Bylaws
These bylaws were amended and revised on January 26, 2021.
Cloverland Electric Cooperative Bylaws PDFCloverland Annual Reports
Legal Notices
Cloverland Electric Cooperative publishes legal notices of interest to cooperative members in Cloverland Connections magazine mailed bi-monthly to co-op members. In addition to social media channels and our website, Cloverland Connections is a primary communications resource for co-op members.
An archive of legal notices pertaining to the cooperative can also be found on the Michigan Public Service Commission’s website.
- The Clean and Renewable Energy and Energy Waste Reduction Act
- Statement of Non-Discrimination
- Data Privacy Policy
How Electric Co-ops Work
1. Member-owners elect board directors.
2. Board defines expectations for the co-op’s general manager (GM/CEO) and provides policies & strategic goals.
3. GM/CEO interprets the board’s expectations to create a plan.
4. GM/CEO delegates responsibilities to staff who help carry out the plan.
5. Staff develop and oversee programs to accomplish their tasks.
6. GM/CEO collects data from staff about their efforts.
7. GM/CEO shares results with the board.
8. Board reflects on policies and updates them as needed.
Member-owners provide input and feedback to board, GM, and staff
Member Regulation
The Cloverland Electric Cooperative Board of Directors voted in favor of a proposal to return to being member regulated in accordance with P.A. 167 of 2008, at its special open meeting in Dafter on October 15, 2015. On December 22, 2015, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) determined that Cloverland met the legal requirements to become member regulated effective January 19, 2016.
In general, member regulation allows an electric cooperative to make decisions in specific business areas more efficiently and effectively without having to seek the approval of the MPSC.
Many types of cooperatives such as credit unions, hardware stores, agricultural, telephone, and grocery stores are member-regulated. Each has the common thread of being democratically controlled, member-owned, and not-for-profit.
The 40 municipally-owned electric utilities in Michigan are member-regulated in that the citizens of the town elect the council who then make the decisions and policies for the utility.
All nine of the Michigan electric cooperatives are member-regulated and nationally, 678 or 80% of the electric cooperatives are member-regulated through a locally elected board of directors.
Cloverland Electric Cooperative is governed by nine co-op members elected by the membership to its board of directors. Each director serves a three-year term.
We believe that you, and the directors you elect to represent you, can better govern Cloverland Electric Cooperative and the state Legislature agrees. Public Act 167 of 2008 states that “member-regulation by a co-op in the areas of rates, charges, accounting standards, billing practices, and terms and conditions of service may be more efficient and cost-effective.”
From its founding in 1938 until 1965, Cloverland was member regulated. As the state was growing, aggressive utilities were attempting to take control of co-op service areas. The electric cooperatives requested the MPSC provide territory protection. The MPSC agreed but regulated other business decisions. In 2008, Public Act 167 was adopted allowing electric co-ops a process to return to member regulation.
Cloverland will save approximately $140,000 a year by reducing MPSC assessments and legal fees related to hearings in Lansing.
Cloverland’s board will have the flexibility to establish policies, procedures, and rates much quicker. MPSC hearings and decisions typically take a year or more through the legal process.
Cloverland’s board can make forward-looking budget decisions for the co-op’s infrastructure needs. MPSC’s decisions are based on nearly two year old data.
The process to return to member regulation started with a board member making a proposal. That was done at the regular board meeting on June 19, 2015. A minimum 90-day notice period followed before scheduling a special board meeting to consider the proposal. The proposal and meeting date was provided in the September issue of Michigan Country Lines. Members had seven opportunities at community meetings across the service area to express comments for the board to consider prior to the October 15, 2015 meeting. A dedicated phone number and email address was also established to receive comments.
Cloverland’s board voted on the proposal by an 8 to 1 vote and then notified the MPSC of its decision. Minutes of the meeting were published in the November issue of Michigan Country Lines.