Grundy Electric Cooperative Holds Annual Membership Meeting

The membership meeting of Grundy Electric Cooperative was held in-person on Thursday following two years of drive-thru meetings. 171 attended the membership meeting held at Trenton High School.

In the President’s Report, Director Dan Lentz highlighted a 99.93 Reliability Index for Grundy Electric Cooperative members, meaning that GEC customers had power 99.93 percent of the time when they flipped a switch. He also indicated that Grundy Electric Cooperative achieved the highest score of the Triennial Member Satisfaction Survey taken among all Associated Electric Cooperative members. Associated Electric is the power supplier for Grundy Electric Cooperative. Director Lentz also reported 723 line poles were replaced last year and 178 poles have been replaced to this point this year. 7 miles of line were upgraded last year. 5.5 miles of line has been upgraded to this point this year. He also stated $451,636 will be refunded to member-owners as capital credits. Those refunds will be distributed later this year.

General Manager Scott Wilson says the electricity cost for the average Grundy Electric Cooperative customer is $5 per day. He thanked the customers of the former City of Galt Municipal System for selecting Grundy Electric to purchase their system and begin providing service last fall. He did stress to those attending that renewable energy provided by wind and solar for power is a welcome supplement to the overall power supply, but wind and solar have not showed the reliability for power that has been demonstrated from coal and natural gas.

In new business, a specific reliability concern was brought to the attention of the cooperative member from a Martinsville area customer.

Eric Woodard was selected to a new 3-year term from Area 1 on the Board of Directors. Joe Hartley was selected to a 3-year term for Area 4.

Prior to the meeting, Cliff Addison presented the schools receiving GEC Community Foundation Grants. The Cainsville, South Harrison, Ridgeway, North Harrison, Laredo, Spickard, SM Rissler, Pleasant View, Wayne, Mercer, Princeton, and North Daviess School District received grants ranging from $175 to $1,000 for various enhancements. The program is funded from GEC member owners agreeing to participate in the GEC Operation Round Up Program. That program creates funding for projects when members round up their monthly bills each month.