2024 Annual Meeting

Thank you for joining us for our 2024 annual meeting!

 

During the meeting, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative's Manager Tom Wolfenbarger and Board of Trustees President Dave Evans spoke about upcoming projects and programs and the board of trustees election results were announced. 

 

Over 750 members, guests, and employees attended our annual meeting at Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill on April 25. The meeting was at Spooky Nook due to construction plans at Miami University’s Millett Hall. All enjoyed a buffet meal, learned about Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s upcoming projects, received giveaways, and had a chance to win door prizes. The crowd also enjoyed entertainment from Rum River Blend, a folk band, after the meeting.

Board member Jay Hasbrook gave a prayer at the beginning of the meeting. 2023 Youth Tour delegates Grace Lee and Lily Spenceley led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Members approved the 2023 annual meeting minutes and the 2025 nominating committee members. The nominating committee will choose candidates for next year’s board of trustees election.

Protecting reliable electricity
In his report to members, General Manager Tom Wolfenbarger explained the reliability of the national electric grid is under pressure. Existing reliable generation sources are being shut down prematurely and replaced with generation that’s intermittent in nature. As a result, the supply margins are tight and any event can put the reliability of the grid at risk. During Christmas 2022, nine states to the south experienced mandated rolling outages to protect the integrity of the grid. We were lucky in Ohio and avoided such steps.

Wolfenbarger reported the cooperatives in Ohio have more generation than load. But we are all connected to the grid, which is operated as a market, and we could be impacted by regional generation shortages unrelated to our own generation portfolio.

Your cooperative, and all cooperatives in Ohio, speak with elected officials about the need for sensible policies and regulations to support reliable and affordable electricity. Members can help too. Talk to your elected officials and let them know you want sensible energy policies that will keep the lights on. We need all forms of generation while we make the transition to a cleaner, more electrified economy. Consider joining Voices for Cooperative Power, a network that will keep you informed about current issues and provides easy ways to contact your elected officials. Go to voicesforcooperativepower.com to learn more.

New programs to help members
While we’re doing everything we can to keep the lights on, we want to help if conditions dictate otherwise. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative has developed a communication plan to help us be transparent and keep you updated if a grid emergency occurs. We’re also releasing a backup generator program later this year to allow members to purchase Kohler backup generators through the cooperative. Similar to our geothermal program, we will offer low-interest loans to help members with financing such a major investment.

“For those like me, who don’t have a need for a whole-home generator, or for those who don’t want to make that level of investment, we will offer the ability to purchase a behind-the-meter transfer switch called a Trifecta from Global Power Products,” said Wolfenbarger. A Trifecta is a meter base-mounted transfer switch with a cord to use with a portable generator. The cooperative will provide installation for these switches.

Improved reliability
Last year, we reported Duke Energy developed plans for projects to improve the reliability of the transmission system in the western part of Butler County. Wolfenbarger reported dirt is moving in preparation for Duke’s new Ross Substation on US 27, just south of Millville. This project will provide improved sectionalizing and fault detection on the 69,000-volt transmission system in western Butler County. We believe the project will have a positive impact on the reliability of the cooperative’s substations located along US 27.

New subdivisions in co-op territory
After many years of little to no growth, the cooperative is seeing subdivision development again. Last year, we saw the completion of the Whitewater Trails subdivision in Crosby Township. This year, our operations crews are working in the Venice Crossing subdivision in Ross Township and the Trailhead Subdivision in Crosby Township. Trailhead, with more than 400 lots, is the largest single subdivision in our territory.

To meet these growing loads, our construction crews and contractors have been busy. Last year, we completed a new three-phase circuit on Lees Creek Road in Harrison Township to provide additional capacity to Harrison and Crosby townships. This year, we’re converting Morgan Ross Road between State Route 748 and Hamilton New London Road to a 3-phase circuit to provide additional transfer capability between our Layhigh and Shandon substations. We will also upgrade Kehr Road, on the south side of Oxford, with larger conductors for increased capacity. 

Milford Substation upgrade
In 2025, we will upgrade our Milford Substation, east of Oxford, with relaying to maximize the output capability of the new transformer installed at that substation last year. Also in 2025, a new circuit is planned for development impacting our Huston Substation near Collinsville. This new circuit will tie with our Tolbert and Milford substations north of Collinsville and increase our transfer capabilities east of Oxford.

Working for our members
Since Wolfenbarger became general manager in July 2020, five of the seven senior staff members have retired, which is a combined 138 years of co-op work experience. Wolfenbarger was happy to report four of the five new staff positions were hired from internal positions. “This shows we have good people at the cooperative,” said Wolfenbarger. “They believe in our mission and enjoy working for you, our members.”

No distribution rate increase in 2024
In his report to members, Board of Trustees President Dave Evans was happy to announce we do not plan to have a distribution rate increase this year.

There are three steps to delivering electricity to your home. First, electricity is generated at power plants. Then, transmission lines deliver electricity to our 16 substations. Finally, electricity is distributed from substations to your homes. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is only responsible for the final step — distribution. We don’t generate or transmit electricity.

The distribution portion of your bill is the only part influenced by our operating costs. Our rates are kept at the lowest level to cover costs because we are a not-for-profit cooperative. While we’re not increasing distribution rates, wholesale power prices from Buckeye Power, our generation and transmission co-op, are increasing due to rising transmission and fuel costs. These costs are projected to increase and will impact future rates. We will work to keep the distribution portion of your bill as low as we can.

New rates to fit your lifestyle
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative will release an electric vehicle charging rate this year. This rate is suggested for EV owners and incentivizes charging during the night, when electricity demand and wholesale energy rates are lower. If you’re not an EV user but like the incentives of a special rate, a time-of-use rate for other residential load will roll out as well. This rate is perfect for energy savers who are willing to modify behavior to maximize savings. We will share more information about these rates as they become available.

Keeping your information safe
In 2022, electric cooperatives in Ohio developed the Rural Electric Cyber Advancement Program, or RECAP. This program helps co-ops assess their cybersecurity posture and identify areas of improvement. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative held its first RECAP in May 2023. This assessment helped the cooperative find areas of improvement so we can better secure our member information and our electric grid.

Celebrating 30 years of Butler Rural Community Connection
This year, we’re celebrating 30 years of Butler Rural Community Connection and the impact it has had in the communities we serve. Since September 1994, Butler Rural Community Connection has funded more than $1.5 million in grants to local nonprofit groups in the counties we serve. We hope the lives of our members have been touched by Community Connection. We’re thankful for the continued support of members and employees who donate to the program.

Co-op receives national recognition
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative was awarded two Spotlight on Excellence awards — one for last year’s rate increase notice and one for our quarterly employee newsletter. Manager of Communications and Marketing Jade Guthrie, who was instrumental in the development of both products, accepted the awards for the cooperative at NRECA’s Connect Conference in May.

Celebrating Bob Hoelle
During the annul meeting, we celebrated Bob Hoelle and the tremendous impact he has had on the cooperative. Bob has been a co-op member in Wayne Township for 45 years. He was a board member for 24 years and was our vice president for 22 years. April 24 was Bob’s last regular board meeting, as he retired from our board of trustees. Bob’s wisdom, knowledge, and guidance have contributed greatly to the success of our cooperative. Our congratulations and thanks to you, Bob.

New trustee elected
Lee Geiger announced the results of this year’s trustee elections. David Evans and Jim Meador were reelected in districts 1 and 2, respectively. Vickie Jo Barger was elected in District 5 and will replace Bob Hoelle, who retired from our board of trustees.