By Willie LaLonde, Chairperson
As your elected board of directors, our responsibility is to make decisions that protect the long-term health of the cooperative while ensuring Cloverland continues to deliver safe, reliable and affordable power. Two important updates are at the forefront of our work.
First, the board has reviewed the results of the Cost of Service Study at our December meetings. This study outlines the financial and operational drivers behind the proposed rate adjustment that will come before the board for a vote on February 24. Member feedback is essential to this process, and we encourage you to attend one of our January community meetings to learn more about the rate proposal and the board’s vision for Cloverland’s future.
- January 27 – 6 PM, District B: LSSU Arts Center, Sault Ste. Marie
- January 28 – 6 PM, District C: Comfort Inn, Manistique
- January 29 – 6 PM, District A: Little Bear East, St. Ignace
Second, with board approval, Cloverland has been invited to re-join the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association (MECA), a statewide organization that represents Michigan’s electric cooperatives with a unified voice on legislative and regulatory matters. MECA membership strengthens Cloverland in several key ways:
- Access to mutual-aid crews during extended outage events.
- Legislative advocacy in Lansing on issues impacting cooperatives, such as FEMA relief after the ice storm.
- Education, training and collaboration with other cooperatives – valuable opportunities for our department directors to share ideas, strategies and solutions for the challenges we commonly share in Michigan, such regulatory goals on renewable energy.
Additionally, MECA membership gives Cloverland the option to participate in Country Lines, a statewide cooperative magazine. This publication offers significant cost savings compared to producing our own bi-monthly magazine and provides high-quality content about energy efficiency, Michigan communities, local food, and more – including recipe and photo contests that many members enjoy.
Together, these efforts strengthen Cloverland’s foundation and support our commitment to serving members with excellence today and into the future.