NEWS RELEASE
Consumers Energy
2908 S. Center St.
Marshalltown, IA 50158
800-696-6552
Release Date: Immediate
Consumers Energy's 65th Annual Meeting Speech by Brian Heithoff
Thanks Bob. I’d like to begin
by also welcoming you to the Cooperative’s 65th annual meeting. It
is no small feat in this day and time to remain a viable ongoing organization
for such a long period of time.
Thinking back to our beginning, it is interesting how the more
things change, the more they stay the same. In the 1930’s
rural Iowans were not enjoying the same standard of living as those
living in towns and cities. Some farms had windmills to generate
power, but a more robust and reliable solution was needed. That
solution was central station electricity with a grid distribution
system.
At that time, farmers banded together to form Marshall County
REC in order to work together to develop a solution for their problems.
These farmers did what many said couldn’t be done, and built
a company on providing energy solutions to rural residents.
Today, new energy technologies are emerging, more options are
possible and while we still are all in need of energy to live and
work (more than ever I suspect), the expectations and wants and
needs from one person to the next are becoming more diverse than
ever. In this day and age, we all want our options and we want
products and services to fit our own unique needs.
What I find interesting is how this reminds me of the 30’s – Central
Iowans in need of solutions that relate to energy, and not finding
all the answers nor being able to trust the answers from outsiders.
This is where your cooperative comes in, just like 65 years ago.
Over the past few years, we are focusing our entire employee group
on forming cooperative relationships with our members…and
even some non-members. Also, we still provide electricity, but
we realize your energy needs don’t stop there. And so we
are in the process of being able to provide solutions in a number
of energy related areas. I often hear about how Consumers Energy
is changing, and we are. But at the same time, I simply look at
it as taking steps to move back to our roots. Focusing on our members
and customers. Working in a spirit of cooperation. Basing our relationships
on integrity and doing what we say we will do. And providing solutions – granted,
not just in one area like originally – but in a number of
energy-related areas in which Central Iowans have needs.
With that, I’d like to accomplish at least two things this
year in the remainder of my report to the membership. The first
will be to introduce your employees. The second will be to expand
more about where Consumers Energy is headed as an organization
and how we believe we can add value to the membership in the future.
If time permits, and I recognize you may not enjoy hearing my voice
as much as I do, I may have time for a short question or two.
So first, if I can ask the employees to come and line up in front
of the stage.
Now, I’d like to talk a little bit about where the purpose
of Consumers Energy is leading us.
According to a recent ACSI customer satisfaction survey (which
is used nationwide as a benchmark for service organizations), we
realized a score of 83, which is a significantly high number, compared
to other energy providers. Think for a moment that if we can provide
more prompt, flexible and responsive service related to our gas
and electric distribution members, why not try to extend that level
of service to others not as fortunate to receive it from other
companies.
We know that due to a proliferation of electronics in the home
and business, power quality and power reliability are becoming
more important. Consumers are demanding more…and these demands
are higher than what can be provided via the electric transmission
and distribution grid. Site-specific energy technologies and services
must be provided in conjunction with the grid service. If we do
not step up to the plate, we will lose credibility as being a reliable
provider, as well as lose customers to third- party service providers.
We know that Americans are becoming more environmentally conscious
as we grow older and become concerned about the ground, air and
water in the future. If we can help Central Iowans to learn about
and implement alternative energy technologies and renewable energy
generating technologies, it will be helping them, and us, in our
efforts to protect the environment and reduce our reliance on energy
imports. Who better to help make this commitment to the local area
and to the future of Central Iowa than your locally-owned cooperative?
We know prices for gas and propane are becoming more volatile,
and since an increasingly higher percentage of electricity in America
is generated with gas, electric prices will follow the price of
the natural gas wholesale market. Who better than a trusted organization
like Consumers Energy to help use and manage energy more efficiently
and effectively through a combination of better information, building
design and products and services?
In addition to the volatility, the cost of energy will continue
to increase due to grid constraints and security costs. Newer technologies
are seeing their prices come down while the price of traditional
energy production is increasing. One can see that when these two
trends intersect, the energy world has the potential to turn upside
down.
To many consumers, the choices associated with heating, lighting
and powering their homes and business are expanding and becoming
more complicated than a few decades ago. We know the choices are
only going to expand. There are already multiple pricing schedules
such as time of use, green power, firm vs. interruptible, on-site
vs. off the grid, back-up, and someday even a choice of their retail
gas and electric supply. Who better to help them sort through their
options than a trusted resource like Consumers Energy?
It is a great time for cooperatives when trust is waning in corporate
America.
It is a great time for Consumers Energy to utilize its expertise,
its trust and its resources to provide solutions to a broad spectrum
of energy needs that Central Iowans have.
It is a great time to be an employee of Consumers Energy as we
become more trusted and more utilized despite the challenges involved
with transitioning ourselves from basic delivery of one service
to one in which we identify, design and even deliver solutions
to a number of needs….and we do it by living our values every
day.
In August, your Board of Directors and the Management Team of
the cooperative met for two days to discuss these very questions
I just asked. They are good questions…..and they are very
valid questions considering what is happening in our world today.
At that meeting, we developed a new statement of vision for the
cooperative and also a statement of mission, or purpose. Our aspirations
are: To become our members’ and customers’ most trusted
energy resource. And it is the mission of Consumers Energy to work
cooperatively to identify, understand and provide energy solutions
focusing on our members and customers in Central Iowa.
As you can see, our vision for the future and current mission
is different than in the past when we simply defined our purpose
as being to deliver reliable and affordable power. We will still
do that, as we have a glorious and rich history which we must respect
and build upon…..and at the same time, we will be doubling
down on our roots by transitioning the cooperative to providing
a higher level of value by helping our members…and even non-members….
on a whole host of energy needs. Who else other than your trusted …..
and locally-owned cooperative.
Collectively, working in a spirit of cooperation, we can do it.
I have confidence in us, in this organization, in the Board and
in our membership to support us.
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