Bethany Clausen-Fichter

This document reflects on the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan of Mountain Parks Electric, which was developed to navigate rapid industry evolution, cost pressures, and staff turnover, while upholding core pillars of safety, reliability, cost efficiency, and sustainability. The plan focused on seven strategic goals: safety, recruiting and retaining high-quality staff, securing a reliable and affordable power supply, ensuring strong and secure systems, maintaining high member satisfaction, preserving financial strength, and advancing continuous improvement through board and leadership development. It aimed to deliver safe, reliable, cost-effective, sustainable energy and services to members and communities.

The 75th Annual Meeting of members included several key reports and actions. The determination of quorum confirmed that 192 members were present. The notice of the meeting and annual reports were acknowledged as mailed on March 27, 2025. Directors Mark Volt, Justin Fosha, and Liz McIntyre were elected unopposed for four-year terms in their respective districts. Discussions included a presentation on the current energy industry by Guzman Energy's Chief Commercial Officer, the President's report, the CEO's report, and a presentation honoring MPEI's Linemen. The Chief Financial Officer presented the financial and organizational standings. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to announcing numerous winners across Traditional Applicants, Non-traditional Applicants, and Trade School Scholarship categories.

The Board Meeting Bulletin summarizes highlights from the recent MPE Board Meeting. Key accomplishments for 2025 reviewed included safety records, successful power supply transition, obtaining New ERA funding, member support initiatives, grid hardening efforts, and maintaining a stable workforce. The board voted to introduce electronic voting as an option for director elections, with options for paper or in-person voting in contested races for Districts 2 and 5. Discussions also covered the 2026 programming plan, which includes expanding member programs such as the BOOST program, increasing insulation rebates, expanding the Clean Power Program, revamping the solar program, and continuing EV outreach. Future focus areas for 2026 include assisting members with outage preparedness and supporting the New ERA Community Benefits Plan.

The meeting included the official call to order and confirmation of a quorum. Key agenda items involved introducing two new staff members: Don Finn, the new Operations Manager, and Brian Lee, the new Safety Coordinator, who provided brief introductions regarding their extensive utility and safety backgrounds. Discussions centered on strategic goals, including exploring new business opportunities related to the fiber backbone project, particularly concerning a potential partner struggling with financing. The Board is also exploring alternative monetization methods for the backbone. Updates were provided on the ARDOFF auction results concerning Connexin winning portions of the service territory, scheduling a follow-up meeting with Connexin management, and updating the wildfire protection and vegetation management plans, with Don Finn designated as the representative for the update process. Furthermore, progress on finalizing the consumer solar community solar lease agreement was discussed, noting ongoing difficulties with finalizing the legal draft, especially regarding noise concerns from the proposed solar project sites. Finally, a detailed report on the troublesome fire costs, breaking down FEMA estimates versus actual expenditures in labor, materials, overheads, and contractors, was presented, along with an explanation for the high overhead percentage relative to other utilities.

The MPE Board meeting covered several topics, including the review and approval of a donation to Grand Enterprise Initiative from the Unclaimed Capital Credits Fund. An update was provided on MPE's New ERA award, noting progress in grant paperwork processing. Presentations were given by staff regarding efforts to enhance MPE's distribution system, including a drone monitoring project, annual pole inspections, and the Construction Work Plan. The board also discussed prioritizing and completing work plan projects to maintain system reliability and safety, and the awarding of MPE's long-range plan and construction work plan to Stanley Consultants.