PSA 5/6/2021
Big Sandy RECC announces the official results from the 2021 Board of Directors Election. These results were affirmed by the cooperative membership.
The Nominating Committee of Big Sandy RECC submitted qualified names as potential candidates through a nomination process or petition process for district 3. Candidates submitted in district 3 were incumbent George Spriggs and candidate Velma May.
Big Sandy RECC engaged two independent third-party vendors to conduct the election. All ballots were printed and mailed by the first vendor. The second third-party vendor (Certified Public Accountant) received, opened and tabulated all ballots.
There was a total of 1,942 ballots received and a total of 119 void ballots with no signature which results in 1,823 total votes counted.
The official vote total was:
District 3
George Spriggs (Incumbent) 686
Velma May (Candidate) 1,137
"As a member of Big Sandy RECC we want to express our appreciation to you, and how hard we are working to provide you with reliable and affordable electricity. Big Sandy RECC through hard work, dedication, and being member-minded have provided our members with rates that rank among some of the lowest in the state. Big Sandy RECC was established in 1940 to provide a benefit for electrical needs, and to be a community cornerstone for the people of the rural areas in whom we are and for whom we serve. Big Sandy RECC provides services for Breathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin, Morgan counties. We have 1,100 miles of distribution line reaching out to 13,000 members."
East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC), which generates and transmits wholesale electricity to Big Sandy RECC, is seeking to raise the base rates it charges Big Sandy RECC and 15 other electric co-ops.
EKPC filed its application with the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC). If approved, the proposal by EKPC will increase Big Sandy RECC’s rates and add about $4.20 or 3.32 percent to the monthly bill of the average residential member.
The proposed rate increase is from EKPC, not Big Sandy RECC, and any additional revenue from this rate increase will go to EKPC, not Big Sandy RECC. The request is not in response to this year’s storm damage, and the proposal has nothing to do with the rate increase of Kentucky Power.
EKPC needs a base rate increase to ensure there are sufficient margins to maintain financial strength and reliable service. If approved by the PSC, it will mark EKPC’s first increase in base rates since 2011.
EKPC filed the rate-adjustment request on April 1. Big Sandy RECC also filed an application with the PSC detailing how the adjustment would be passed through its monthly bills to the membership.
Please bear in mind that the wholesale power component of your electric bill is about 62percent. The remaining funds are used by Big Sandy RECC to maintain and operate its system and to cover other costs.
As a not-for-profit, member-owned organization, EKPC strives to keep rates steady by containing and reducing operating costs. One of the most effective ways EKPC has done that is by obtaining low-cost energy through PJM, a major regional energy marketplace. As a result of the effort by our co-op and EKPC to keep energy economical, Big Sandy RECC’s rates are competitive with neighboring utilities.
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