• Chairman Tom Crowe called the Feb. 28, 2019, meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., and Jason Barnhorst kept minutes of the meeting.
• All members of the board were present. Also present were DCREMC CEO Brett Abplanalp and DCREMC employees Crystal Greathouse and Abby Asher.
• Upon motion by Jason Barnhorst, seconded by Michael Brelage, and carried, the agenda of the meeting was approved by unanimous vote.
• Greathouse and Asher presented information and timeline implementation regarding the new prepaid metering program. DCREMC intends to have this program ready for the membership by October. Prepaid metering will allow DCREMC members the option to prepay their account daily, weekly, or monthly and eliminate the need to pay a deposit. The program will also benefit DCREMC by reducing write-offs of uncollected accounts.
• Upon motion by Barnhorst, seconded by Steve AmRhein, and carried, the requested changes to the Rules and Regulations for Electric Service of DCREMC regarding prepaid metering were approved as presented and passed by unanimous vote.
• Upon motion by Michael Brelage, seconded by Lawrence Young, and carried, Appendix A was approved as presented concerning prepaid metering. Passed by unanimous vote.
• The financial report was reviewed on Call to Order (CTO). It was noted that both revenues and controllable expenses are lower than budget so far this year. New rates will begin in April.
• Upon motion by Young, seconded by Dale Wernke and carried, the consent agenda was approved by unanimous vote.
• Broadband/EV committee breakout exercise. The board split into two groups, which discussed and ranked objectives concerning broadband for DCREMC service territory. The results of this exercise will give guidance to the committee who will continue to evaluate and discuss the feasibility of broadband.
• Crowe and Abplanalp gave the Hoosier Energy report. Hoosier set a record peak demand during the polar vortex event in January. During that time, there were no accidents or near misses, no blackouts, and no financial impact. This was a great reflection on the employees of Hoosier, and their communication efforts with MISO. Abplanalp also reported that he will be serving on the Member Services Committee at Hoosier.
• Young reported that Hometown Energy met Jan. 24, 2019. Minutes of that meeting were reviewed on CTO and changes were noted.
• AmRhein reported that IEC has named John Gasstrom its new CEO with a start date of March 18. The name of the statewide magazine, Electric Consumer, will change to Indiana Connection with the March issue. The 2019 training catalog for directors is on the IEC website, with several courses being offered via videoconferencing, locally onsite, or at IEC headquarters.
• 2019 projects update was given by Abplanalp. 1) implementation of new safety protocol including crew visits and audits, 2) rate implementation is on track with member meetings being held in March, 3) new security fence and gate installation completed, 4) strategic teams on track and wrapping up their action plans, 5) prepaid metering program with a deadline of October 2019, 6) pole replacement bid project packet almost completed.
Old Business
• There was no old business.
New Business
• Upon motion by Brelage, seconded by Wernke, and carried, the 2019 project list and goals were approved as presented on CTO by unanimous vote.
• Upon motion by Young, seconded by Brelage, and carried, the power tracker for the second quarter of 2019 was set at $0.00 for all wholesale classes, passed by unanimous vote.
• Upon motion by Barnhorst, seconded by Jeff Lawrence, and carried, the nominating committee candidates for Districts 1 and 3 were approved by unanimous vote.
• Upon motion by Wernke, seconded by AmRhein, and carried, the March board meeting was changed to Tuesday March 26, 2019, by unanimous vote.
• Upon motion by Brelage, seconded by Wernke, and carried, Abplanalp was named Hoosier board delegate for the March 27, 2019, meeting by unanimous vote.
• Upon motion by AmRhein, seconded by Brian Scheidler, and carried, the single-phase solar tariff was amended to include three-phase accounts, passed by unanimous vote.
• Upon motion by AmRhein, seconded by Young, and carried, Abplanalp was named DCREMC president by unanimous vote.
• A 10-year financial forecast was presented and reviewed by the board on CTO. The assumptions made in the forecast were outlined as well as projected capital expenditures for the same time frame.
• Risk management update was given by Abplanalp and reviewed with the board. Included in the report were 11 potential risks as identified by DCREMC staff. Each area of concern was ranked and outlined with a mitigation and response plan.
• Upon motion by Young, seconded by Brelage, and carried, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. An executive session followed.
