Itasca-Mantrap Cooperative has named Logan Veo as its 2016 Youth Tour representative. Veo, a junior at Park Rapids Area High School, will represent the Cooperative on an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. June 13-16 as part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. The contest is open to sophomores and juniors who live in the Itasca-Mantrap service area. Candidates were required to submit an application detailing their background and achievements and were asked to answer questions regarding cooperative issues. Finalists were then interviewed by a panel of judges before a selection was made.

Veo will join hundreds of youth representing electric cooperatives from across the United States in Washington, D.C. to learn more about our nation’s rich political history, see American government in action, and tour famous historical monuments. Students will also meet with legislators and learn more about the importance of electric cooperatives.

Veo was selected based on his personal achievements and strong community involvement. He is involved in activities that include wrestling, football, trap shooting, and local youth band Incredibly Real. Logan is the son of Jolene and David Veo of Osage.

Veo selected as Youth Tour representative Net Metering

Beginning June 1, Itasca-Mantrap will add a net metering fee to new or upgraded interconnected facilities (wind, solar, biomass, etc.) on the Cooperative’s distribution lines. See page 3 for more information on the net metering fee.

Deposits Itasca-Mantrap will begin charging deposits for new, reconnected and transferred services effective June 1. See page 3 for more information on deposits.

Basic Charge A basic charge increase will go into effect with the June billing. The basic charge is designed to recover fixed costs to deliver electricity to Itasca-Mantrap Members, shared equally by all Members. See page 3 for more information on the basic charge increase.

Summer rates Itasca-Mantrap’s summer electric rates will go into effect in June. The general service rate for June, July and August is 12.27 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), compared to 9.97 cents per kWh from September through May. The monthly basic charge for residential services will increase from $33 to $34 starting in June.

~continued on page 3

Update on charges and rates

BALLOTS WILL BE MAILED IN LATE MAY. DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!

AnnuAl Meeting

Thursday – June 9, 2016Park Rapids Area High School Registration and Dinner – 5:15 - 6:30 P.M.

Business Meeting – 6:45 P.M.

Door Prize Drawings

Present the card from the back cover of your annual meeting booklet when you register at the meeting to be eligible for one of two $100 cash Prizes.

1. The reports of Officers, Directors and Committees.

2. Voting and electing two directors of the association, one each in Districts 4 and 5, for a three-year term.

3. The transaction of any other business that may properly come before the meeting.

The following business will be conducted at the June 9 Annual Membership Meeting:

Corporate Members: Call our office for a Designation of Voting Representative form.

NewsLiNeMay 2016

Annual Membership Meeting

Your Cooperative’s Annual Membership Meeting is June 9 at the Park Rapids High School. We will provide you, our Member/Owners, with the opportunity to vote for Directors, hear about the operation of your Cooperative and enjoy a tasty dinner. Come to the meeting, visit with your neighbors and fellow Cooperative Member/Owners, sign up for door prizes, and have an enjoyable evening.

Outage Reporting and Telephone Numbers

When a Member calls with an outage, our outage reporting system uses your phone

number to reference where the outage is located. We must have your correct phone number in our records to cross-reference your phone number with your physical address. If you have changed your phone number or purchased a cell phone, please call our office to update your Member record with the correct contact information.

We use the same telephone number to notify Members of a planned outage for maintenance or repairs. Our system will automatically call Members in the area where the planned outage will occur to let them know the expected time the outage will occur and the approximate length of the outage.

Summer Is Coming

Summer storms often cause power outages. Having your correct phone number on file is especially important, as it will save valuable time when you call in to report an outage. If you are calling from a number that isn’t in our system, you

should leave a message with your name and the address of the affected location.

Summer storms can result in broken or downed power lines or trees blown onto power lines by the wind. Keep away from downed power lines, and call our office so we can take care of it. The line may still be energized and cause injury or death to nearby people or pets. When a tree touches the line, electricity can pass through the tree and down the trunk. If you happen to touch a part of that tree, electricity can transfer into your body.

Air conditioning increases your comfort during the hot summer weather. To get the most efficient and cost-effective use from your air conditioner, call our Member Services Department for information about our air conditioner programs.

Until next time,

Michael

CEO Message - by Michael Monsrud, President - CEO

Itasca-Mantrap participated in the “Week of the Young Child” program on April 14. The program, sponsored by Park Rapids Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) and local businesses, gives children an opportunity to visit participating businesses to take part in a variety of activities.

Line Superintendent Trevor Gwiazdon narrated to the children while linemen Chris Bungert, Kurt Donnay, Kevin George and Chad Grande demonstrated how a pole is placed and removed from the ground, and how linemen get to the top of the pole by climbing and going up in a bucket.

Children visit Itasca-Mantrap for “Week of the Young Child”

Linemen Chris Bungert, Kevin George and Chad Grande dig a hole.

Lineman Kurt Donnay helps the kids try on rubber gloves

May 2016 Itasca-Mantrap newsLIne Page 2

Net Metering In 2015, the Minnesota legislature sought to return a level of fairness to how the electric distribution grid is paid for by authorizing electric cooperatives and municipal utilities to charge a cost recovery fee on Distributed Generation (DG) facilities (wind, solar, biomass, etc.). The fee will allow Itasca-Mantrap to recover some of the cost shift that occurs between DG and the rest of the membership.

There is a fixed cost to deliver electric power to our Members. This fixed cost is recovered in two ways, through the monthly basic charge and a portion of your kWh rates. DG facilities demand as much (or more) from the grid than the rest of the membership. But, because they offset some or all of their energy usage, they no longer pay their fair share to maintain the grid.

The intent of the net metering cost recovery fee is to recover some of the cost shift. The fee is based on calculating the size of the DG facility, the usage variation among Members, and the unique nature of the electric cooperative. The cost recovery fee is applied equitably on a per kW basis with a statewide allowance of 3.5 kW for electric cooperatives (the state average for size of roof top solar facilities is between 3.5kW and 5kW). The cost recovery fee is based on Itasca-Mantrap’s rates and will adjust as the rates change. Itasca-Mantrap will review the fee annually and provide notice of any changes.

DG facilities over 3.5 kW installed on or after June 1, 2016 will be subject to the cost recovery fee of $2.65 per kW for residential and $3.52 per kW for commercial. DG facilities already installed are exempt from the net metering fee, unless they modify or increase their DG load.

Deposits Itasca-Mantrap will begin charging a deposit for new, reconnected and transferred services effective June 1. The Cooperative will use a third-party vendor to obtain a credit rating and will review applicable payment history. If the payment history or credit rating do not meet the criteria, a $200 deposit fee will be required. The deposit will accrue interest and will be applied to the Member’s account when the account has remained in current status for 12 consecutive months.

Basic Charge The Itasca-Mantrap basic charge will increase from $33 to $34 effective with the June billing. The basic charge recovers a portion of the cost for Itasca-Mantrap to make service available to all its Members. The last cost of service study conducted revealed that it costs Itasca-Mantrap $45 per month for every residential single-phase service. This includes the cost of poles, wire, equipment, vehicles, tree trimming, billing, etc.

Cities and towns have an average of 48 customers per mile. Itasca-Mantrap has an average of 5.5 Members per mile of line. Therefore, Itasca-Mantrap has only 5.5 Members from which to recover the investment of $42,000 to build a mile of single-phase line. In contrast, a municipal or city could recover that cost from 48 customers. Itasca-Mantrap has a choice of either a higher kWh charge or a basic charge. A basic charge is more fair to all Members compared to a higher kWh charge.

Basic ChargeThe cost of making

power available to all members

Shared equally by all Itasca-Mantrap Members

Itasca-Mantrap5.5 Members per mile

to share costs

Other Utilities48 Customers per

mile to share costs

May 2016 Itasca-Mantrap newsLIne Page 3

Save on your next purchase of GE ENERGY STAR® certified

CFL and LED bulbs

Home Lighting Promotion runs April 4 – Aug. 31, 2016.

UP TO

$5 OFFselect GE ENERGY STAR® light bulbs at participating Walmart stores, in store markdown

UP TO

$3 OFFselect GE ENERGY STAR® LED bulbs with coupon on page 6

Due to the presence of mercury, CFLs must be recycled. In Minnesota, it is illegal to place them directly in the garbage.

For options on recycling, call the MN Pollution Control Agency at 800-657-3864 or go to: www.earth911.com for more information.

Visit www.energywisemn.com to learn more and enter for a chance to win a $500 energy credit.

May is National Electrical Safety Month and Itasca-Mantrap is teaming up with the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) to raise awareness of potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety.

“Extension cord misuse and overburdened electrical systems are two of the main causes of home electrical fires,” said ESFI President Brett Brenner. “It is important to be aware of these common and preventable hazards, as well as other safety measures you can take to ensure that your home is electrically safe.”

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates 47,700 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments each year involve some type of electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing to ignition. These fires result in 418 civilian deaths, 1,570 civilian injuries and $1.4 billion in property damage. Awareness and education are critical to reduce the incidence of electrical fires, and ESFI sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May to educate the public.

ESFI encourages the sharing of its campaign resources and developed The National Electrical Safety Month 2015 Electrical Safety Advocate Guide to provide the resources necessary to raise awareness of safe practices. Whether you want to educate a loved one or raise awareness in your community, school or workplace, this guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to be an Electrical Safety Advocate and help champion the cause of minimizing electrically-related deaths and injuries.

Electrical safety awareness and education among consumers, families, employees and communities will prevent electrical fires, injuries and fatalities. For more information about electrical safety, visit www.esfi.org.

May is National Electrical Safety Month

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May to increase public awareness of the electrical hazards around us at home, work, school, and play. ESFI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety. For more information about ESFI and electrical safety, visit www.esfi.org.

May 2016 Itasca-Mantrap newsLIne Page 4

Brush Clearing and Mowing

Experienced Prompt Service

Call for a Free Estimate218-732-3377

Iserv professionals use state-of-the-art equipment so you can enjoy the outdoors.

Consider purchasing rechargeable batteries – and an ENERGY STAR charger for them – which are more cost effective than disposable batteries. In the U.S. alone, more energy-efficient battery chargers could save families more than $170 million annually.

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

Source: energy.gov

Itasca-Mantrap Co-op. Electrical Ass’n. is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and is prohibited from discriminating in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202)720-2600 (voice and TDD). The person responsible for coordinating the nondiscrimination compliance efforts of this organization is Michael H. Monsrud, President-CEO. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). Complaints must be filed within 180 days after the alleged discrimination. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Statement of Nondiscrimination

Our office will be closed May 30 in observance of Memorial Day

Employee NewsShanna Olsen joined Itasca-Mantrap as Member Services Representative. Shanna has more than 15 years of experience in customer service and administrative support.

Jackie Cheney will retire from Itasca-Mantrap in June after 19 years in the position of Operations Coordinator.

Alexia Isaacson transferred from the Member Services department to fill the Operations Coordinator position.

Congratulations to all!

Operation Round Up® Trust Board MembersThe Trust is funded primarily by voluntary donations from Itasca-Mantrap Members who round up their electric bills. The Board meets twice a year to review applications.

Left to right: (front) Paul Joyce, Cal Broughton and John Strom, (back) Karen Andress, Iva Thielges, Rita Hocking and Trudy Maninga

May 2016 Itasca-Mantrap newsLIne Page 5

ITASCA-MANTRAP COOPERATIVE 16930 County 6, PO Box 192

Park Rapids, MN 56470

OFFICE HOURS 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Phone (during office hours & 24-hour outage reporting):

218-732-3377 (or) 888-713-3377 Fax: 218-732-5890

E-mail: itasca@itasca-mantrap.com www.itasca-mantrap.com

GOPHER STATE ONE CALL • Call before you dig! 1-800-252-1166

www.gopherstateonecall.org

OFFICERS & DIRECTORSDist. 1 – Brian Behrens, Director Dist. 2 – Marv Vredenburg, Director Dist. 3 – Willard Clausen, Treasurer Dist. 4 – Al Czeczok, Asst Sec-Treas Dist. 5 – Nancy M. Utke, Chair Dist. 6 – Tim Kivi, Secretary Dist. 7 – Dan Breitbach, Vice Chair President-CEO – Michael Monsrud

Itasca-Mantrap is proud to announce that the Fostering Actions to Help Earnings and Responsibilities (FATHER) Project of Park Rapids was named the 2015 winner of Minnesota’s Touchstone Energy Community Award. The FATHER Project received the award March 23 during the Minnesota Rural Electric Association’s annual meeting in St. Paul.

The FATHER Project was selected from among all the local award winners throughout the state for the special honor. The organization received an engraved award and $1,000 for its efforts.

“The FATHER Project clearly demonstrates the strong commitment to community that Touchstone Energy cooperatives value,” Joe Miller, a Minnesota Touchstone Energy representative, said.

The FATHER Project was started in 2011 to assist low-income and non-custodial dads in overcoming barriers that prevent them from supporting their children economically and emotionally. The project is designed to help fathers become more involved in their children’s lives. Individuals served by the program face barriers such as poverty, a history with the criminal justice system, lack of a high school diploma or GED, unemployment or under-employment, child support arrears and/or instability in family relationships. It is designed to assist fathers in achieving individualized goals related to parenting, employment, legal services related to access and visitation, and educational achievement.

Since the project started, over 200 dads have been enrolled in the program. “Over the past four years, the FATHER Project has empowered fathers to overcome the identified barriers that prevented them

The FATHER Project wins Minnesota Touchstone Energy Community Award

from supporting their children economically and emotionally. By eliminating barriers and providing a variety of services, we have addressed many social issues affecting our community. We continue to help each individual along the path to achieving goals and becoming independent, productive members for their families and communities,” said Raeann Mayer, CHI St. Joseph’s Health Community Health Director.

Last fall, Touchstone Energy cooperatives throughout the state presented local awards to individuals or organizations for outstanding contributions to their communities. Local award recipients were automatically entered for the statewide recognition.

“Minnesota is blessed with many individual, group and corporate citizens willing to donate time and effort to better our communities,” Miller said. “As Touchstone Energy cooperatives, we are pleased to pay special tribute to those who impact our communities in so many positive ways.”

Touchstone Energy is a nationwide alliance of 750 local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives in 46 states dedicated to the values of integrity, accountability, innovation and

commitment to community. Thirty-nine of 44 distribution cooperatives in Minnesota are part of the national brand, Touchstone Energy.

The Touchstone Energy Community Award highlights the Cooperative Principle-Concern for Community.

Pictured, l to r: Mike Monsrud-Itasca-Mantrap President-CEO, Joe Johnson-FATHER Project Coordinator,

and Raeann Mayer-CHI St. Joseph’s Health Community Health Director.

May 2016 Itasca-Mantrap newsLIne Page 6