Board Information
2025 Budget: The Board approved the proposed 2025 budget as presented.
Voting By Mail: The Board voted to place an amendment to Salem Electric Bylaw 3.6 on the May ballot, which if passed by the members would allow Salem Electric to offer an electronic balloting option in the future. Minor wording changes to Bylaw 4.4 will also be included on the ballot to keep the language consistent with Bylaw 3.6.
Whistleblower Policy: The Board approved a revision to the Whistleblower Policy that will better align with current statutes regarding good faith reporting.
Capital Credit Estate Retirements: The Board approved a discount rate of 8.23% for the 2025 budget year for the early retirement of cooperative capital credits for estates of deceased members who are natural persons.
General Manager’s Report
Tony Schacher announced that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) released the draft Provider of Choice Master Contract Template for Salem Electric’s post-2028 BPA long-term contract. This is the first step in the review of the contract. Throughout the next several months, BPA will be making refinements with the hope that the contract will be signed by the end of September 2025. Tony also provided the Board with an update on his participation in the Federated Rural Insurance Exchange board of directors meeting and the state of cooperative insurance, specifically relating to power supply, wildfire mitigation, and liability.