East River Electric Power Cooperative held its 74th annual meeting Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, at the Best Western Plus Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls. This year’s annual meeting theme was “Cooperatives: Partners in Progress.” The meeting highlighted the many ways East River Electric is working alongside its member systems to enhance and power people’s lives and communities by providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity as well as investing in communities and individuals. Attendees took part in the event in person as well as through a livestream viewing option.
“East River’s board, our employees and our member systems are “Partners in Progress” as we do what needs to be done to serve our members today – and at the same time plan for tomorrow,” said East River CEO/General Manager Bob Sahr. “We’re facing a lot of challenges – immense growth, supply chain issues, inflation – but through it all we stick together. We prepare for what lies ahead by maintaining forward momentum to seize the opportunities that will come our way.”
During the annual meeting presentation, East River leadership discussed the cooperative’s Transmission System Upgrade Plan, detailing achievements, progress, and challenges that have been overcome. Now in its sixth year, the plan is focused on enhancements and updates to the system’s infrastructure while ensuring the cooperative can meet demand, sustain reliability and prepare for future capacity growth
“We’ve continued to make enhancements and upgrades to East River’s infrastructure meeting goals through planning, coordination and execution. The plan is vital for positioning our system for future load growth and improving reliability,” Sahr said. “The upgrades have paid off, and our system’s reliability has significantly improved, especially during severe storms. Also, with unprecedented growth potential coming to our system, the improvements made in recent years have reinforced the backbone of the transmission system while maintaining the ability to serve anticipated growth. We continue to complete major projects within the plan and adjust our priorities as load growth develops the need for further system improvements.”
During the annual meeting lunch, East River’s leadership presented two individuals with the cooperative’s Eminent Service Award: Brad Schardin, retired CEO and General Manager of Southeastern Electric Cooperative, and Jeff Genzer, president at Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke law office in Washington, D.C. The Eminent Service Award is the most prestigious honor given by East River’s board of directors to individuals who have had a great impact on East River Electric and the rural electrification program. In addition, East River director Kermit Pearson from Lake Region Electric was presented with an award for over 35 years of service on the East River board of directors.
The afternoon session began with a presentation from Basin Electric Cooperative’s CEO and General Manager Todd Brickhouse followed by a panel discussion on large loads featuring East River Electric’s Chief Operations Officer Mark Hoffman, Chief Financial Officer Scott Shewey and Basin Electric’s Vice President of Resource Planning and Rates Becky Kern. A business meeting followed the annual meeting’s general session where the director election was held, and the cooperative’s policy statements were adopted.
East River Electric Power Cooperative CEO and General Manager Bob Sahr (left) and East River Electric Board President Jim Ryken (Right) provided an update to the co-op’s membership during East River’s 74th annual meeting.
Former Southeastern Electric Cooperative CEO and General Manager Brad Schardin was presented with the Eminent Service award.
Jeff Genzer, President at Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke law office was presented with the Eminent Service award.