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KAEC commends U.S. Supreme Court action

For immediate release
February 10, 2016
Contact: Joe Arnold • (502) 815-6372 • jarnold@kaec.org

LOUISVILLE, Ky — Kentucky’s member-owned electric cooperatives commend the action taken Tuesday by the U.S. Supreme Court to suspend the implementation of new, harmful federal regulations of electric power plants. The EPA’s so-called Clean Power Plan (CPP) threatens the affordability and reliability of electricity for the 1.5 million Kentuckians served by cooperatives.

“The high court’s halt of the regulation comes at a critical time,” said Chris Perry, president and CEO of the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Without this stay, co-ops would have been forced to take expensive and irreversible actions to comply with the rule.”

The EPA plan targets coal, the main source of Kentucky’s electricity, in new and aggressive limits on carbon emissions. About 90 percent of electricity generated in Kentucky is by coal fired power plants.  The CPP fundamentally changes how electricity is generated, distributed and consumed in the United States.

Because the time frame of the EPA’s rule is inconsistent with the time needed to build alternative energy sources, the rule’s implementation would increase the likelihood of increased costs and potential reliability problems in Kentucky. Co-op members would also be on the hook for the debt of prematurely retired coal-fired plants as non-producing stranded assets.

KAEC applauds the leadership of several Kentuckians who have played key roles in the issue. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has steadfastly and effectively voiced his objections to the rule. Governor Matt Bevin is striking a responsible balance, challenging the EPA rule’s legality while seeking an extension until implementation is effective.  And, both former Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway and current Attorney General Andy Beshear have provided solid legal arguments against the heavy-handed regulations.  Conway initially filed suit against the EPA, while Beshear has continued the challenge with 28 other states.

KAEC, its 26 member cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association are actively working to communicate the consequences as the courts continue to contemplate the regulations.

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ABOUT KAEC

Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives is the statewide association that provides services for the 24 local, consumer-owned electric distribution utilities in the state, as well as two generation and transmission cooperatives that produce power. Electric co-ops in Kentucky serve 843,000 member-owners, providing power to one-third of Kentucky’s population. KAEC services include representation before the Legislature, Congress, and regulatory bodies; safety training; coordination of management training; and public relations support including publication of Kentucky Living magazine, the largest circulation publication in the state with nearly 480,000 copies mailed monthly, with a readership of 1.2 million.

 

2016 Washington Youth Tour delegates

Kenergy recently announced its 2016 Washington Youth Tour delegates.

The cooperative chooses six students annually to attend the seven-day, all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.  Nationwide, the Washington Youth Tour brings about 1,600 high school juniors to the nation’s capital in June every year.

Students must live in a home powered by Kenergy to be eligible.  They are selected from 1,000-word essays they submit.  Students are asked to feature any topic about which they are passionate.

In alphabetical order, this year’s delegates are:

  • Cara Daniels of Henderson — Cara is the daughter of Gary and Lisa Daniels.  Cara attends Henderson County High School. She wrote a touching essay titled “Memory Monster,” which is an account of her grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
  • Shelby Hite of Whitesville — Shelby is the daughter of Glenn and Karen Hite.  Shelby attends Daviess County High School.  Her essay titled “Time with Family — Camping Memories” took readers to Windy Hollow Campground, where children played outside instead of watching TV or playing on computers.
  • Jacob Howard of Knottsville — Jacob is the son of Larry and Elaine Howard.  Jacob attends Daviess County High School.  His essay “Boy Scouts — Order of the Arrow” teaches youth about cheerful service to others.  “It is a simple guide to living … ,” Jacob wrote.
  • Rachel Thomas of Utica —  Rachel is the daughter of Charles and Kimberly Thomas.  Rachel attends Apollo High School.  Her essay titled “Writing and Reading” introduces her readers to a younger Rachel, who once wrote about lime-driving leprechauns and princesses who didn’t need knights.
  • Olivia Warren of Owensboro —  Olivia is the daughter of Benji and Cindy Warren.  Olivia attends Daviess County High School.  Her essay titled “Leadership and Service” promotes a life of service to others.  Olivia volunteers time to the Wendell Foster Center and Special Olympics, to name a couple of nonprofits.
  • Jesslyn Watson of Corydon — Jesslyn is the daughter of Bob and Angela Watson. Jesslyn attends Henderson County High School. Her essay titled “History” describes her enthusiasm for the past.  “I’ve got a future with the past … ,” she said near the end of her essay.

Shelby Cecil of Owensboro, the daughter of Laura and Brian Cecil, was selected as the alternate.  She will take the trip if one of the six delegates is unable to attend.

 

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Kenergy names board room in honor of the late Randy Powell

The board room at Kenergy’s headquarters is now named the Randy Powell Board Room.

The co-op’s board did so in honor of Powell of Little Dixie, who died in September. He served as a director for Henderson Union RECC and Kenergy a total of 40 years.

Here is the resolution the Kenergy board earlier entered into co-op records:

A RESOLUTION IN MEMORIAM

WHEREAS, Randy Powell served with distinction on the Henderson Union/Kenergy Board of Directors for 40 years; and

WHEREAS, Randy Powell gave so unselfishly of his time, energy and talents to his church and family, and to the betterment of the rural electric cooperative program, agriculture, and his community;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Directors of Kenergy, that the passing of Randy Powell is a deep and personal loss to the Corporation and to its members. We express to the family of our deceased friend our true and sincere feeling of affection and remember him with respect as a man who gave much of himself to helping others;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution become a permanent part of the minutes of this meeting and a certified copy of same be presented to his family.

Photo caption:  Board Chairman Bob White, right, presents a plaque inscribed with the above resolution to Powell’s daughters, Susie Givens, right, and Bonnie Baggerly, both of Henderson County.

 

Kenergy promotes Logan Harpole

On Monday, Jan. 18, Kenergy selected Logan Harpole to fill the position of substation/meter tech.

Logan joined the cooperative as an apprentice line tech in May 2012. His last job title was meter tech, which he has had since July 2015.

In part, a substation/meter tech is responsible for the construction and maintenance of Kenergy’s substations and line reclosures, along with assisting electronic techs in the operation and maintenance of SCADA and other electronic equipment.

Logan lives in Beaver Dam.

Kenergy promotes Bo Thomas

Effective Monday, Jan. 18, Bo Thomas will assume the duties of crew leader in the Henderson District.

Bo came to work at Kenergy in September 2013. He hired in as a line tech.

Among many duties, a crew leader oversees job orders for underground and overhead infrastructure. Also, crew leaders are responsible for crew safety, welfare and work performed.

Bo lives in Sebree with his wife, Kendall.

Kenergy announces Susie Givens will serve District 4

HENDERSON, KY — Susie Givens of Corydon has been selected to fill the Kenergy board seat left vacant by the death of long-time Director Randy Powell.

Powell served District 4 in Henderson County for 40 years before his death on Sept. 12, 2015.

Givens, who is Powell’s daughter, will take her seat on the board at the Feb. 22 board meeting.

“We are pleased Susie Givens has agreed to serve Kenergy and its member-owners,” said Bob White, board chairman. “Susie is an experienced business leader who believes in the cooperative business model. We look forward to working with her.”

Givens is a native of Henderson County. She has worked 44 years in the drilling industry.

Givens is the CEO of Givens International Drilling Supplies, a company she founded in Little Dixie 21 years ago. Givens International provides drilling equipment to heavy construction operations in more than 60 countries.

Givens International’s customers range from local geothermal businesses to the U.S. Navy and Army Corps of Engineers.

Aside from drilling, Givens has been an active member of the National Ground Water Association Board for more than 10 years. She presently serves on its Department of Transportation Committee.

Givens has been a member of the Kentucky Groundwater Association Board for 12 years. And in 2003, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce appointed her to serve on the Kentucky District Export Council Board, on which Givens still serves.

She is a member of the Methodist Hospital Board of Directors.

In accordance with Kenergy’s policy, the board chairman appointed a search committee to recommend a new director after Powell’s death. The committee included three directors and three member-owners from District 4.

Three candidates expressed interest and scheduled interviews with the search committee. However, one later withdrew his candidacy, so two were interviewed.

In addition, Kenergy’s Board of Directors interviewed the candidates before making a final decision.

Givens’ term will expire in 2017.

Kenergy substation damaged by fire

On Saturday, Dec. 12, at 1:02 p.m., Kenergy’s Horse Fork substation suffered a fire and explosion, causing extensive damage.

The incident caused blinks for a few minutes throughout the co-op’s Daviess County service area and knocked out power to nearly 4,000 on the Horse Fork and South Dermont substations.

South Dermont members were restored to power within 15 minutes.  Horse Fork members were out of power for one hour.

Meters served by the Horse Fork substation are now receiving power from surrounding substations.

No cause is known at this time. The incident remains under investigation.

No injuries were reported.

PSC sets interest rate for member deposits

The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC), in accordance with revisions made to KRS 278.460 in 2012, has calculated the annual interest rate to be paid on member deposits for the upcoming year.

The statute requires the PSC to calculate the interest rate to be paid on an annual basis by averaging the one-year constant maturity treasury rate from September, October and November of each year.

Using data from September, October and November, the PSC has calculated an interest rate of 0.37 percent to be paid on member deposits in 2016.

Frequently asked questions and the revised statute may be found on the PSC’s website.

New method to pay by phone

To offer the highest level of protection for our members’ sensitive financial information, Kenergy now accepts phone payments only one way — by calling 1-844-255-3679.

Payments will no longer be accepted by calling Kenergy’s 800-number.

Besides offering the highest level of protection for financial information, members can now save account numbers in the new system.  That means members no longer have to retype their debit/credit card numbers or checking account numbers each month when they call in payments.

 

Glenn Cox receives service award

Glenn Cox, one of Kenergy’s 11 directors, was honored recently for 20 years of service to the electric cooperative industry.

The Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives (KAEC) recognized Cox at its annual meeting in Louisville on Nov. 17.

“The electric utility industry is incredibly complex, and we need skilled leadership to make the right decisions for today and tomorrow,” said Chris Perry, KAEC president and CEO. “The members of Kentucky’s electric co-ops are the beneficiaries of the education and experience that (these) honorees have accrued through their years of service to their co-ops.”

Cox was elected to the Henderson-Union RECC board on Aug. 28, 1995, which was prior to the 1999 merger with Green River Electric Cooperative that formed Kenergy.  He represents member-owners who live in the Lyon, Caldwell and Hopkins counties area.

Cox is a Fredonia resident.