News
6/3/2009
OTEC Directors Achieve Credentials in Today’s Electric Utility Competencies
Entire OTEC Board is now Certified
Baker City, OR – June 3, 2009 – OTEC board members Dave Baum and Chuck Hofmann recently received the Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), making the entire Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) Board of Directors credentialed.
Werner Buehler, OTEC General Manager, said, “Today’s electric utility environment imposes new demands on electric cooperative directors, particularly increased knowledge of changes in the electric utility business, new governance skills and a working knowledge of the cooperative principles.” OTEC is committed to working with organizations like NRECA to sharpen this body of knowledge for the benefit of its members.
Dave Baum, President of the OTEC Board, explains the reason he chose to earn his CCD. “To represent the members of OTEC the board needs to be educated and spend the time to make the best decisions,” says Baum.
Reflecting on current issues facing the Board, Baum explains, “On the one hand, Board members need the education and expertise to understand the complexities of negotiations on power contracts with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Then, on the other hand, Board members need the education and expertise in addressing future power supply issues related to load growth.”
Baum continues, “When you are negotiating a Power Purchase Agreement that is approaching a billion dollars over the next 20 years you had better get it right.”
Chuck Hofmann, Secretary-Treasurer of the OTEC Board, echoes the thoughts of Baum. “The electrical business is amazingly complicated – in some ways more so than medicine (Hofmann is a physician in Baker City). The Board represents the interests of every single member. Our job is to provide as reliable power as safely as possible at the lowest reasonable cost. A well-educated Board of Directors along with a competent and dedicated staff is the way to do this.”
Having 100% of the board members certified is a significant achievement. According to NRECA, only two other cooperatives in Oregon have achieved this.
“This is something the members should be proud of and take comfort in,” suggests Buehler.
The NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director, or CCD, program requires attendance and demonstrated understanding of the basic competencies contained in five core courses:
Director Duties and Liabilities
Understanding the Electric Business
Board Roles and Relationships
Strategic Planning
Financial Decision Making
NRECA represents the nation’s more than 900 private, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide electric service to more than 40 million people in 47 states. Learn more about NRECA at www.nreca.coop.
For additional information about OTEC please contact your local OTEC office or visit www.otecc.com.
