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Bluebonnet’s Members Re-elect Three Incumbent Directors During Annual Meeting
5/9/2012 1:58:36 PM
For Immediate Release: Contact: Will Holford, (512) 289-5982
Tuesday, May 08, 2012 Janet Wilson, (512) 750-5483
Bluebonnet’s Members Re-elect Three Incumbent Directors During Annual Meeting
Bastrop – Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative members re-elected three incumbent directors to the co-op’s 11-member board during its annual meeting. Suanna Tumlinson of Travis County, Richard Schmidt of Caldwell County and James Kershaw of Bastrop County received the most votes of the six candidates in this year’s election.
“I am exceptionally pleased with the outcome of this election and honored by the vote of confidence that our members gave the current directors,” said Schmidt, board chairman. “We have a very dedicated board that strives to provide safe, reliable, competitively priced power. I think today’s vote validates all of their hard work.”
One third of Bluebonnet’s board is up for election each year. Directors serve three-year terms. More than 7,000 Bluebonnet members voted in this year’s election, either by proxy or in person at the annual meeting.
Mark Rose, Bluebonnet’s general manager, spoke to more than 250 co-op members who attended the meeting about the need for conservation, improved energy efficiency and energy management in light of the challenges facing the state’s electric market.
Also included in his comments was information about how next year’s board election will differ from this year’s. Last month, Bluebonnet’s board unanimously voted to change from an at-large election in favor of district representation.
“Sixty-two percent of our meters are in five counties – Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson,” Rose said. “We literally could have two directors from each of those counties. It’s hard to argue that’s a fair outcome to the members in the rest of our service area. That’s why the board voted to go to districts.”
Rose said the board will develop a plan that will evenly divide the co-op’s service area based on demographics. The board will solicit input from co-op members and expects to present its final plan during its September meeting.
Matt Bentke, Bluebonnet’s chief operating officer, provided information about the co-op’s operational and financial strengths, including assets, electric rates, capital credits and growth. Bentke spoke about the challenges facing the electric market in Texas. The state’s grid operator projects potential shortages in supply in the coming years. However, Bentke reported that the Lower Colorado River Authority, Bluebonnet’s primary electric provider, will have enough electricity for co-op members.
Bentke also addressed Bluebonnet’s response to last year’s wildfires in Bastrop County, how the co-op was able to quickly marshal resources to the area and safely integrate into the emergency response command team.
“Safety and efficiency were paramount in our emergency recovery and power restoration plan,” Bentke said. “Our technology enabled us to combine design and construction teams to assess damage and order materials from the field. This made it possible for us to restore power in just over two weeks.”
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of the largest electric cooperatives in Texas and has been serving its members since 1939. Bluebonnet serves more than 81,000 meters and owns and maintains 11,000 miles of power lines, located across more than 3,800 square miles within 14 Central Texas counties. Bluebonnet’s service area stretches from Travis County to Washington County, and from Milam County down to Gonzales County. For more information about Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, go to www.bluebonnetelectric.coop and follow the co-op on Facebook and Twitter.
