Above: Polk-Burnett Board President Ed Gullickson welcomed members to the cooperative’s 86th Annual Meeting.
2023 Audit Report
2023 Financial Report
2023 Operation Round Up Grants
2024 Polk-Burnett Scholarships
2024 Polk-Burnett At-A-Glance
2024 Annual Meeting & Member Appreciation Day Prize Winners
Polk-Burnett’s 86th Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Day focuses on member service and reliability
The employees and directors of Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative showed appreciation for members with lunch and prizes at the co-op’s Centuria office Friday, June 14. Member Appreciation Day kicked off the 86th Annual Meeting of the electric cooperative, where Polk-Burnett leaders provided members with an update on co-op performance.
Member Appreciation Day
Pulled pork sandwiches and root beer floats were served to 735 members and guests by employees from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lineworkers helped youngsters try on safety gear and took them high above the event in bucket trucks. Guests of all ages took pictures with Polk-Burnett’s Solar Sam mascot, met co-op directors and saw the co-op’s Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck.
All members in attendance received an ice cream spade, and children received $5 DQ cards, mini hard hats and co-op coloring books. Three lucky members won electric battery-powered yard tools and 10 members won $50 electric bill credits. One additional $50 bill credit was awarded in a drawing of first timers to attend the event.
“We thank all who attended. We enjoy meeting our members and talking with you about co-op performance, especially reliability and member service,” said General Manager Steve Stroshane.
86th Annual Meeting
The annual meeting began at 1:30 p.m. and included updates from co-op leaders on grid reliability and investments, co-op financials, technology and innovation, member service, community involvement and 2024 board election results.
All members who stayed for the meeting received flowering plants from Endeavors Greenhouse and were entered into a drawing for 10 additional $50 electric bill credits.
Cooperative performance
General Manager Steve Stroshane reported that Polk-Burnett’s 50 electric employees deliver power to just over 22,000 electric services across 3,500 miles of power line, about 1,900 miles are underground and 1,600 are overhead. The co-op installed 359 new services in 2023, and invested $6.3 million in 2023 and plans to invest another $5.9 million in 2024 to maintain and upgrade the electric system.
In 2023, co-op members experienced an average of 40 minutes without power, when you factor out major event days, such as storms. When the lights go out, Stroshane said the co-op works to keep members informed through an outage map on the website, outage text alerts and Facebook.
“We know your number one expectation is reliable power. We’re always working to reduce outages, restore power faster and communicate better,” he said.
Stroshane reported that Polk-Burnett members gave the co-op a score of 86 out of 100 on the 2023 American Customer Satisfaction Index. “We’re proud of the level of service and satisfaction we provide.”
At the conclusion of his report, Stroshane announced that the new Georgetown Solar array outside Balsam Lake was energized in December 2023.
“The 2MW array generates power for about 430 homes, and provides operational and financial benefits for members by generating some of our own power locally and helping relieve high summer demand,” he said.
Polk-Burnett will purchase solar energy from the Georgetown array at a fixed rate for 25 years. The co-op also purchases power from SunTuria Solar in Centuria and is planning two more solar developments, one in Polk County and one in Burnett County.
Co-op financial report
Heather Gerber, Polk-Burnett’s finance and accounting manager, reported that the co-op has $108 million in electric assets, with electric operating revenue of $36 million and electric operating margins of $2.5 million.
“Polk-Burnett does not own power plants; 57% of our revenue, more than $20 million, goes to purchase wholesale power from Dairyland Power, a La Crosse-based generation and transmission cooperative,” said Gerber. “The remaining 43 cents is what we have to work with to keep your lights on.”
Gerber stated that increased material prices have been challenging for the co-op; they are now 40% higher than 2020.
She also explained the co-op’s rate history and the difference between the daily availability charge and the kWh energy charge on member bills.
“One of the downsides of rural living is that the fixed charge is higher because costs are shared by fewer members,” she said.
Last year, members saw a rate increase of 5%. There was no increase for 2024.
Gerber reminded members about co-op programs to help with electric bills, including SmartHub, EnergySense rebates, prepay and budget billing.
Board President Ed Gullickson added that one of the greatest advantages of co-op membership is Capital Credits for members. In the fall of 2023, Polk-Burnett returned $1.58 million in Capital Credit to members.
“As a co-op, any money we collect above and beyond expenses is returned to members,” he said.
Co-op Commitment to Community
Gullickson also provided the co-op’s commitment to community report, stating, “We work to improve our local quality of life not only with reliable power, but also with support for our local community.”
In 2023, Polk-Burnett’s Operation Round Up donated $83,425 to 73 local nonprofits thanks to the generosity of members who round up their electric bill, said Gullickson.
Polk-Burnett’s scholarship program also made a significant impact. The board approved $144,000 in scholarships to 96 children of co-op members in the Class of 2024. Gullickson assured those in attendance that scholarships do not affect electricity rates; rather, they are funded with unclaimed Capital Credits that otherwise would be forfeited to the state.
Gullickson also noted the co-op’s EV safety training for 170 local firefighters and first responders in 2023 and ‘24, “this is one way we can help improve the quality of life in our hometowns.”
Director election returns three incumbents to board
Members re-elected three incumbent directors in the 2024 board election. Jerry Okonek of Spooner ran unopposed in District 7. Chuck Brookshaw of Webster ran unopposed in District 8. Tom Swenson of Webster ran unopposed in District 9. Directors are elected for three-year terms.
The meeting concluded with a member Q&A forum. Stroshane, Gullickson and Gerber responded to questions from members about solar, wind and nuclear energy, building in the right of way, residential EV chargers, co-op rebates, home generators, who is responsible when a pole is damaged in an auto accident, and eligibility for co-op scholarships and Operation Round Up.
Member Appreciation Drawing, $50 Electric Bill Credit
- Patricia Rupp, Milltown
- Mike Owen, Cushing
- Paul Schneider, Luck
- Lorri Simon, Balsam Lake
- Walter Marz, Luck
- Paul Dreelan, St. Paul
- Ron Carlson, Webster
- Douglas Panek, Frederic
- Russel Brown, Balsam Lake
- Kenneth Kreb, Siren
First-Timer Drawing, $50 Electric Bill Credit
David & Stephanie Lindholm, Osceola
Electric, Battery-Powered Yard Tools
Blower, Connie Krech, St. Croix Falls
Trimmer, Mark Willey, Osceola
Chainsaw, Trudi Morse, Osceola
Annual Meeting Drawing, $50 Electric Bill Credit
- JoAnn Sellent, Cumberland
- Lorraine Cernohous, River Falls
- Gregory & Kris Eaton, Frederic
- Mark Skjerven, Osceola
- Donald Jones, St. Croix Falls
- Jeffrey Wettig, Star Prairie
- Jane Green, Balsam Lake
- Gary Erickson, Cumberland
- Wayne Fleming, Austin, TX
- Rolf & Penny Hansen, New Richmond
Congratulations and thank you to all who attended! See you next year!
