THECURRENTFor the Member Systems, Employees, and Friends ofSPRING2015

Sunfl ower Electric Power Corporation and Mid-Kansas Electric Company, LLCMEMBERMEMO

THECURRENT The Current is published three times per year. If you have questions, please contact Cindy Hertel, editor, at 785-623-3341 or chertel@sunfl ower.net. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

TABLEOFCONTENTSImportance of Political Activism ..PG 1

wKREDA Celebrates 20 Years ......PG 2

GHG Regulations Update ................PG 3

Transmission Project Update .......PG 3

Transmission Maintenance............PG 3

Prairie Land Assists Vets ..............PG 4

Victory Awards Grant .....................PG 4

The November elections have come and gone, and many are relieved they no longer have to hear or watch political campaign ads. For staff representing Sunfl ower Electric Power Corporation and Mid-Kansas Elec-tric Company, however, the conclusion of elections brings about busy schedules dealing with local, state and national issues that are likely to affect our Members and those they serve. Our mission is to provide reliable service at the lowest possible cost. To help ensure that reliable, afford-able electricity remains accessible, cooperatives support legislation, policies and programs that protect the way of life we value in Kansas. This political activism is tied directly to the seventh cooperative principle: concern for community. Staff members stay abreast of legislation and policies that could impact the cost and reliability of elec-tric service. We also take a role in fi nding solutions to regulations that affect agriculture, housing projects, transportation projects and business incentives for rural areas. “Political activism has never been more important than it is now,” said Clare Gustin, vice president of external affairs for Sunfl ower and Mid-Kansas. “We use our voice to let elected offi cials and agency staff know that their proposed policies and regulations impact our Members and the thousands of Kansans they serve at the end of the line.” As with most endeavors, a strategic approach to advocating for our Members raises the probability of success. Our approach includes the following:

• Spreading the Word – Year round, not just during the legislative session, cooperative staff members provide information about the importance of cooperatives in our communities and our nation. The coop-erative business model, which is based on democratic membership and service to our Members, is vital to our nation’s economy and the well-being of our Members and those they serve.

• Building Relationships – Cooperative staff members get to know as many elected and appointed leaders as possible. This means we attend events, including legislative forums, community civic club meetings, legislative committee hearings, and community celebrations, to build relationships with those who will make decisions that impact our Members. Developing relationships with leaders builds trust and mutual respect, which can bring about positive change in the areas our Members serve.

• Telling our Story – Cooperatives are democratically governed and have always understood the importance of having a voice. Now, however, the voices from rural Kansas are more important than ever. Cooperative staff members provide information to elected offi cials and agency leaders—at home, in Topeka and in Washington, DC—about the impact of proposed policies and regulations placed on people living in our service territory. They won’t know our story unless we tell it.

• Making the Call – When there is a development that requires a quick response, we contact leaders who can make a difference. Because of the per-sonal relationships and trust that we have developed with them, our voice is more likely to be heard. Political leaders and community leaders know that they can count on us for information regarding rural electric cooperatives.

• Expressing Gratitude – Cooperative staff members use every opportunity to give credit and thanks to elected and agency leaders. When they’ve done something that will protect the way of life our Members value, we acknowledge their good works.

Staff representing Sunfl ower and Mid-Kansas will continue to advocate on behalf of our Members and those they serve. While we take our role in political activism very seriously, we know that the most important voice belongs to electric consumers. We encourage everyone to be active regarding issues that impact families, businesses and communities. Alone we can do a little, but together we can do more.

Victory, in partnership with CoBank through its Sharing Success grant program, has awarded Stauth Memorial Museum $10,000.

The museum, located in Montezuma, received $5,000 from Victory and $5,000 from CoBank to fund the Suited for Space exhibit on loan from the Smithsonian. The exhibit will be open to the public until July 19, 2015.

“The grant is amazing help for us,” said Kim Legleiter, museum director. “As the costs of exhibits go up, it’s so helpful to have support and be able to bring exhibits in for others to enjoy.”

The Stauth Memorial Museum opened in 1996 and features the travel adventures of Claude and Donalda Stauth, longtime residents of southwest Kansas, as well as traveling exhibits throughout the year. The Suited in Space exhibit features life-sized photographs and x-rays of spacesuits, photographs, a replica Apollo spacesuit, and a photo-op spacesuit that visitors can try on.

“Victory is pleased to award this grant to the Stauth Museum,” said Shane Laws, Victory CEO. “The museum provides great educational opportunities to citizens and youth of the surrounding communities, and

we are proud to support their efforts.”This is the third year Victory has awarded a Sharing Success grant to

a local non-profi t. The Bucklin Library received a $10,000 grant in 2012, and the Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic, Dodge City, received a $10,000 grant in 2013.

As part of the Kansas Electric Coop-eratives Annual Meeting luncheon on Jan. 26, Barry Madden, director of member services for Prairie Land Elec-tric Cooperative, Inc., was awarded the Touchstone Energy Power + Hope Award, which honors co-op employ-ees who have shown selfl essness and generosity in their efforts to help those in need. Madden received the award for establishing the 2014 Norton County Honor Hunt with the help of his sons, Casey and Clay, to honor disabled veterans. In this program, eligible veterans, those 30 percent or more disabled, applied for the opportunity to go on an individually guided, rifl e, muzzle-loader or bow deer hunt held throughout Norton County on Dec. 3-5. Twenty winners were selected from the applicants, and all their expenses were paid for by sponsors, Honor Hunt com-mittee and community members. In addition, landowners granted hunting permission, and local hunters shared their guns and ammunition. Approxi-mately 90 community members played a role. The event extended beyond the actual hunt. To show respect and appreciation to the veterans, com-munity volunteers prepared a public banquet on the fi nal day of the hunt. A

television crew from “Killin’ It Outdoors” fi lmed the event. Veterans offered up gratitude in dif-ferent ways: One veteran gave Mad-den a challenge coin to encourage the continuation of the hunt. Another vet-eran included his Purple Heart in the thank you note sent to his guide. This veteran wrote, “Not since I left home over 20 years ago to join this thing called the U.S. Army have I ever felt more at home than I did for those four days in Norton. I would like to thank the city of Norton for a great time, for making all of us feel welcomed and for the greatest gift of not judging us. We all did what we had to do so we could

make it back to our ‘normal’ lives.” “That stunned his guide and every-one else,” said Madden. “It just shows how much the veterans really appreci-ated the event.” Madden received a plaque and a donation to the charity of his choice. Madden’s donation will go to the Nor-ton County Honor Hunt. “The $500 dollars will be used to help with the hunt we plan to do next year. Our plan is to host 15 hunters but also try something new and bring in fi ve kids who lost their dads in recent wars and who might not get to experi-ence this type of adventure,” Madden said. Madden gave credit to community members for the Honor Hunt’s suc-cess: “Again, thank you from all in-volved. This award is not just for me but for the many people who worked so hard to make the Honor Hunt hap-pen.” The award mirrors the National Touchstone Energy Power + Hope Program, which was created in 2009. The Kansas Touchstone Energy Executive Council modifi ed the na-tional program in 2013 to become a statewide employee and trustee rec-ognition program. Co-ops are asked to nominate worthy applicants every fall.

Co-op representative receives Kansas Touchstone Energy Power + Hope Award

Political activism an important mission for cooperatives

The Sharing Success donation check is presented to the Stauth Memorial Museum’s staff and board.Pictured from left: Raechelle Romero, assistant to director; Kim Legleiter, museum director; Kenny Wehkamp, Victory board president; Deb Wall, museum board member; Gary Gillespie, Victory trustee; Kevin Redger, museum board member; and Shane Laws, Victory CEO.

Victory Electric Cooperative helps bring Smithsonian space exhibit to local museum

Telling the cooperative story

Prairie Land’s Barry Madden receives the Power + Hope Award for establishing the 2014 Norton County Honor Hunt.

42 million AmericansIN 47 STATES DEPEND ONELEC TRIC COOPERATIVESFOR REL IABLE POWER.WE’VE INVESTED

$93 billionIN SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE LAST DECADE.

AMERICA’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES#WeKeepTheLightsOn © NRECA, all rights reserved. May not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit permission

America’s Electric Cooperative Network

America Samoa

2015 March newsletter2.indd 1 3/9/2015 8:57:50 AM

�����������������������

ELECTRIC COMPANY, LLCneighbors serving neighbors

Mid-Kansas

In 1957, six rural electric distribution cooperatives formed Sunfl ower to provide wholesale generation and transmission services for western Kansas. Although decades have passed since our beginning, the cornerstone of our business has not changed. As a cooperative, our mission is to provide our Members and the 200,000 Kansans they serve with reliable power at the lowest possible cost using sound business practices. Sunfl ower Electric Power Corporation…it’s energy done right.

Mid-Kansas Electric Company, LLC ~ PO Box 980 ~ Hays, KS 67601 ~ 785-628-2845 ~ www.midkansaselectric.net

For decades counties in south central Kansas have made do with a limited transmission infrastructure because they relied on a single source of trans-mission via Westar. This situation resulted in less-than-desired electric reliability, especially during inclement weather. However, there is good news on the horizon. In May 2014, the Southwest Power Pool issued a Notice to Construct with Conditions (NTC-C) to Mid-Kansas Electric Company, LLC. The NTC-C initiated a High Priority Incremental Load (HPIL) study that found that existing load factors—such as residential electricity use, combined with new and increasing commercial load (e.g., oil and natural gas)—require additional transmission infrastructure in Harper, Sumner and Kingman counties. So what do additional transmission structures mean for residents of south central Kansas? Their

construction means the reliability of electric service will improve, and any outages that occur will be noticeably shorter in length, especially during inclement weather. The transmission line diversity will also allow for growth of business and commercial sectors. The planned transmission line will be approximately 75 miles in length with single steel-pole structures, typically 85 feet to 100 feet off the ground and 800 feet apart. This confi guration will allow for the most cost-effective routing while reducing the overall footprint on private property. This new line will require rights-of-way and easements for crews to build the line. Mid-Kansas is looking forward to sharing project information with the public. Informative meetings will be scheduled in 2015 to allow the public to learn about the project and how it will positively impact electric supply.

New Source Performance Standards (NSPS): aimed at reducing carbon emissions from new or modifi ed fossil- fueled units.

The EPA’s rule for new or modifi ed units was reproposed in September 2013. During an extended 120-day comment period, which closed in May 2014, the EPA received more than 2 million comments regarding the reproposed rule. Although the statu-tory deadline for the fi nal rule was Jan. 8, 2015, the EPA announced in early January that the fi nal NSPS will be issued mid-summer.

Clean Power Plan—111 (d): aimed at reducing carbon emissions from existing fossil-fueled units.

The EPA-proposed guidelines for existing units were issued in June 2014. This rule, too, had an extended comment period during which time the agency received more than 2 million comments. Currently, the EPA is in the process of developing a Federal Imple-mentation Plan (FIP) for states that fail to deliver their approved State Imple-mentation Plans, which are due in the summer of 2016. The proposed FIP is on schedule to be delivered mid-sum-mer at the same time the fi nal NSPS is issued.

Electric cooperatives across the nation and state, including Sunfl ower and your distribution cooperative, have submit-ted comments to the EPA on both proposed rules. We will continue to speak out for reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost on behalf of those we serve.

UPDATE: Greenhouse Gas Regs

South central Kansas earmarked for reliability boostwKREDA celebrates 20 years of helping western Kansas prosper

One of the most common—and crucial—ways Sunfl ower and Mid-Kansas provide their mem-bers with safe, reliable wholesale electric service is transmission line and substation equipment main-tenance. To ensure public safety, reliability of energy delivery, and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance, two types of maintenance occur to keep the Sunfl ower and Mid-Kan-sas transmission systems in top shape: the type that takes place on the actual lines and the type that takes place within Sunfl ower’s and Mid-Kansas’ facilities. Linemen travel many stretches of county roads and highways annually to check the combined system’s 2,310 miles of lines for visible problems. They look for cracked cross arms, broken poles and insulators, damaged wire and vegetation issues that can cause outages. Repairs for these prob-lems don’t always force a shut-down of a transmission line. “Most issues we fi nd during rou-tine maintenance can be sched-uled for repairs at a convenient time. Most of our lines are loop fed, so we can take out a piece of line to make repairs without caus-ing an outage for our members,” said Bruce Dooley, manager of line operations and planning

at Sunfl ower. To guard against outages, some line repairs undergo an arduous review before they can be carried out. “In the past we could call up dispatch and take out a section of line with a day’s notice,” said Max Owens, line technician supervi-sor at Sunfl ower. “Now when we schedule line work, it has to go through regional engineers within the Southwest Power Pool (SPP footprint); our internal staff, who gets the ball rolling with material gathering and preliminary phone calls to other entities that may be requesting early notice of work being done; and the SPP, who does an impact study outside our system. Once it has been deter-mined there will be no impact on the whole SPP region, we have to give a week’s notice to schedule the work.” Without access to transmission lines and related equipment, main-tenance crews would not be able to carry out their duties. Ease-ments and rights-of-way (ROW) allow workers access to property in order to maintain lines or clear the areas around them. For ex-ample, a ROW, the area that runs beneath a transmission line, gives access to crews to manage tree growth at a distance far enough

away from conductors to prevent harm to individuals or disruption to electric service. Power lines can carry up to 345,000 volts, and an energized tree branch can be deadly. Proac-tive maintenance of a ROW also decreases the chance that power outages will occur during a storm due to fallen trees. To keep the public safe and homes and businesses supplied with electricity, crews also follow strict, mandatory maintenance schedules on substation equip-ment. NERC requires that sub-station relays be tested every six years and substation batteries and battery chargers, which keep the relays powered, be tested once a month. Inspections of transformers and breakers are also on the list of items that must be kept in top-notch condition. A failure of substation equipment could cause a cascading event throughout the system. So that members down the line are not left in the dark, mainte-nance crews’ attention to over-grown vegetation and transmis-sion equipment is clear: “It is so much easier to keep up on main-tenance, fi nd problems before they cause an outage, and sched-ule repairs in a controlled manner,” Dooley said.

Transmission line maintenance critical to electric reliabilityBEING PROACTIVE BEATS BEING REACTIVE

COMING TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL

Sunfl ower Electric Power Corporation ~ PO Box 1020 ~ Hays, KS 67601 ~ 785-628-2845 ~ www.sunfl ower.net

Electric cooperatives were created decades ago when farmers and businessmen banded together to build an electric system to serve those living in rural areas. The cooperative spirit is still bringing people together for the common good. More than 20 years ago, forward-looking citizens in western Kansas realized that growing the western Kansas economy was going to take a group effort.No one utility, community or county could, acting alone, effect substantial, positive change, they believed. They asked the question, “What kind of a group could help improve the development prospects for the region?” In May 1994, a group of more than 85 people made up of local elected offi cials, economic development professionals, bankers, energy and telephone utility staff, state legislative leaders, and small business people, all interested in improving the economy, formed the western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance (wKREDA, pronounced kree-da). Representatives from electric cooperatives were engaged from the outset to lead the effort. Although the group represented a vast geography, common issues were quickly identifi ed. A declining and aging population, tax policies and an eroding tax base, job opportunities, broadband deployment, school funding and enrollment, housing, health care, transportation, the exodus of youth, and unfunded mandates made up the list of issues that concerned the group. So what could a small group of concerned citizens do? Leveraging the collective resources of the group, wKREDA members set out to work together on identifi ed issues to preserve their local counties. How did the group stay connected to carry out their mission? The early communication method was a “blast fax” service. Remember, in 1994 the Internet and email were not as widely available as they are today. Faxing made it possible to communicate on issues that affected all counties, and members had the freedom to choose what efforts their individual communities could support. Cooperation among the wKREDA members quickly developed. Members realized that a group effort would be more effective than an individual effort when tackling issues in their communities.

wKREDA’s cooperation model, bringing support, opportunity and a higher level of cooperation to communities in western Kansas, has endured for 20 years. Education is a cornerstone of wKREDA today. Orchestrated through quarterly meetings, educational presentations help members learn about business fi nance opportunities, effective communication, community marketing, entrepreneurship programs, expansion and retention programs for existing businesses, trade show training, business recruitment, and industry, including biotechnology fi rms, dairy expansion, and telecommunications companies, just to name a few. Group members also attend trade shows on behalf of all of western Kansas to promote the region’s dairy, food processing, call center, and manufacturing businesses. Group members even travel to Topeka annually to call on legislators and explain the purpose and programs of the organization. Twenty years later, wKREDA members remain committed to fostering rural development opportunities in western Kansas. What began in 1994 created a network for rural development professionals to share and learn together as they made substantial contributions to the region. Their shared ideas and ability to leverage manpower and funds have resulted in a greater good. “Members of wKREDA continue working diligently to encourage economic growth, capital investment, and job creation,” said Lona DuVall, president of wKREDA and the Finney County Development Corporation. The success of our communities requires collaboration among local, state and federal resources. The creation of rural business development incentives is essential for economic growth and continued success of rural development. The future of rural Kansas depends on it.” What do the next 20 years hold for the organization and the communities they serve? The future may be uncertain, but wKREDA expects more changes in technology, new job opportunities and the unwavering commitment to work together for the betterment of the region. The cooperative spirit remains alive and well in Kansas.

In 2005, fi ve rural electric distribution cooperatives and one wholly owned subsidiary formed Mid-Kansas to provide wholesale generation and transmission services in 33 central and western Kansas counties. Based on cooperative principles, Mid-Kansas focuses on making our communities a great place to live and raise a family by providing reliable, affordable energy to our Members. It’s because at Mid-Kansas Electric Company we’re neighbors serving neighbors.

Ralph Goodnight, Kearny County Community Development, greets Lynn Ballinger, member of U.S. Rep.Tim Huelskamp’s staff, at a wKREDA Legislative Conference inTopeka.

Clare Gustin, Sunfl ower vice president, member services external affairs, facilitates a Train the Trainer leadership program for wKREDA communities.

Lona DuVall, Finney County Economic Development Corporation, represents wKREDA at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California. wKREDA also partners with the Kansas Department of Agriculture to represent Kansas.

2015 March newsletter2.indd 2 3/9/2015 8:57:54 AM

�����������������������

ELECTRIC COMPANY, LLCneighbors serving neighbors

Mid-Kansas

In 1957, six rural electric distribution cooperatives formed Sunfl ower to provide wholesale generation and transmission services for western Kansas. Although decades have passed since our beginning, the cornerstone of our business has not changed. As a cooperative, our mission is to provide our Members and the 200,000 Kansans they serve with reliable power at the lowest possible cost using sound business practices. Sunfl ower Electric Power Corporation…it’s energy done right.

Mid-Kansas Electric Company, LLC ~ PO Box 980 ~ Hays, KS 67601 ~ 785-628-2845 ~ www.midkansaselectric.net

For decades counties in south central Kansas have made do with a limited transmission infrastructure because they relied on a single source of trans-mission via Westar. This situation resulted in less-than-desired electric reliability, especially during inclement weather. However, there is good news on the horizon. In May 2014, the Southwest Power Pool issued a Notice to Construct with Conditions (NTC-C) to Mid-Kansas Electric Company, LLC. The NTC-C initiated a High Priority Incremental Load (HPIL) study that found that existing load factors—such as residential electricity use, combined with new and increasing commercial load (e.g., oil and natural gas)—require additional transmission infrastructure in Harper, Sumner and Kingman counties. So what do additional transmission structures mean for residents of south central Kansas? Their

construction means the reliability of electric service will improve, and any outages that occur will be noticeably shorter in length, especially during inclement weather. The transmission line diversity will also allow for growth of business and commercial sectors. The planned transmission line will be approximately 75 miles in length with single steel-pole structures, typically 85 feet to 100 feet off the ground and 800 feet apart. This confi guration will allow for the most cost-effective routing while reducing the overall footprint on private property. This new line will require rights-of-way and easements for crews to build the line. Mid-Kansas is looking forward to sharing project information with the public. Informative meetings will be scheduled in 2015 to allow the public to learn about the project and how it will positively impact electric supply.

New Source Performance Standards (NSPS): aimed at reducing carbon emissions from new or modifi ed fossil- fueled units.

The EPA’s rule for new or modifi ed units was reproposed in September 2013. During an extended 120-day comment period, which closed in May 2014, the EPA received more than 2 million comments regarding the reproposed rule. Although the statu-tory deadline for the fi nal rule was Jan. 8, 2015, the EPA announced in early January that the fi nal NSPS will be issued mid-summer.

Clean Power Plan—111 (d): aimed at reducing carbon emissions from existing fossil-fueled units.

The EPA-proposed guidelines for existing units were issued in June 2014. This rule, too, had an extended comment period during which time the agency received more than 2 million comments. Currently, the EPA is in the process of developing a Federal Imple-mentation Plan (FIP) for states that fail to deliver their approved State Imple-mentation Plans, which are due in the summer of 2016. The proposed FIP is on schedule to be delivered mid-sum-mer at the same time the fi nal NSPS is issued.

Electric cooperatives across the nation and state, including Sunfl ower and your distribution cooperative, have submit-ted comments to the EPA on both proposed rules. We will continue to speak out for reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost on behalf of those we serve.

UPDATE: Greenhouse Gas Regs

South central Kansas earmarked for reliability boostwKREDA celebrates 20 years of helping western Kansas prosper

One of the most common—and crucial—ways Sunfl ower and Mid-Kansas provide their mem-bers with safe, reliable wholesale electric service is transmission line and substation equipment main-tenance. To ensure public safety, reliability of energy delivery, and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance, two types of maintenance occur to keep the Sunfl ower and Mid-Kan-sas transmission systems in top shape: the type that takes place on the actual lines and the type that takes place within Sunfl ower’s and Mid-Kansas’ facilities. Linemen travel many stretches of county roads and highways annually to check the combined system’s 2,310 miles of lines for visible problems. They look for cracked cross arms, broken poles and insulators, damaged wire and vegetation issues that can cause outages. Repairs for these prob-lems don’t always force a shut-down of a transmission line. “Most issues we fi nd during rou-tine maintenance can be sched-uled for repairs at a convenient time. Most of our lines are loop fed, so we can take out a piece of line to make repairs without caus-ing an outage for our members,” said Bruce Dooley, manager of line operations and planning

at Sunfl ower. To guard against outages, some line repairs undergo an arduous review before they can be carried out. “In the past we could call up dispatch and take out a section of line with a day’s notice,” said Max Owens, line technician supervi-sor at Sunfl ower. “Now when we schedule line work, it has to go through regional engineers within the Southwest Power Pool (SPP footprint); our internal staff, who gets the ball rolling with material gathering and preliminary phone calls to other entities that may be requesting early notice of work being done; and the SPP, who does an impact study outside our system. Once it has been deter-mined there will be no impact on the whole SPP region, we have to give a week’s notice to schedule the work.” Without access to transmission lines and related equipment, main-tenance crews would not be able to carry out their duties. Ease-ments and rights-of-way (ROW) allow workers access to property in order to maintain lines or clear the areas around them. For ex-ample, a ROW, the area that runs beneath a transmission line, gives access to crews to manage tree growth at a distance far enough

away from conductors to prevent harm to individuals or disruption to electric service. Power lines can carry up to 345,000 volts, and an energized tree branch can be deadly. Proac-tive maintenance of a ROW also decreases the chance that power outages will occur during a storm due to fallen trees. To keep the public safe and homes and businesses supplied with electricity, crews also follow strict, mandatory maintenance schedules on substation equip-ment. NERC requires that sub-station relays be tested every six years and substation batteries and battery chargers, which keep the relays powered, be tested once a month. Inspections of transformers and breakers are also on the list of items that must be kept in top-notch condition. A failure of substation equipment could cause a cascading event throughout the system. So that members down the line are not left in the dark, mainte-nance crews’ attention to over-grown vegetation and transmis-sion equipment is clear: “It is so much easier to keep up on main-tenance, fi nd problems before they cause an outage, and sched-ule repairs in a controlled manner,” Dooley said.

Transmission line maintenance critical to electric reliabilityBEING PROACTIVE BEATS BEING REACTIVE

COMING TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL

Sunfl ower Electric Power Corporation ~ PO Box 1020 ~ Hays, KS 67601 ~ 785-628-2845 ~ www.sunfl ower.net

Electric cooperatives were created decades ago when farmers and businessmen banded together to build an electric system to serve those living in rural areas. The cooperative spirit is still bringing people together for the common good. More than 20 years ago, forward-looking citizens in western Kansas realized that growing the western Kansas economy was going to take a group effort.No one utility, community or county could, acting alone, effect substantial, positive change, they believed. They asked the question, “What kind of a group could help improve the development prospects for the region?” In May 1994, a group of more than 85 people made up of local elected offi cials, economic development professionals, bankers, energy and telephone utility staff, state legislative leaders, and small business people, all interested in improving the economy, formed the western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance (wKREDA, pronounced kree-da). Representatives from electric cooperatives were engaged from the outset to lead the effort. Although the group represented a vast geography, common issues were quickly identifi ed. A declining and aging population, tax policies and an eroding tax base, job opportunities, broadband deployment, school funding and enrollment, housing, health care, transportation, the exodus of youth, and unfunded mandates made up the list of issues that concerned the group. So what could a small group of concerned citizens do? Leveraging the collective resources of the group, wKREDA members set out to work together on identifi ed issues to preserve their local counties. How did the group stay connected to carry out their mission? The early communication method was a “blast fax” service. Remember, in 1994 the Internet and email were not as widely available as they are today. Faxing made it possible to communicate on issues that affected all counties, and members had the freedom to choose what efforts their individual communities could support. Cooperation among the wKREDA members quickly developed. Members realized that a group effort would be more effective than an individual effort when tackling issues in their communities.

wKREDA’s cooperation model, bringing support, opportunity and a higher level of cooperation to communities in western Kansas, has endured for 20 years. Education is a cornerstone of wKREDA today. Orchestrated through quarterly meetings, educational presentations help members learn about business fi nance opportunities, effective communication, community marketing, entrepreneurship programs, expansion and retention programs for existing businesses, trade show training, business recruitment, and industry, including biotechnology fi rms, dairy expansion, and telecommunications companies, just to name a few. Group members also attend trade shows on behalf of all of western Kansas to promote the region’s dairy, food processing, call center, and manufacturing businesses. Group members even travel to Topeka annually to call on legislators and explain the purpose and programs of the organization. Twenty years later, wKREDA members remain committed to fostering rural development opportunities in western Kansas. What began in 1994 created a network for rural development professionals to share and learn together as they made substantial contributions to the region. Their shared ideas and ability to leverage manpower and funds have resulted in a greater good. “Members of wKREDA continue working diligently to encourage economic growth, capital investment, and job creation,” said Lona DuVall, president of wKREDA and the Finney County Development Corporation. The success of our communities requires collaboration among local, state and federal resources. The creation of rural business development incentives is essential for economic growth and continued success of rural development. The future of rural Kansas depends on it.” What do the next 20 years hold for the organization and the communities they serve? The future may be uncertain, but wKREDA expects more changes in technology, new job opportunities and the unwavering commitment to work together for the betterment of the region. The cooperative spirit remains alive and well in Kansas.

In 2005, fi ve rural electric distribution cooperatives and one wholly owned subsidiary formed Mid-Kansas to provide wholesale generation and transmission services in 33 central and western Kansas counties. Based on cooperative principles, Mid-Kansas focuses on making our communities a great place to live and raise a family by providing reliable, affordable energy to our Members. It’s because at Mid-Kansas Electric Company we’re neighbors serving neighbors.

Ralph Goodnight, Kearny County Community Development, greets Lynn Ballinger, member of U.S. Rep.Tim Huelskamp’s staff, at a wKREDA Legislative Conference inTopeka.

Clare Gustin, Sunfl ower vice president, member services external affairs, facilitates a Train the Trainer leadership program for wKREDA communities.

Lona DuVall, Finney County Economic Development Corporation, represents wKREDA at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California. wKREDA also partners with the Kansas Department of Agriculture to represent Kansas.

2015 March newsletter2.indd 2 3/9/2015 8:57:54 AM

THECURRENTFor the Member Systems, Employees, and Friends ofSPRING2015

Sunfl ower Electric Power Corporation and Mid-Kansas Electric Company, LLCMEMBERMEMO

THECURRENT The Current is published three times per year. If you have questions, please contact Cindy Hertel, editor, at 785-623-3341 or chertel@sunfl ower.net. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

TABLEOFCONTENTSImportance of Political Activism ..PG 1

wKREDA Celebrates 20 Years ......PG 2

GHG Regulations Update ................PG 3

Transmission Project Update .......PG 3

Transmission Maintenance............PG 3

Prairie Land Assists Vets ..............PG 4

Victory Awards Grant .....................PG 4

The November elections have come and gone, and many are relieved they no longer have to hear or watch political campaign ads. For staff representing Sunfl ower Electric Power Corporation and Mid-Kansas Elec-tric Company, however, the conclusion of elections brings about busy schedules dealing with local, state and national issues that are likely to affect our Members and those they serve. Our mission is to provide reliable service at the lowest possible cost. To help ensure that reliable, afford-able electricity remains accessible, cooperatives support legislation, policies and programs that protect the way of life we value in Kansas. This political activism is tied directly to the seventh cooperative principle: concern for community. Staff members stay abreast of legislation and policies that could impact the cost and reliability of elec-tric service. We also take a role in fi nding solutions to regulations that affect agriculture, housing projects, transportation projects and business incentives for rural areas. “Political activism has never been more important than it is now,” said Clare Gustin, vice president of external affairs for Sunfl ower and Mid-Kansas. “We use our voice to let elected offi cials and agency staff know that their proposed policies and regulations impact our Members and the thousands of Kansans they serve at the end of the line.” As with most endeavors, a strategic approach to advocating for our Members raises the probability of success. Our approach includes the following:

• Spreading the Word – Year round, not just during the legislative session, cooperative staff members provide information about the importance of cooperatives in our communities and our nation. The coop-erative business model, which is based on democratic membership and service to our Members, is vital to our nation’s economy and the well-being of our Members and those they serve.

• Building Relationships – Cooperative staff members get to know as many elected and appointed leaders as possible. This means we attend events, including legislative forums, community civic club meetings, legislative committee hearings, and community celebrations, to build relationships with those who will make decisions that impact our Members. Developing relationships with leaders builds trust and mutual respect, which can bring about positive change in the areas our Members serve.

• Telling our Story – Cooperatives are democratically governed and have always understood the importance of having a voice. Now, however, the voices from rural Kansas are more important than ever. Cooperative staff members provide information to elected offi cials and agency leaders—at home, in Topeka and in Washington, DC—about the impact of proposed policies and regulations placed on people living in our service territory. They won’t know our story unless we tell it.

• Making the Call – When there is a development that requires a quick response, we contact leaders who can make a difference. Because of the per-sonal relationships and trust that we have developed with them, our voice is more likely to be heard. Political leaders and community leaders know that they can count on us for information regarding rural electric cooperatives.

• Expressing Gratitude – Cooperative staff members use every opportunity to give credit and thanks to elected and agency leaders. When they’ve done something that will protect the way of life our Members value, we acknowledge their good works.

Staff representing Sunfl ower and Mid-Kansas will continue to advocate on behalf of our Members and those they serve. While we take our role in political activism very seriously, we know that the most important voice belongs to electric consumers. We encourage everyone to be active regarding issues that impact families, businesses and communities. Alone we can do a little, but together we can do more.

Victory, in partnership with CoBank through its Sharing Success grant program, has awarded Stauth Memorial Museum $10,000.

The museum, located in Montezuma, received $5,000 from Victory and $5,000 from CoBank to fund the Suited for Space exhibit on loan from the Smithsonian. The exhibit will be open to the public until July 19, 2015.

“The grant is amazing help for us,” said Kim Legleiter, museum director. “As the costs of exhibits go up, it’s so helpful to have support and be able to bring exhibits in for others to enjoy.”

The Stauth Memorial Museum opened in 1996 and features the travel adventures of Claude and Donalda Stauth, longtime residents of southwest Kansas, as well as traveling exhibits throughout the year. The Suited in Space exhibit features life-sized photographs and x-rays of spacesuits, photographs, a replica Apollo spacesuit, and a photo-op spacesuit that visitors can try on.

“Victory is pleased to award this grant to the Stauth Museum,” said Shane Laws, Victory CEO. “The museum provides great educational opportunities to citizens and youth of the surrounding communities, and

we are proud to support their efforts.”This is the third year Victory has awarded a Sharing Success grant to

a local non-profi t. The Bucklin Library received a $10,000 grant in 2012, and the Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic, Dodge City, received a $10,000 grant in 2013.

As part of the Kansas Electric Coop-eratives Annual Meeting luncheon on Jan. 26, Barry Madden, director of member services for Prairie Land Elec-tric Cooperative, Inc., was awarded the Touchstone Energy Power + Hope Award, which honors co-op employ-ees who have shown selfl essness and generosity in their efforts to help those in need. Madden received the award for establishing the 2014 Norton County Honor Hunt with the help of his sons, Casey and Clay, to honor disabled veterans. In this program, eligible veterans, those 30 percent or more disabled, applied for the opportunity to go on an individually guided, rifl e, muzzle-loader or bow deer hunt held throughout Norton County on Dec. 3-5. Twenty winners were selected from the applicants, and all their expenses were paid for by sponsors, Honor Hunt com-mittee and community members. In addition, landowners granted hunting permission, and local hunters shared their guns and ammunition. Approxi-mately 90 community members played a role. The event extended beyond the actual hunt. To show respect and appreciation to the veterans, com-munity volunteers prepared a public banquet on the fi nal day of the hunt. A

television crew from “Killin’ It Outdoors” fi lmed the event. Veterans offered up gratitude in dif-ferent ways: One veteran gave Mad-den a challenge coin to encourage the continuation of the hunt. Another vet-eran included his Purple Heart in the thank you note sent to his guide. This veteran wrote, “Not since I left home over 20 years ago to join this thing called the U.S. Army have I ever felt more at home than I did for those four days in Norton. I would like to thank the city of Norton for a great time, for making all of us feel welcomed and for the greatest gift of not judging us. We all did what we had to do so we could

make it back to our ‘normal’ lives.” “That stunned his guide and every-one else,” said Madden. “It just shows how much the veterans really appreci-ated the event.” Madden received a plaque and a donation to the charity of his choice. Madden’s donation will go to the Nor-ton County Honor Hunt. “The $500 dollars will be used to help with the hunt we plan to do next year. Our plan is to host 15 hunters but also try something new and bring in fi ve kids who lost their dads in recent wars and who might not get to experi-ence this type of adventure,” Madden said. Madden gave credit to community members for the Honor Hunt’s suc-cess: “Again, thank you from all in-volved. This award is not just for me but for the many people who worked so hard to make the Honor Hunt hap-pen.” The award mirrors the National Touchstone Energy Power + Hope Program, which was created in 2009. The Kansas Touchstone Energy Executive Council modifi ed the na-tional program in 2013 to become a statewide employee and trustee rec-ognition program. Co-ops are asked to nominate worthy applicants every fall.

Co-op representative receives Kansas Touchstone Energy Power + Hope Award

Political activism an important mission for cooperatives

The Sharing Success donation check is presented to the Stauth Memorial Museum’s staff and board.Pictured from left: Raechelle Romero, assistant to director; Kim Legleiter, museum director; Kenny Wehkamp, Victory board president; Deb Wall, museum board member; Gary Gillespie, Victory trustee; Kevin Redger, museum board member; and Shane Laws, Victory CEO.

Victory Electric Cooperative helps bring Smithsonian space exhibit to local museum

Telling the cooperative story

Prairie Land’s Barry Madden receives the Power + Hope Award for establishing the 2014 Norton County Honor Hunt.

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