High West Energy Postpones Rate Increase
In an unexpected turn of events, we're pleased to announce the postponement of the proposed rate increase originally slated for implementation this billing cycle, which was scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2024. This decision comes after our power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had rejected its rate filing. Tri-State will have the opportunity to re-file once the concerns raised by FERC have been addressed; however, we have decided not to proceed with the implementation of our rate increase at this time.
In February, we communicated our plan to implement a rate increase, projecting an overall revenue increase of 4.4% for the cooperative. This adjustment was necessitated by an expected 6% increase from Tri-State. As a cooperative, our focus is not on profit, but rather on securing funds to sustain operational needs and support our members. Currently, we do not deem it necessary to raise our rates until a corresponding increase is passed on to us or the financial status of your cooperative signals a need for an increase.
Although we have postponed our rate increase, we are proceeding with our single Time-of-Day rate model, synchronized with Tri-State's peak hours. These peak hours are from 1 pm to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday. Sundays and designated Tri-State holidays, including Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, will be classified as off-peak hours.
Furthermore, if your account is being transferred to a new or different rate category, this will still take place, but there will be no adjustments to the actual rates.
We understand the importance of maintaining affordability while delivering quality services, and after careful deliberation, we've concluded that postponing the rate adjustment aligns better with our commitment to member satisfaction.
We sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding exhibited by our members throughout this process. Rest assured, we remain fully committed to providing you, our member, with safe, reliable and competitively priced energy and services. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at 307-245-3261 and we will be more than happy to address them.
High West Energy to Host 87th Annual Meeting Online!
High West Energy is thrilled to announce that its 87th Annual Meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 6 pm. This approach allows our members to participate comfortably from home, ensuring accessibility for all.
Our mission is to serve our members and communities by providing safe, reliable and competitively priced energy and services. At this annual meeting, we will share updates on our operations, highlight sponsorships and donations from the past year, discuss matters such as Operation Round Up, and outline the future direction of High West Energy. As a cooperative owned by our members, keeping everyone informed about our industry and progress is paramount.
The meeting format will closely resemble recent years, with members having the chance to comment and submit questions to engage in the proceedings. We encourage participants to log in early to address any potential technical issues, as the meeting is set to commence promptly at 6 pm.
Additionally, we will be conducting elections for District 11. Stay tuned for further details on this important aspect of our annual meeting.
Join us virtually for High West Energy's 87th Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 20, 2024. We look forward to your participation and valuable insights.
Unclaimed Patronage Dividends
As a member of a cooperative, you share in the ownership, construction, maintenance, and prosperity of High West Energy. When you move into, or establish a business in our territory, you become a member of High West Energy. Last fall, our Board of Directors voted to retire approximately $760,000 in patronage dividends. High West Energy has paid out dividends for the last 38 years. Patronage capital is based on the amount of electricity each member uses so the amount members are allocated varies yearly.
You can find a list of names at the PDF attached below of individuals or businesses whose checks from previous years were either returned as undeliverable or the checks were not cashed. If your name is on the list, please call our office. If you recognize a name on the list, please notify that person so they can contact us. If the person is deceased, please let one of their relatives know about the unclaimed check. An official estate representative can also contact us to claim the check.
Thank you for being a member of High West Energy! We appreciate your support and trust as your local cooperative. If you have any questions or concerns regarding patronage dividends, please contact our office at 307-245-3261.
Celebrate Lineman Appreciation Month in April!
We extend our gratitude to the dedicated linemen who tirelessly serve our members. If you'd like to express your appreciation, visit this link and complete the web form. Your messages will be shared with the linemen throughout the month of April. Let's collectively show our heartfelt appreciation to these essential workers!
NREA Announces Youth Energy Leadership Camp!
Nebraska Rural Electric Association is proud to announce that its annual Youth Energy Leadership Camp will be held on July 22-26, 2024, at Camp Comeca in Cozad, NE. Students must currently be in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade. Please contact Brooke Darden at 307-245-3261 for any questions or concerns. Information for campers is due by June 7, 2024.
Upcoming events have been added to our website under the "Events" section. As the events draw nearer, they will be featured in our newsletter!
Recipe of the Month
Chili Beef Cornbread Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup 2% milk
- 3 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 can (8.25 ounces) cream-style corn
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream and salsa (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat for 6-8 minutes or until no longer pink, breaking into crumbles; drain. Stir in cornstarch, onion, chili powder and garlic powder. Stir in tomato sauce. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat. In a large bowl, whisk flour, cornmeal, sugar, and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, and oil until blended; stir in corn. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Stir in cheese. Spread half the batter into a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Top with beef mixture. Spread the remaining batter over filling. Bake, uncovered, until a toothpick inserted in the cornbread portion comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. If desired, serve with sour cream and salsa.
*Recipe from www.tasteofhome.com
See the full edition of Sparks below including the list of unclaimed patronage dividends!