Illinois
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Electric co-ops provide scholarships

For the fifth consecutive year the Illinois electric cooperatives will award $1,000 academic scholarships to high school seniors. The three scholarships are being awarded through the Illinois Electric Cooperative (IEC) Memorial Scholarship Program. Because of the scholarship program's success, an extra scholarship was added this year for children of cooperative members.

High school seniors pursuing a college education in the state of Illinois are eligible to participate in the program. Two of the three scholarships will be awarded to the children of electric cooperative members. The other $1,000 award will go to the child of an electric cooperative director or employee. Deadline for applications to be returned to the cooperative is January 1, 2000. Contact your local electric cooperative for more information.

Candidates are judged on the basis of grade point average, college entrance exam scores, work and volunteer experience, school and civic activities, and a short essay that demonstrates their knowledge of electric cooperatives.

Past winners include: Tim Heyen of Tuscola, Katherine Brix of Shelbyville, Peter Kollinger of Paris, Mark Hoemmen of Dallas City, Rebecca Swearingen of Melvin, Ryan Cleland of Pinckneyville, Jason Dotterer of Fairbury and Garrick Liefer of Red Bud.

Shooting insulators dangerous and illegal

It doesn't take a crack shot to hit an insulator, just a crackpot. Soon the hunting season will be in full swing, and that usually means some serious problems for your local electric cooperative linemen. The problem is careless shooters taking pot shots at electrical insulators, transformers, and all other kinds of electrical fixtures.

Not only does this illegal target practice cause inconvenience to those whose electricity has been disrupted, it could even be a matter of life and death to someone on a life support system. This is where some family discussion about the proper use of firearms is so important. Don't take for granted that all the hunters in your family know not to shoot electrical fixtures. Some of young hunters are not old enough to realize the dangers.

Power lines, carrying over 7,200 volts or more, can kill instantly. A downed line could drop across a fence with deadly results. An insulator cracked by a bullet can remain on line for a long time before it finally fails. Help your local co-op stop vandalism.

Southwestern Electric Cooperative installs power plant

Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Greenville, will construct a peaking power plant to run when power is in short supply. The power plant will utilize aerospace technology to convert natural gas into electricity and will be located adjacent to a co-op substation in Fayette County. The co-op's power plant will also provide energy to the open market.

Alan Libbra, board president, said "The energy industry is walking a fine line between supply and demand. You don't have to be an industry analyst to figure that out. Just flip through newspapers from the last two summers and you'll see a trend. Generation hasn't kept up with growth in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, and it shows."

Libbra said price spikes and the threat of blackouts are serving as a "wake-up call" to Midwest utilities.

The single-cycle peaking turbine is similar to those found in commercial airline engines. Natural gas feeds the turbine, which in turn generates electricity. The unit will have a peak capacity of 45 megawatts.

The co-op has a power supply contract with Cinergy Corp., Cincinnati, Ohio, until 2004. In the near term, energy from the co-op's power plant will be sold on the open market, producing new capital for the member-owned utility. At the end of the contract the co-op will have the option of using the power plant to provide power to the members or continue to sell power on the open market. Libbra said, "We'll make that decision based on which course of action ensures rate stability and service reliability for our membership."

Kerry Sloan, Executive Vice President and General Manager, emphasized that the cooperative pursued the project because it offers what he calls strategic independence. "We didn't want our members to be at the mercy of an unpredictable wholesale power market for the next 10 years. The ability to generate power offers us a lot of control over the future of Southwestern Electric," said Sloan. Construction is expected to begin this fall, with power production planned for June of 2000.

6 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING NOVEMBER 1999

EnerStar Power first co-op to enter deregulated market

Illinois consumer-owned electric providers, cooperatives and municipal utilities, have local decision-making authority on entering the deregulated utility market. EnerStar Power Corp, a Paris-based electric cooperative, has chosen to dive in with both feet.

EnerStar Power is one of seven alternative retail electric suppliers (ARES) certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Before approval the Commerce Commission looks at whether the ARES applicant has the financial, technical and administrative experience necessary.

EnerStar Power serves 5,000 members in Clark, Coles, Douglas, Edgar and Vermilion counties. The co-op will compete for new customers with the state's large investor-owned utilities and EnerStar members will be allowed to purchase wholesale power from other providers. EnerStar Power does not own power generating capacity, but purchases power from Cinergy Corp. of Ohio, Central Illinois Light Co. of Peoria and Illinois Power Co. of Decatur. Current suppliers will continue to provide local wire service even if a customer chooses another wholesale power supplier.

Although EnerStar Power may lose energy sales to its member-consumers, Tom Hentz, president/CEO said, "We think our members should have a choice, too." Earl Struck, president/CEO of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives said, "Member elected co-op directors are debating whether it is best for their co-op to enter the deregulated market. Each co-op is different and each board will make a local decision. This is a critical decision with long-term implications for the members. The beauty of the Illinois legislation is that it recognizes the wisdom of allowing local, member elected leaders make this decision."

Deregulation is being phased in. One-third of the state's commercial electric customers, served by investor-owned utilities, began the process in October. All commercial customers of investor-owned utilities will be allowed to choose new wholesale electric power suppliers as of Jan. 1, 2001. Residential customers of investor-owned utilities and participating electric cooperatives and municipal utilities will be included starting May 2, 2002.

Help for grandparents raising children

In Illinois, an estimated 70,000 children under the age of 18 are being raised by their grandparents. Each year, more and more grandparents from various areas, socio-economic and ethnic groups are becoming primary caregivers for their grandchildren. Contributing factors include drug/alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, neglect, abuse, abandonment, death, unemployment, parental incarceration, divorce and AIDS.

Grandparents in this situation face numerous challenges. The Illinois Department on Aging is committed to helping them by providing seed grants to establish new support groups throughout the state. Requests for proposals are available by calling 217-524-5327. You can also visit www.state.il.us/aging/.

8 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING NOVEMBER 1999