduce maintenance hassles and reduce treerelated power outages.

Thank you,
General Manager Billi Kohler

February 2022

Dear Members,

We began the new year recovering from December’s winter snowstorm. The heavy, wet snow caused power lines to sag, limbs and branches to break, and trees to fall. WOEC crews—along with aid from our neighboring utilities, contract crews and tree crews—worked around the clock to repair damages and restore service.

Unfortunately, storm-related power outages are a challenge we will always face with the heavily forested territory we serve. We appreciate our hardworking crews and their dedication to keeping the lights on for our members. Our thoughts are with those of you who were without service for a long time. We thank you for your patience.

Due to staffing conditions, we had to rely heavily on our afterhours dispatching center to take calls during the week of the storm. When a large outage occurs, we experience abnormally high call volume, which makes it difficult for all calls to be answered. Those who answer the calls do not have specific outage information and do not know when service will be restored. During large outages, we share updates as they become available on our website and social media pages.

Depending on the severity of the storm, outages can last for a week or more. Even though WOEC has invested in system improvements, has a proactive tree-trimming program and keeps up with ongoing maintenance year-round, outages can and will happen. Being prepared can help. Please visit our website at www.westoregon.org/safety/report-an outage for information on outage preparedness and safety.

Budget Billing

Many of our members see an increase in their electric use in the winter months. To offset the high winter bills, you may be eligible to participate in our Budget Billing program. You pay the same amount each month year-round, with a reconciliation in August. Go to www.westoregon.org/members/budget-billing for more information, or call 503-429-3021.

Thank you,
General Manager Billi Kohler

January 2022

Dear Members,

Happy New Year! As we move into 2022, we are focused on setting goals and preparing for another year of providing safe and reliable service to our

members, day and night. Looking back at the past few years, I want to express appreciation for our employees who have remained committed to serving our membership through personnel changes and the pandemic. We have an excellent team, and I am proud to be a part of it.

I would also like to extend thanks to those who attended the rate information meeting in December. There was great discussion among members, directors and management. We are always looking for ways to improve, and we value your input. As a cooperative, we are owned by you, our members. We work hard to manage through the unique challenges that come with servicing this territory, and cost of service is one of those challenges. This rate increase will allow us to continue to provide you with the same level of excellent member service and system reliability.

Prepare for Outages

We constantly work to maintain equipment, remove trees from rights-of-way and upgrade the cooperative’s power system. We have two contract crews that work year-round trimming trees. This allows our crews to focus on system improvements and maintenance. Not only have these efforts proven to successfully reduce power outages, a proactive treetrimming program is also necessary for wildfire mitigation. Despite our best efforts, accidents and severe weather can cause outages that can last for hours or sometimes days with crews working around the clock. In some cases, repairs can be time consuming, difficult and dangerous. There are steps you can take to be prepared for weather-related power outages. Depending on the severity of a storm, multiple areas of our service territory could be simultaneously affected. Your patience and understanding are appreciated as crews work to restore service as safely as possible. I encourage you to prepare for outages in advance.

Energy Efficiency

As the temperature decreases, energy use increases, which results in high bills for many members. West Oregon Electric Cooperative offers rebates and tips to our members for installing energy-saving measures and adjusting lifestyles to make their homes more efficient. Visit our website for more information on rebates for qualifying energy-efficient upgrades. You can also visit https://homeenergysaver.lbl.gov/consumer for helpful energysaving tips.

Thank you,

General Manager Billi Kohler

December 2021

As we wrap up 2021 and head into winter storm season, I would like to remind you to prepare for possible outages affecting your electric service.

When storm-related outages hit, our crews work as quickly as safety allows to restore service.

During major storms, this effort could take a few days. During a widespread outage, we will post updates to our website and Facebook page. I appreciate your patience while our crews work hard to restore service.

Rate Information Meeting

I mentioned last month that our board of directors is reviewing our budget and considering a rate adjustment in 2022. We have scheduled a rate information meeting for December 9 at 6 p.m. at the West Oregon Electric Cooperative headquarters in Vernonia. Please watch for a letter in the mail that will contain the projected rate adjustment and meeting information.

I am often asked why our rates are so high. Several factors go into setting our rates, both from a historical perspective and looking ahead. WOEC was formed in 1944 to serve a small group of people that did not have access to power. There was not enough return on the investment it would take to run the lines out to all the sparsely scattered accounts to motivate investor-owned utilities to branch out.

The cost factors were and remain significant because the areas we serve spread across parts of five counties. The long distances we travel make service work, outages, and maintenance more costly and time consuming. Our territory is heavily forested with rough terrain, creating more work and maintenance than our urban area.

I am also asked about the base charge. The fixed costs of servicing an account— regardless of how much energy is used— contains all labor, trucks, other equipment, and other operational expenses. The base charge on your power bill (currently $46) covers only a small part of the cost of servicing and maintaining our system. If we were to charge the actual cost to maintain each account, the base charge would need to be about $100 a month instead of $46. This is determined through independent cost-of-service studies conducted every two years. Realistically, each account—such as telephone and gas companies require—would pay the full, actual amount of the fixed costs.

Because we do not charge the full amount of fixed costs, the kilowatt-hour charge is higher. Our neighboring utilities have a more condensed service area with a larger number of consumer accounts, have a better balance of commercial and industrial loads compared to residential and have more customers per mile. WOEC has more trees per mile that need to be maintained to protect our system. Our service territory sees minimal growth, and the development we do see is primarily residential. This causes our rising costs to exceed our revenues.

Despite these challenges, we are your member-owned and -operated cooperative. We provide good service, are responsive to our members, manage costs the best we can and work to keep the lights on under any conditions. As a cooperative, we are a not-for-profit utility focused on balancing our revenues and expenses. We are committed to serving our member-owners at the lowest cost possible while providing safe and reliable electric service.

Sincerely,

Billi Kohler | General Manager

November 2021

Dear members,

I hope you all are staying well. I am pleased to announce that I have been offered and accepted the position of General Manager for WOEC.

I have been serving as the Interim General Manager since Bob Perry retired in April. I understand the unique challenges our utility faces, and I am dedicated WOEC’s mission of providing safe and reliable electric service to our members.

During the past year, WOEC has seen a significant increase in cost of service. As many of you know, our service territory is faced with challenges that separate us from the others. We serve 3800 members spread out over 1,224 square miles of rugged terrain with millions of trees and gravel roads. We are limited to serving the residences and businesses within our territory: 93% of which are residential. A higher percentage of commercial accounts would lessen costs for residential members; however, with only 7% of WOEC’s membership falling into this category, rates for residential accounts are higher to cover the cost of service.

There are a variety of factors that come into play as cost of service rises. We are facing high inflation on a national level as well as inflation on materials and equipment. With minimal growth in our area, energy sales remain relatively flat year to year while costs increase each year. Rates must increase to cover rising costs. We are a Capital- and Labor-intensive business and it is necessary to invest in long-term assets and a specialized workforce to effectively serve our members.

We are carefully reviewing our budgeted costs and analyzing operations to ensure our rates are sufficient to cover the cost of providing reliable service. This review shows there is not much that can be trimmed and still maintain the system properly while fulfilling all other obligations.

We will hold a rate meeting in December for members to attend and discuss the anticipated rate adjustment for 2022. Watch for a notice in the mail this month with the meeting details. This information will also be posted to our website. As always, these adjustments will be considered with the goal to provide safe and reliable service to our membership.

Sincerely,

Billi Kohler