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Kansas
Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (KEC) is the catalyst for the electric
cooperatives which serve in the state. Within its several areas, a myriad of
activities is carried out annually on behalf of the member-cooperatives.
Those areas include Governmental Relations, Apparatus Testing, Loss Control
and Safety, Regulatory Compliance, Communications, Education and Training,
Legal Assistance, Rural TV, and Management Consulting Services. The KEC
member-cooperatives each have representation on the KEC Board of Trustees.
Committees composed of KEC Trustees and member-cooperatives' managers assist
in directing the various activities and services.
Governmental Relations
There is hardly any legislation that does
not impact in some manner upon the electric cooperatives of Kansas. Whether
on the state or national levels, it is imperative that these legislative
activities be monitored. By coming together and addressing legislative
issues with one voice, the electric cooperatives continue to be a major
player in shaping the legislation that impacts upon the member-owners'
electricity bills.
Apparatus Testing
Providing
reliable, power quality electricity is a highly technical task. KEC
provides technical services in electrical apparatus testing and maintenance
which can assist utilities in this task. Routine and emergency use of these
services can avoid potential serious outages caused by transformer or other
system element failure. From new substation commissioning to maintenance of
single phase oil circuit reclosers, KEC has the trained personnel and test
equipment needed to perform these services.
Loss Control & Safety
Controlling losses and promoting safety
has always been one of the major goals of Kansas Electric Cooperatives.
Special effort is made to train linemen and others to perform their jobs
efficiently and, since much of today's line work involves working with
fully-energized wires, to perform their tasks with proven safety procedures.
Special emphasis is placed upon "No Lost-time" due to an accident and the
effort continues to pay off with lower worker compensation insurance
premiums and no fatalities.
Regulatory Compliance
The past few decades have produced
numerous regulations at both the state and national level. Environmental
regulations and safe working standards have come from the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
Federal Highway Administration, and others. KEC has full time personnel
reviewing the regulations and keeping the member-cooperatives advised on
compliance procedures.
Communications
KEC produces Kansas Country Living, a
monthly magazine that is the primary communications vehicle to the
consumer-members of the KEC member-cooperatives. Other department services
include the operation of a print shop, youth education tours, photographic
and darkroom work, advertising, and public relations activities.
Education/Training
KEC provides training opportunities for
member-cooperative managers, staff members and trustees throughout the year.
Training sessions help participants make better business and policy
decisions, as well as assist them with the more technical aspects of their
employee responsibilities.
Legal Assistance
At the local level, KEC
member-cooperatives utilize legal counsel in the day-to-day operations of
the electric cooperatives. However, when matters reach the state or federal
level, KEC's legal staff coordinates interventions and appeals before the
Kansas Corporation Commission, Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, and other units
of government.
Management Consulting
The Management
Consulting Department has vast experience in assisting member cooperatives
with the electric retail ratemaking process. A comprehensive rate study
begins by reviewing or developing an equity management plan, determining the
cost of capital and revenue requirement and finally developing a cost of
service study. Retail rates are then designed to achieve the objectives of
the cooperative. A competitive analysis is also incorporated into this
process. Special rates to encourage wise-use or to implement a load
management program are a specialty of the staff and the department can
assist in the negotiations for special large power rates. The department
also provides expertise in the areas of accounting, finance and taxes by
offering depreciation studies, financial forecasts and capital credit
studies, as well as serving as a resource on sales tax issues and property
tax assessments of electric cooperatives. |