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Keep Cherryland Electric Open and Available to its Members

Background:

On February 8th, Cherryland Electric Cooperative announced that it would be seeking self regulation (View Here). Up to this time, Cooperatives in Michigan were operating under limited oversight from the Michigan Public Service Commission. This oversight was restricted to specific areas of operation, but rates that were charged to members was something that did have to go before the MPSC.

Cherryland wants to end this limited oversight by the MPSC and have full control over the rates it charges for all services. Cherryland will be the first cooperative in Michigan to seek this designation.

We Believe:

Co-opConversations.org believes that if Cherryland becomes self-regulated in regards to rates there will be no option left to members if the Wolverine coal plant becomes a financial boondoggle. The membership will be locked in to high rates for a proposal many feel is unwarranted and risky. Currently members have no access to important financial records and crucial data about the proposal has not been made public.

Did you know that since 2004, members have contributed almost $40 million in a Power Supply Development Fund? Have you kept track of the member patronage accounts to understand why there is almost $30 million at Cherryland alone? Did you agree to the exclusive power supply contract that Cherryland signed with Wolverine that is binding until 2050?

If the Cherryland Board of Directors has not explained these details to you, how far can you trust them with your electric rates in the future?

But the big problem is that members are kept in the dark by Cherryland.

Your access to financial information is restricted.
Your access to the minutes of board meetings is restricted.
Your access to information about future costs is restricted.
Board meetings are kept closed except by special invitations to individual members.

In short, Cherryland keeps as much important information from its membership as possible, and now wants to remove the only regulatory oversight it has to deal with.

The Solution:

Co-opConversations.org believes that Cherryland can operate as a successful cooperative under self regulation. However they must also adapt rules that allow transparency in operations. Based on legislation recently introduced in the Texas legislature, and laws in the state of Alaska, cooperatives must be kept from operating from behind closed doors, we ask that Cherryland Electric adapt the following rules to insure an open and honest cooperative business.

Please Indicate Your Support Below

Cherryland Members Petition for Open Operations

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Comment (Optional): Please submit your comment or question.

We, the undersigned members of Cherryland Electric Cooperative, ask the board of directors to adapt the following policies to enhance member participation and create transparency in Cherryland’s business activity.

Adapt standard open-meetings requirements for member transparency.
Adapt standard open-records requirements for member education.
Adapt a voting policy that prohibits proxy voting for board members.
Adapt a policy that provides for true third party, independent review of board decisions and long-term investment decisions.

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