180 likes | 313 Views
Energy Utility Basics: The Cooperative Model October 24, 2011. Brian Rude Vice President, External Relations Dairyland Power Cooperative La Crosse, WI. 1930 – only 11% of farms had electricity Depression limited development options Growing population demanded better rural economy.
E N D
Energy Utility Basics:The Cooperative ModelOctober 24, 2011 Brian Rude Vice President, External Relations Dairyland Power Cooperative La Crosse, WI
1930 – only 11% of farms had electricity • Depression limited development options • Growing population demanded better rural economy
1935 Executive Order created the Rural Electrification Administration to fund local electric systems • Congress formalized in 1936 • Local cooperatives developed and built system
First system in Wisconsin was Richland Electric in 1937 By 1945, today's network of 24 Wisconsin cooperatives in place 520,000 residents served
930 cooperatives in 47 states • 42 million people, 11% of the population • 10% of kilowatt hours • 43% of all power lines in country • 7 customers per mile compared to 35 for IOUs and 47 for municipals
Cooperative Model • Owned and controlled by consumers served • Governed by board of directors, elected at annual meeting • One member, one vote • Not for profit • Revenues over budget called "margins" are returned to customers
Organization of Cooperatives • 864 distribution cooperatives • There are 66 generation and transmission cooperatives (G&Ts) serving distribution co-ops; others buy from other sources (TVA, IOUs, etc.)
Wisconsin • Six cooperatives purchase from other sources • 18 are members of Dairyland Power Cooperative, Wisconsin’s only G&T
MN WI IA IL Dairyland Power Cooperative Service Territory
Dairyland headquartered in La Crosse • Generating facilities in Alma, Genoa, Ladysmith, Elk Mound, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin andAdams, Minnesota • Serve 253,000 meters representing 600,000 people
Renewables on the Dairyland System • Wind (Iowa and Minnesota) 44 MW • Landfill gas (Iowa and Wisconsin) 15 MW • Manure digesters (Wisconsin) 4 MW • Hydroelectric (Wisconsin) 24 MW • Biomass (Wisconsin) 40 MW
Renewables on the Dairyland System (cont.) • Small consumer-owned systems • 231 total as of July 1, 2011 • Includes 90 wind, 140 solar and onemini-hydro
Challenges Facing the Industry • Greenhouse gas legislation and EPA rulesresulting in environmental upgrades to existing plants • Cost of fuel, transportation for coal • New renewable facilities to meet mandates and prices of renewables • New transmission facilities for growth, renewables