To the Editor:

In emergencies, Guzman Energy (Guzman) doesn’t have the option to generate to offset the open market prices, nor do they have repair crews. Basin Electric and East River have hydro allocation and coal, gas, and wind generation.

Guzman doesn’t have transmission lines. Dakota Energy still has to use Basin Electric’s and East River’s lines to get power to the area and pay for that usage. Manager of Dakota Energy has to work with the transmission agents. Manager Felderman says he just can’t work with Basin Electric and East River.

Guzman is for profit with the profits going to their shareholders. Basin Electric and East River return profits to customers. Dakota Energy posted salaries of East River management. They should also post total compensation for Dakota Energy and Guzman top management.

Guzman has not given a number for the cost of power. Guzman has secret agreements so member/owners do not know what is going on. Basin Electric and East River have local cooperative members on their board of directors. Who is on Guzman’s board of directors?

At the town hall meeting Guzman said it would give one price and could not charge more for power no matter what. There is a line item (Line 14 on Guzman’s customer, Kit Carson, billing form) that says “Fuel Adjustment charge recovers fluctuations in the cost of power from our power supplier Guzman Energy that are not currently collected in our base rate.”

Dakota Energy member/owners need to elect three new board members on August 29 to return the governing to the members. Then Guzman will no longer be able to dictate to the board of directors.

Twyla Folk
Huron