February 2021 | Volume 83 | Issue 2
Public Safety Goes Virtual
COVID-19 has presented unique challenges when it comes to educating the public about the importance of electrical safety.
Prior to the pandemic, Platte-Clay employees often visited schools and community groups to give safety demonstrations. These presentations seek to educate those in the Northland about potential hazards related to downed power lines, transformers, underground wires and more.
After COVID restrictions went into place and limited the potential for in-person events, PCEC’s safety and marketing departments were forced to come up with creative ways to continue the public education effort.
The result was the creation of a virtual safety demonstration – a short video that touches on all the same subjects as an in-person safety demonstration using the same visual aides. Teachers across the Northland are being provided with the video as an opportunity to create lesson plans around electrical safety.
The video is also available for viewing by anyone on www.PCEC.coop, Youtube and Facebook. Platte- Clay encourages parents to show the video to their children to help them understand potential hazards they could come across and how to stay safe in each situation.
Our Continued Commitment To Serving The Northland Community
Dave Deihl, General Manager
Commitment to Community isn’t just one of the cooperative’s principles that drives our business model, it’s also a core part of our mission statement: To empower communities and energize life with safe and reliable energy. We take that mission seriously and allow it to guide every decision we make as an organization.
Our high level of involvement with charitable work, community groups, economic development organizations and education across all corners of the Northland is a result of our focus on serving the communities that have supported our cooperative through eight decades of business.
The past year has come with more challenges than anyone could have ever imagined, but we haven’t let those challenges get in the way of our community improvement efforts. With every twist and turn of the pandemic, we’ve worked to find creative solutions to make sure our impact on the community remained strong.
A recent example of this was the rollout of our virtual safety demonstration to take the place of the in-person demonstrations our team would often do prior to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings. Our Youth Tour program also went virtual last year, with scholarships given out and students participating in Youth Tour zoom meetings in place of an in-person conference.
Our big volunteer project last year centered around a safe, outdoor environment – constructing flag poles at the Lathrop Fairgrounds to honor all branches of our armed forces. A socially distanced ceremony was held to unveil the project when it was completed last summer.
Since we were unable to hold our traditional coats and cans clothes and food drive this winter, we instead delivered eight hunger relief grants to food pantries in our service area. This was yet another adaptation made in light of COVID-19.
A priority of our cooperative over the past year has been to find ways to keep moving forward on the things we can do to help better our community. The pandemic has required us to think outside the box about what can be done to make a difference for our members, but nothing could ever stop us from pursuing our commitment to the Northland community – no matter how challenging it gets.
Exciting Updates Made To Platte-Clay’s Water Heater Program
Members building a new home or converting from gas to electric water heating can now get a free 50 gallon A.O. Smith water heater.* Not only is this tank reliable, it has a Uniform Energy Factor of 0.92. This simply means it will cost less to operate compared to other water heaters this size.
This tank can also be purchased for replacement of an existing electric water heater. Another energy efficient option we offer is our Rheem Marathon. Special member pricing is available for the 50 and 85 gallon tanks we carry. For more information, call 816-628-3121 or email amandam@pcec.coop.
Water heating accounts for about 18% of your home’s energy use on average. Reducing your hot water use, employing energy-saving strategies and choosing an energy efficient water heater for your home can help you reduce your monthly water heating bills.
*additional program details may apply.
Co-op Election To Be Held With Mail-In, Online Balloting Due To Ongoing Covid-19 Restrictions
At the January 15, 2021 Board of Directors meeting, the board voted to forgo a traditional in-person annual meeting in light of public health orders restricting gatherings and an existing waiver granted by the State of Missouri.
The Missouri Department of Agriculture has previously requested and received gubernatorial approval for waivers to Subsections 2 and 7 of Section 394.120, which would allow for the rural electric cooperatives to meet and vote as deemed necessary.
The Board of Directors has approved holding the election for board candidates and bylaw changes using a combination of electronic and mailing methods in 2021, mirroring the process used in 2020. Last year, this method resulted in record-breaking participation among PCEC consumer-members.
This will ensure all consumer-members have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process that defines the cooperative business model. Keep an eye on Platte- Clay’s website, this newsletter and social media for forthcoming information on how you can vote in the year’s co-op elections.
Eliminating Barriers To Participating In Co-op Governance
Debi Koechner
Board President
For Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, COVID-19 has challenged how we have traditionally approached our annual meeting, where consumer-members have their voices heard through voting for the Board of Directors and on by-law changes. Because our by-laws do not directly address virtual meetings, we’ve relied on an exemption from the State of Missouri to conduct our elections safely.
The uncertainty we’ve seen in the past year has made clear the need for technology to play a greater role in our annual meeting process. That’s why your Board of Directors has worked to identify changes that can be made to the cooperative’s by-laws which will allow for members to more easily access the democratic process of the organization.
The proposal, which will be on the ballot during this year’s co-op election, would amend the by-laws to officially allow for alternative voting options similar to what has been utilized during the COVID-19 restrictions.
Having remote voting options has dramatically increased the number of members who participate in our democratic process. The reason we’ve seen that positive trend is simple: online and mail-in ballots eliminate traditional barriers to voting that have left some members excluded in the past.
For as long as the co-op has existed, members have been required to attend a multi-hour, in-person meeting in order to cast their votes. This outdated system left many, some of whom live far from the Kearney headquarters or face major health challenges, without a convenient way to participate.
COVID-19 emergency declarations have created opportunities to vote utilizing other methods, and we’ve found that our consumer-members both appreciate the alternative options and participate in the process in greater numbers as a result. More democratic participation means our members’ viewpoints are more accurately represented in the outcomes of our elections.
Every PCEC consumer-member should be given a fair opportunity to participate in the governance of their cooperative. These by-law changes, which you’ll see explained in detail during the election process, would grant members the chance they’ve been looking for to have a say in the future of their co-op and bring more of them into the democratic process that is vital to the long-term success of Platte-Clay.
It’s my honor and privilege to serve as the President of your Board of Directors as we continue to move the cooperative forward toward a brighter future.
Your Power Your Way: GreenPower Program Made More Affordable
The cost for Platte-Clay consumermembers to subscribe to 100% renewable energy through the cooperative’s innovative GreenPower program was reduced by 40% at the start of the year, making it more affordable than ever before.
As of January 1, PCEC members can sign up for the program for the cost of 1.5 cents per kWh used (on top of their regular rate). Members interested in signing up can visit www.PCEC.coop/greenpower to complete a quick and easy application process.
The cost reduction resulted from Associated Electric Cooperative, PCEC’s power generation partner, expanding their portfolio of wind energy.
The decision to reduce the program price comes as part of the cooperative’s efforts to empower its members with choices about the energy they use. For all PCEC members, 21% of Associated’s energy came from renewable sources in 2019 – a figure that likely increased again in 2020. Energy efficiency rebate programs, energy audits, demand billing and other programs give Platte-Clay members the tools they need to make smart energy choices.
Interested In Running For The PCEC Board Of Directors?
Any PCEC consumer-members interested in running for the Board of Directors must submit their name by email to angiek@pcec.coop by February 12, 2021. If a member misses the initial interest deadline, they may submit their name via petition with 15 PCEC member signatures by February 25 in order to still make it on the ballot.
A list of verified candidates for the Board of Directors will be posted by the cooperative by April 16, 2021.
PCEC Members Can Save Big With Product Rebates
PCEC members have found success upgrading the energy efficiency in their homes with the co-op’s energy rebates. Rebates are available for geothermal, smart thermostats and more. Learn more: www.PCEC.coop.
The Northland Connection is published monthly by Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc., 1000 W. 92 Highway, Kearney, MO 64060. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Northland Connection, PO Box 100, Kearney, MO 64060 or mail@pcec.coop.
Platte-Clay is an equal opportunity employer.