RESPECT FOR MEMBERS?

When members of Garkane pay their power bill, the implicated charge is to offset the cost of operating the electric utility. “After all costs are covered, the leftover portion of the billing is referred to as a margin.” (Summer 2019 Highlights)

In THE RICHFIELD REAPER, Thursday, August 29, 2019, page 9A appeared an article individually signed by Garkane Board members that committed them to the return of margins. In the article that contained what they claim to be the truth, they said:  “…and at the end of any accounting year, if there is money left over after all operational costs have been paid, the excess (labeled a “margin”) is allocated back to the members who were served in that year. The “allocation” (capital credit) is a promise that the co-op will pay back the member’s portion in the future.”  

In The Richfield Reaper, August 29, 2019 all Garkane Board members affixed their names to this statement:  “Garkane respects and appreciates questions and honest criticism of the cooperative. We constantly work to improve our methods if we have fallen short. We want our members to feel free to contact us at Garkane with questions or issues.”