From the by M.D. Fletcher |
August 2010 |
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Operation Round-Up here at Columbus Electric is well underway. This is a program where members may elect to have their monthly bill rounded up to the next dollar and the cumulative tax-deductible change collected is then added to the amount available for our scholarship program. The Board of Trustees recently awarded 23 scholarships to Columbus Electric kids to help them with their dreams of a higher education. Each one awarded represents $250 towards that goal. Many of our scholarship recipients have gone on to do great things and it's all made possible through the caring spirit and generosity of our membership. If you haven't yet signed up, we've made it easier than ever to get on board. Starting this month, your bill will have a place to indicate willingness to join in the effort and if you pay electronically, the website will show you how. For less than a buck a month, you can do something that will make a real difference in a young persons' life. About the last week of July, the monsoons arrived. During about a three-day period, Columbus Electric crews replaced over 25 structures that had literally fallen prey to the microburst winds that often preceded thunderstorms coming up from the south. Especially hard hit was the Columbus area in our eastern territory and the Cotton City area north of Animas, two places that seem to be situated right where these things most often occur. There were, of course, outages all over the system and if you were affected, we appreciate your patience. This month, our Arizona residential members will see a $2.85 increase in the customer charge line item on their bill. This is the same increase New Mexico members saw a year ago. The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission approved the rate increase in about 4 months. The Arizona Corporation Commission took a leisurely year and a half. Go figure. Statewide, owners of television stations have placed their orders with their local BMW dealers in anticipation of the political season. Of particular interest this year is the governor's race. The good news is New Mexico will have its first female governor. The bad news is, well, it's New Mexico and winning the Governor's Office is kind of like winning a trip to Cleveland |
Not that there is anything at all wrong with Cleveland, mind you. Nosiree, Cleveland has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and it has some very fine people living there and, and... and it's not Toledo. Anyway, our female Governor is going to inherit some real problems left to her by our outgoing Governor who never passed up an opportunity to turn the state coffers into political capital. Incidentally, the only positive element in that statement is the word "outgoing". Those of you who are new to this area should make every effort to visit one or more of the county fairs that will be held in the next month or so. A big part of the fairs is always the livestock shows where farm and ranch kids show off their animals. If you need any reassurance at all of the quality of this generation, all you need to do is watch these kids and see their pride in what they do and what they and their families stand for. I guarantee you'll come away with a smile and a better understanding of the value of the small town and rural lifestyle. As far as Columbus Electric, our rates appear to have stabilized, at least for the time being. Our friends over in the investor-owned part of the utility business (we call it "the dark side") however, have petitioned the regulatory commission for an impressive rate increase on top of another very recent rate increase. I don't wish to gloat (well, sure I do but that's bad karma) but cooperatives like Columbus Electric have a long history of remaining competitive with investor-owned utilities despite our relative small size and huge capital investment to number of customers ratio. Part of it has to do with our non-profit organization but a big part of it is our business model in which we view our role as providing a service to our members rather than a profit to our stockholders. Plus, our strength is the strength of ten because our hearts are pure. Well, mostly. August, September and October are absolutely the best time of the year to be lucky enough to live in this part of the world. I want each and every one of you, even the crabby people (you know who you are), to enjoy it to the fullest. Have a wonderful time. |
