Cordova Electric Cooperative CEO Report

Dear Members:

    It has been an exciting year at your Cordova Electric Cooperative.  The new, energy efficient EMD diesel generator was installed and went into service in November. It has been performing well, reducing the cost of diesel fuel on your electric bill.  Next year, a heat recovery system will be installed on this generator to further reduce the use of diesel fuel.  The final phase of Humpback Creek work commenced this fall, and completion of the new intake structure is expected by October of 2010.  This project will produce nearly 20% of CEC’s energy, taking our total hydro production to nearly 80% annually.  This project will be certified as a green project so that we can receive additional monies for the CEC Green Power program launched this year.  The Green Power program replaced 50 more street lights (20% of the system total) to the new, highly efficient LED style fixtures.  The 100 LED fixtures installed to date save 1 gallon of diesel fuel per hour during the winter months; savings every member benefits from. 

   One of the most exciting projects of the year was a collaboration with Cordova Schools, and included the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF).  UAF researcher Katey Walter-Anthony discovered cold-climate microbes that produce methane at very low temperatures.  CEC, Cordova Schools, and UAF received a Denali Commission grant to test these microbes in methane digesters to expand their use to cold climates.  This project provides an excellent education opportunity to Cordova students, and develops a new energy-producing technology for global power production.

   Another exciting project was an upgrade of the CEC billing software by the finance and customer service department.  Our bills are now printed and mailed by a professional printer, providing significant savings to the Cooperative.  The new bill format reduces the number of billings, and provides additional information on your past use to help you track your use and costs.  The new system allows several future upgrades that will provide additional service and flexibility for payment and access to your account information.

   Energy conservation and efficiency continue to be a high priority for CEC, particularly during the winter months when CEC produces electricity with diesel fuel.  New “Kill-A-Watt” meters will soon be available at the front counter to help you measure electrical use of appliances and you will be able to check these out for free.  The light bulb recycling program encourages you to bring any style, size or type of light bulb to the front counter of CEC, and receive a coupon good for $2 off the purchase of a compact fluorescent bulb at any Cordova store.  Up to 3 coupons per customer per visit, and the Native Village of Eyak recycles the bulbs to keep them out of our landfill.

   It has been a pleasure to serve you this year as we commit our efforts to provide clean, affordable energy to Cordova.

                                                                                                  Clay