East River recognizes utilities for storm aid, federal administrator with highest award
Sept. 7, 2006
Sioux Falls -- During its 56th annual meeting on Wednesday (Sept. 6), the Board of Directors for East River Electric Power Cooperative recognized nine utilities for helping to restore power following the Nov. 27-28, 2005 ice storm. In addition, the administrator for a federal power marketing agency was also commended for his support of rural electrification during his career.
A total of 10 Eminent Service Awards were presented during East River's annual awards ceremony before a crowd of 350 electric cooperative officials, employees and utility industry colleagues at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
Board President Wayne Wright presented the awards to the utilities that sent employees and equipment, which were instrumental in helping East River replace hundreds of destroyed power poles and repair hundreds of miles of transmission lines impacted by the ice storm and blizzard.
"These dedicated professionals from seven electric cooperatives and two neighboring utilities battled through ice, deep snow and subzero temperatures, helping East River's workforce to restore power following the worst storm in East River history," Wright said. “In recognition of your exemplary service in providing mutual aid after the disastrous ice storm and in helping to restore our transmission system, the East River Board is pleased to bestow its highest recognition -- The Eminent Service Award.”
Accepting the awards for their organizations were:
PMA leader also receives Eminent Service Award
Through the East River Eminent Service Award, the East River Board of Directors also recognizes individuals for their contributions to rural electrification and rural America.
“This year, we recognize Michael S. Hacskaylo, administrator of the Western Area Power Administration, who has worked to ensure the reliability and viability of an important power supply to this region -- the federal hydropower system," Wright said.
Hacskaylo is retiring at the end of the year, concluding a 30-year civil service career with federal agencies. Starting in 1976 at the U.S. Department of the Interior, he provided legal advice on land and water issues to the Bureau of Reclamation. He joined Western Area Power Administration in 1981, was appointed its General Counsel in 1985 and named administrator in 1998.
As administrator, Hacskaylo oversees the agency of the U.S. Department of Energy that markets and delivers federal power to nearly 700 electric cooperatives and utilities in 15 western states. Approximately 30 percent of East River's bulk power supply comes from clean, renewable federal hydropower.
Under his leadership, Western is making enhancements to improve the reliability and security of its power supply system. Other projects are building needed new transmission circuits to relieve bottlenecks, facilitating access to its regional transmission system and installing new technology to improve capability and performance.
“Numerous Western improvements in this region are benefiting electric cooperatives and their member-consumers," Wright said. " During this tenuous era of dramatic reregulation of the utility industry, Hacskaylo has kept Western solidly focused on serving its customers with reliable power at the lowest-cost possible. And, Western continues to meet its contract obligations to its federal power customers despite the continuing severe drought in the region.”
East River's annual meeting also featured a report to member systems, annual business meeting and a Political Forum, featuring candidates for governor, public utilities commissioner and U.S. Congress.
Headquartered in Madison, S.D., East River is a power-supply cooperative that delivers wholesale power through a 2,600-mile transmission system to 21 member electric distribution systems. These distribution systems in turn provide retail electricity to 85,700 homes and businesses in a 36,000-square-mile service area, covering 41 counties in eastern South Dakota and nine counties in western Minnesota. East River and its member cooperatives belong to an alliance of 630 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives in 45 states, delivering energy and energy solutions with integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.
