Manager’s Message – October 2023

Dear Members:

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2023 annual member meeting. It was our 1st meeting back in person in 4 years (since 2019), and it was great to be with you all again. If you missed it, a recording of the meeting can be viewed by checking Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (PSREC) on YouTube.

It was a full house with a delicious dinner served by Paul and Sheri Roen. 1 lucky member went home with a $500 credit toward their electric bill.

Member and Energy Services Manager Emily Compton announced the winners of the 2023 PSREC Photo Contest and the scholarship and Youth Tour winners.

The American Legion Post #329 of Portola opened the meeting with the presentation of colors. Pastor Mike Preston, of the Graeagle Community Church, gave the invocation.

During the event, Aaron Whitfield, chief operating officer of Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications, highlighted plans for broadband expansion in the region. He updated the membership on the latest round of California Advanced Services Fund grants PST has received and where those grant projects are located. For more information on our broadband services, visit the Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications website.

Randy Howard, general manager of the Northern California Power Agency, and Jackie Coombs, of the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, provided updates on the electric industry during the meeting. They discussed key issues facing cooperatives and the electric utility industry, including power supply and the recent strains on the California electric grid.

Board President Fred Nelson reviewed accomplishments for the year and discussed power issues including hydropower and natural gas prices, which moderated for the 1st part of the year. The wholesale power cost adjustment was reduced by $0.01 earlier this year, and the board will continue to review rates at upcoming board meetings. Fred also discussed the settlement payment PSREC received from the Central Valley Project settlement with the Bureau of Reclamation and our continued expansion of telecommunications.

As part of the general manager’s presentation, I dove into the cooperative’s financial requirements and the importance of rebuilding the cooperative’s cash position after last year. In the meeting, I expressed my gratitude to PSREC employees for their hard work keeping the lights and internet service on for our members. The board and I could not be prouder of the employees of PSREC and PST throughout the last year.

We also had a Q&A session where I addressed a variety of member questions. Topics covered included fiber-optic service availability, net-metering solar pricing and storage.

The board of directors is the governing body for PSREC and PST. They set policy, strategic direction, rates and budgets. They attend classes and work hard to understand the complexities of the electric utility industry and the telecommunications business. We thank them all for their hard work and commitment to PSREC.

The membership elected Tom Hammond, District 6, and Nancy Miller, District 7.

WRAP Program

PSREC offers a discounted rate for qualifying members through the Winter Rate Assistance Program. The discounted rate is available for November through April electricity use to income-qualified members.

For more information and an application, visit Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative or call (530) 832-4261.

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission benefit program that helps ensure households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, health care, and more.

The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to 1 monthly service discount and 1 device discount per household.

For more information, visit the Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative website or call (530) 832-4261.

If you have any questions, you can email Bob Marshall or call (530) 832-4261, extension 6076.

Sincerely,

Bob Marshall
General Manager