Grand Rapids, MN – Lake Country Power members will see an unusual ballot in their mailboxes this month. The ballot will ask members to vote on whether or not the rural electric cooperative will be subject to additional government review and jurisdiction by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

The issue will be decided by a majority of those voting. The cooperative’s board is unanimous in its opposition to regulation by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, but understands that members have a voice, a right and a vote on the issue in response to a membership petition.

“Some members believe regulation by the MPUC will bring them more favorable rates for electricity,” said Richard Wallin, the Lake Country Power Board president. “The reality is regulation by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will not reduce rising electric rates. In fact, additional regulation would only add to the cooperative’s costs.”

Lake Country Power is holding member meetings with the petitioners’ group to discuss the issue before the July 26 ballot mailing. The member meeting schedule and a full summary of the issue is available on the co-op’s web site at www.lakecountrypower.coop.

The web site features comments from petitioners and co-op officials as well as additional perspective on co-op rate regulation from LeRoy Koppendrayer, the former Chair of the MPUC, who served on the Commission from 1998-2008.

Ballots will be sent to all members and the vote will be administered by the Minnesota Office of Energy Security through August 16. Members may contact Survey & Ballot Systems at 1-866-909-3549 if there are questions about ballots or the ballot mailing.  

Lake Country Power, www.lakecountrypower.coop, is a Touchstone Energy® cooperative serving parts of eight counties in northeastern Minnesota. The rural electric cooperative provides services to more than 42,000 members and has offices located in Grand Rapids, Kettle River and Mountain Iron.

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