To the Editor:
When power was available to rural South Dakotans, cooperatives like Dakota Energy were formed. East River was formed by cooperatives in eastern South Dakota to provide transmission.
Each member cooperative of East River has a representative on the board of directors. The East River Board sets up and approves policies, finances, etc.
East River and others then formed Basin Electric to provide generation (power) to the transmission members. Basin Electric also has a board of directors made up of members of the transmission cooperatives. The members set and approve the policies and finances of Basin Electric.

So why did Chad Felderman, as CEO/manager of Dakota Energy, and four others across the United States, establish a group in 2021, saying generation and transmission cooperatives are out of date?
Why is Felderman, who is now the chairman of NextGen Co-op Alliance (NextGen), part of an organization to eliminate transmission and power suppliers? Check out NextGen Co-op Alliance on the internet. Founding members seem to be associated with the Guzman Energy beliefs.
When I was allowed to come before the DE Board for 15 minutes in August 2022, Felderman told me (and the DE Board) that Western Area Power (WAPA) had such a large rate increase that no one wanted WAPA power anymore. After doing some checking, I found that after the rate increase WAPA power was about half the rate of the other suppliers. WAPA power is very economical.
Did Guzman Energy ever state a price and conditions for supplying Dakota Energy power?
Twyla Folk
Huron