Contributed report
Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association’s (WH) 2024 Annual Meeting was Thursday, April 18 at the cooperative’s Rockford headquarters. This year’s meeting theme, “Delivering through the Energy Transition,” centered around how WH plans to meet members’ electric needs as electrification of end-use technologies continues to grow.
Attendees enjoyed more than 1,700 complimentary pork chop dinners prior to the business meeting, held from 7-8 p.m. Informational booths provided details on power quality and reliability, electric vehicles, and WH rebates and Energy-Saving Programs, as well as the opportunity to win gift card prizes. Attendees also enjoyed bingo games prior to the business meeting. A total 819 registered members attended the Annual Meeting, and those who stayed through the meeting received a free pound of butter as they exited.
Grand prize winner
Kristine Fix of Buffalo won the grand prize of a 2012 Ford F-150 4×4 retired from WH’s fleet. Entertainment was also provided for 95 children ages 4-10 who checked into the children’s room, hosted by a local FFA chapter.
Director elections
Director elections were held for Districts 1, 3, and 9. Over 1,600 members voted in this year’s election. Incumbents Timothy Young, District 1, Pat Bakeberg, District 3, and Erick Heinz, District 9 were re-elected.
Prize give aways
Four children won a bike, and Melvin Rozenberg of Maple Lake won an iPad for early voting in the Director elections.
Energy transition update
WH President and CEO Tim Sullivan illustrated how WH is preparing to continue providing members with reliable service throughout the Energy Transition, including infrastructure construction and updates, and three separate wind energy deals that will save members an estimated $50 million over 25 years.
“Simply put, the Energy Transition is the biggest transformation of the nation’s electric grid since it was first built out a century or so ago,” said Sullivan.
Other speakers included WH Chief Financial Officer Susan Sorensen, WH Board Chair Erick Heinz, WH Holding Board Chair Timothy Young, and WH Holding Chief Operating Officer Wendy Youngren.
Recognitions
WH also recognized various organizations that received donations from members through Operation Round Up. Almost 90% of WH members are ORU participants, allowing their electric bills to be rounded up to the next dollar. The rounded amount is then used for donations supporting local programs. Members have donated over $5 million since the program began in 1994.
About WH
Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility that provides power to rural Wright County and western Hennepin County. The cooperative has been a corporate citizen to the area since 1937 and currently serves more than 59,000 electric accounts. It is headquartered in Rockford.
The well-attended Wright Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association Annual Meeting featured prize giveaways, pork chop feed, elections, energy transition update and more.