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Bayfield Electric Cooperative was formed by a group of rural pioneers who saw the need for electric service to
our rural area and decided to do something about it. We presently serve Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer
and Vilas counties in Wisconsin and Gogebic in Michigan.
The system was energized on January 25, 1945. We have approximately 8,200 members
served by nearly 1,850
miles of distribution line. Your Cooperative employs 23 people and has assets
of 15.5 million.
Each summer your Cooperative holds an Annual Meeting. That meeting is to elect directors and to give you the
opportunity to meet and talk with fellow members and Co-op employees.
The nine member board elected by you holds regularly scheduled meetings every month as well as special meetings
when needed. Day-to-day operations are handled by the General Manager.
Local control through your locally elected directors ensures all members an equal voice in the operation of the
Cooperative. The one member-one vote system has proven to be a unique and effective way of doing business.
Bayfield Electric Cooperative purchases power from Dairyland Power Cooperative and sells it to you at rates
which allow for the cost of the purchased power and to cover maintenance of the distribution system. Any margins
over the actual operating expenses are returned to you in the form of Capital Credits.
Bayfield Electric Cooperative is one of about 1,000 electric cooperatives serving over 25 million Americans
nationwide. Electric Cooperatives own and maintain nearly one half the nation's power poles and lines stretching
across 70 percent of the United States.
Bayfield Electric Cooperative serves an average of four members per each mile of line compared to
investor-owned utilities which average 31 customers per mile of line and municipal utilities which average 65
customers per mile of line.
The mission of Bayfield Electric Cooperative is to provide the best possible electric service at the lowest possible
cost.
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STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION
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Bayfield Electric Cooperative is the recipient of Federal
financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an
agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In accordance with
federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution
is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color,
national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited
bases apply to all programs.)
The person responsible for coordinating this organization's
nondiscrimination compliance efforts is Carl J. Melchiors, General
Manager of Bayfield Electric Cooperative Any individual,
or specific class of individuals, who feels that this organization
has subjected them to discrimination may file a written complaint
with this organization; or the Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D.C. 20250; or the Administrator, Rural Utilities
Service, Washington, D.C. 20250. Complaints must be filed within
180 days after the alleged discriminatory action, or by such later
date to which the Secretary of Agriculture or the Administrator
of RUS extends the time for filing. Identity of complainants will
be kept confidential except to the extent necessary to carry out
the purpose of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture.
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THE ANNUAL MEETING IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OF THE YEAR
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Each summer we hold our ANNUAL MEETING. It is very important for each member to make an effort to attend.
The purpose of the meeting is to elect three directors to the nine member board and to report on cooperative
activities.
This opportunity for interaction by all members is what separates cooperatives from any other form of business, and
we put considerable effort into making the Annual Meeting a positive exchange of ideas.
About a month prior to the actual day of the Annual Meeting you will receive an official notice in the mail. We also
publicize the Annual Meeting in the REC NEWS and area newspapers.
You are cordially invited and heartily urged to attend and participate in your cooperative's business at the Annual
Meeting.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Over 400 attended the 1998 Annual Meeting in Iron River, Wisconsin
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YOU WILL EARN CAPITAL CREDITS FOR BEING A MEMBER
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Capital Credits indicate your past patronage in your Cooperative
CAPITAL CREDITS ARE NOT A BILL--NOR MAY THEY BE DEDUCTED
FROM PAYMENTS MADE BY YOU TO THE COOPERATIVE.
Each year your Cooperative's board of directors approves a budget
that includes all of the projected expenses for the year, including
the cost to purchase power at wholesale, salaries, and operations
and maintenance expenses. At year-end, the "margin"
for the year, representing the excess of actual revenues over
actual costs and expenses, is allocated back to the members in
the form of patronage capital credits, in proportion to the members'
patronage during that year. Your Cooperative uses this money as
working capital until financial conditions of the business allows
it to be distributed back to the members in cash. Capital Credits
are the property of the members, and accumulate from year to year
until they are distributed when that capital is no longer needed.
Capital Credits records are maintained according to the member
number, NOT according to account number. We locate your service
and keep records of your billing and payments to the Cooperative
with the account number and record your Capital Credits with your
member number.
The Cooperative's agreements with its lenders requires that its
"equity", (excess of its assets over all of its debt
obligations) be maintained at certain levels. When the Cooperative's
financial position allows it to meet its lenders' requirements
and it is in a financial position to do so, the board of directors
will direct that Capital Credits be returned to the members. Typically,
the Capital Credits distributed in the current year represent
patronage from 20 years before.
If you are a current member, your Capital Credits distribution
will be applied as a deduction to your electric bill. If you are
no longer a member at the time of distribution, a check will be
mailed to you.
September 8, 1941 - 466 members accepted.
The board of directors met in the town hall in Iron River to
perform one of its responsibilities on a scale never since equaled.
During the course of this one session. The directors voted on
and accepted into membership in The-Cooperative 466 applicants.
Present at this meeting were The seven original directors and
The newly appointed director Ole Anderson. Ed Maryland. Who had
by then taken permanent residence in Idaho was absent.
September 29, 1941 - First annual meeting
At this meeting a new board of directors was voted on: those to serve were,
Earl Anderson, John Shykes. Russell Rowley. Tony Radosevich. Herman
Hanson, Gerald Grubisic. Ole Anderson. Andrew Mihalak and Emil
Aho. The board elected Earl Anderson to serve as president: John
Shykes as vice-president: Gerald Grubisic as secretary: and Herman
Hanson as treasurer.
November 10, 1941 - First wiring loan
At a meeting of The new board on November 10, 1941. The Co-op's
first wiring and plumbing loan from REA was negotiated in The
amount of $40,000.
November 25, 1941 - First Pole Set
This was another memorable day in The history of Bayfield Electric
Cooperative. It was on this date The The first pole of The system
as erected on The Oscar Zelmer farm, located 3-1/2 miles north
of Iron River.
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