The recent launch of gigabit speed service from its Midwest Connections subsidiary has resulted in more local, state and national media for Midwest Energy Cooperative as a leader in the rural broadband revolution. In November, rural broadband again hit the national scene as the cover story for RE Magazine, and featured an interview with Midwest CEO Bob Hance and other co-op leaders who are [...]
Construction of Ontonagon County REA’s new Boston Substation is complete and the lines are energized. Wolverine Power Cooperative managed the project, which involved designing and constructing the substation and related distribution facilities. “The load was transferred onto the new Boston substation on Nov. 5, and switching was completed without causing blinking to any of our members’ homes or businesses,” said Debbie Miles, Ontonagon’s general [...]
Three Michigan electric co-op members are among those recognized by Gov. Rick Snyder for their commitment to responsible energy production, usage and solutions at the first annual Governor’s Energy Excellence Awards in Lansing. Nominations were made in eight categories celebrating differing ways energy efficiency can be achieved in the state, and the honored co-op members received help with their improvements from their co-op’s Energy [...]
In July 2015, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) increased the monthly surcharge that raises money for the Low Income Energy Assistance Fund (LIEAF) from 97 to 98 cents per meter for the 2015-2016 season. The surcharge is limited to electric bills and one electric residential meter per residential site, and became effective on electric bills generated on or after Oct. 1, 2015. Annual [...]
Rick Deneweth assisted a Navy veteran named Dewey. Rick Deneweth, a Cherryland board member, and Rachel Johnson, the co-op’s grassroots advocate/member services manager, recently served as guardians on an “Honor Flight” to Washington, D.C., for WWII and Korean War veterans. “Our Flight took 62 veterans to visit the WWII and Korean War memorials, Air Force and Marine Corps monuments, and Arlington Cemetery,” [...]
You are invited to follow the journey of Michigan electric co-op employees as they work on the “Partners for Power” project that will bring electricity to 54 homes in the village of Buena Vista, Guatemala. Tomorrow, lineworkers and safety employees from Cherryland, Great Lakes Energy, HomeWorks Tri-Country, Wolverine Power, and the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, will head to Guatemala. Sign-up for “postcards from Guatemala,” [...]
About 400 people attended Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op’s 78th Annual Membership Meeting at Onaway High School, Oct. 23. Winning election to another three-year term were Sandy Borowicz, of Cheboygan (Cheboygan District); Daryl Peterson, of Hillman (Montmorency District); and Sally Knopf, of Hawks (At-Large District). Members who voted by mail were registered for a $100 prize, which was raffled at the meeting. Immediately [...]
When a letter arrived from Midwest Energy Cooperative seeking a member to represent district 8 on its board of directors, Arell Chapman (pictured above with his wife Kellie and children) knew he’d found a great way to use his background and commitment to volunteering in his Lenawee County community. “The board agreed!” says Midwest communications director, Patty Nowlin. “At their September 2015 meeting, they [...]
Testimony on Senate Bill (SB) 437, 438, and other energy policy issues affecting electric co-ops was recently presented to the Senate Energy & Technology Committee in Lansing. “MECA supports many of the energy policy changes proposed in SB 437 and 438, however, there are areas that can be addressed to make this legislation even stronger,” Craig Borr, CEO of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association [...]
Fred Turk (above left), of Decatur, and Daniel Sovinski, of Big Rapids, were seated and welcomed to the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Board of Directors at their Oct. 7 meeting in Lansing. Turk will represent Midwest Energy, and was voted-in to finish out the term of Ken Swope, who retired after 20+ years of service to MECA. Turk brings 38 years of experience as [...]
