April 23 , 2007

FKEC Board of Directors Treasurer Frank Hawkins said the Co-op has only had one price increase in 10 years.

Storm Hardening Efforts,
Fiscal Responsibility
Stressed at Annual Meeting

Members of the Florida Keys Electric Co-op were provided details of the utility's ongoing storm hardening efforts at the 66th annual meeting and picnic Saturday at Coral Shores High School. Members also received financial reports and other details of the Co-op's operations.

The annual event attracted over 500 members who were treated to a jambalaya lunch, a prize raffle and the Sun 103 Kids Show.

CEO Scott Newberry provided the crowd with details of the Co-op's ongoing storm hardening efforts. "Our objective is to continue to provide the storm vulnerable Upper Keys with the most reliable power possible," Newberry said. He said the Co-op's record of dependability was rated at the top among Florida and national utilities. He also reported on the upgrade of the Tavernier substation, new lightning arrestor installations, introduction of FKEC’s switch to biodiesel fuel for its trucks, the new online payment and account access service, a do-it-yourself energy audit tool and an automated outage mapping system.

David Ritz, president of the Co-op board, praised the Co-op’s employees for their continuing outstanding efforts on behalf of over 31,000 members of the Co-op from Ocean Reef to Marathon. "You provide us with dependable electricity in an outstanding manner," he said. Ritz praised their skills and dedication saying they were the primary element in the successful operation of the Co-op. And the members, he said, are grateful for their tireless efforts. He thanked the employees for their continuing efforts to improve the Co-op's long history of great customer service.

Frank Hawkins, treasurer of the Co-op and chairman of the board’s Finance Committee, said the Co-op has continued to demonstrate outstanding fiscal responsibility with only one price increase in direct Co-op charges to members in the past 10 years. He said fluctuations in members' monthly power bills reflected both usage and the cost of power. Most of the electricity provided by the Co-op is purchased from FPL and is priced monthly based on current fossil fuel rates.

FKEC's Chris Pankow (left) and Ken Elgersma (center) discuss FKEC's Marathon Generation Facility operations with a member.	FKEC Member Service Representative Maria Jones talks with a member during the Annual Meeting.
FKEC's own award-winning chef Jack Pinder prepared a Jambalaya lunch for the more than 500 members attending the meeting.	FKEC offered many informational booths at the meeting, including this "Biking for Watts" energy exhibit.