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Thursday, May 01, 2008

Editorial: Electric Co-Op Kidding Itself



      About 150 Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative members showed up for the co-op's annual meeting in Estancia on Saturday.
       Some voiced concerns about where the co-op gets its electricity, some brought up concerns about renewable electricity such as wind and solar power.
       What was missing was the outrage from members about increasing power costs that have been passed on to members. The lack of people coming to the meeting and the absence of concern even moved J.T. Turner, the co-op's board president, to strike an optimistic tone.
       “With this few people showing up, it makes me feel that you're pretty well-satisfied,” Turner said.
       The co-op's CEO and general manager, John Wheeler, went on to say that the lack of candidates who wanted to run for the board is another indication things are running OK at the co-op.
       “I think that means that most people are not disgruntled,” Wheeler said.
       Wheeler said that a pair of state Public Regulation Commission investigations is a nuisance brought on by about 15 people and that they are costing other co-op members money.
       Really? Everything is just peachy at the co-op?
       Do Wheeler and the co-op board really think the problem is just a couple of people who complain too much and everyone else is happy?
       The way they treat their customers indicates that may be the case. When business owners Denny Snyder and Brent Perkins pointed out that time-of-use rates may not be set right, Wheeler responded by saying that using propane would be more expensive. Snyder says that when he noticed his rates were wrong he and about 60 other people attended two public meetings to get the situation taken care of. The co-op's response? Ignore the complaints.
       But those complaints could not be ignored, and eventually the co-op sent refund checks to the people complaining.
       Now, Wheeler and company are trying to make scapegoats out of anyone who complains about the co-op, telling members that the PRC investigation is their fault and customers mad about rates should look to the complainers, not the co-op.
       We don't buy it. Perhaps people didn't show up at the annual meeting because they think nothing will ever change and that the only response to concerns will be accusations from the co-op's general manager.
       To say people are happy paying the co-op's high rates is ridiculous. There may be valid reasons for higher rates to the co-op's members, but blaming people who have legitimate concerns is not the answer.
       Wheeler needs to curtail his arrogance and stop scapegoating the co-op's customers, or perhaps the co-op board should find someone who can lead instead of pass around blame.
   

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