Joe Koch

This month, I would like to share with you some of our plans for 2018.

We have eight construction projects planned to replace and upgrade more than 8 miles of single-phase line on the Rochester and Richland substations. On some of these projects, we will be able to use the current poles and just replace the wire and insulators; other projects will be a total reconstruction. We have one project where we will upgrade a two-phase line to three-phase, which will give us another tie line to Bruce Lake and Lucerne from the Rochester West feed. Once again, this is a very ambitious work plan for our line crew.

While providing our members reliable and affordable electricity is our core business, the seventh cooperative principle of “concern for community” suggests that we also look for ways to improve the quality of life for our members and communities we serve. We will continue our upgrades at the fairgrounds this year and hope to find another project we can perform for another community.

We also will continue with our plan of retiring capital credits again in 2018, as we get closer to our goal of a 30-35 year retirement cycle.

Once we finalize plans, I will be able to offer more details regarding some of these projects. May all of you have a wonderful and prosperous 2018!

Joe Koch
CEO