craigdailypress.com

To the editor:

Owning no generation facilities, Yampa Valley Electric Association provides power to the membership with a long-term contract with Xcel Energy. The diligent efforts, negotiations and strategic planning of previous directors in the 1980s to acquire this contract have rewarded our consumers with the lowest market rate of the 22 Colorado state electrical coops in 2009.

Our service territory is divided into nine districts with three districts having elections every year. Those members who desire to run for the director position simply pick up a nominating petition and return it to the office with 15 valid signatures of members and are placed on the ballot.

There are no back rooms, no nominating committees, no primaries, no coalitions and no alliances.

A membership of about 20,000 selects your board of directors, three at a time, every year. This process is simple and democratic and reflects the will of the membership.

Recent results from a 2009 membership and attitude survey provides the board with information necessary to fulfill our founding principles to provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity to our constituents.

Eighty-four percent of those respondents would choose YVEA again if given a choice. This survey reflected a spectacular 97 percent rating given to the employees and staff for being friendly and knowledgeable, and a 94 percent rating for providing excellent customer service.

It is an honor to serve with this board and support the management and employees in the common effort to meet the needs and expectations of the coop membership.

The right policies, the right people, the lowest rates.

Charles F. Perry