As a cooperative, we’ve always been committed to the communities we serve. In a year marked by a pandemic and civil unrest, ECE continued to provide electricity to power daily life. This is the most important thing we can do for our communities. At the same time, we want to get involved at the ground level by supporting you where you live, work, and volunteer.
To better connect with our members, we’ve formed an internal Community Engagement Committee. In partnership with the executive team, the committee hopes to identify engagement opportunities across our service area. Life is busy, and we’re hoping a more grassroots approach will allow us to make a real difference in the daily lives of those we serve. The committee is comprised of seven employees who represent different work teams, hometowns, and backgrounds, and aim to change the culture of how we’re engaging. Traditionally, we have invited you to come to us. Now we want to know what’s happening in your town.
“ECE has been financially contributing to community events for many years,” explains Lynzie Kelly, committee organizer. “Now we want to lace up our boots and be there in person. Of course, the size of our territory, as well as the availability of our employees who already volunteer a lot of their free time, will require us to be a little more creative in terms of choosing what we can participate in.”
The decision has been made to cancel our Member Appreciation Events this fall. For more than 85 years, ECE has delivered on our commitment to community and will continue to do so. Please let us know how we can help your event thrive by emailing [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you in YOUR communities soon!
The decision has been made to cancel our Member Appreciation Events this fall. For more than 85 years, ECE has delivered on our commitment to community and will continue to do so. Please let us know how we can help your event thrive by emailing [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you in YOUR communities soon!
Scheduled vs. hazard tree removal
When it comes to trees, there are two types of vegetation management at ECE: scheduled and hazard. Outages can occur from trees falling from outside the cleared corridor, or branches that break and fall from unhealthy or unstable trees. If a tree crew has recently moved through your area, you may be wondering why the debris was (or wasn’t) removed.
Regular, scheduled maintenance occurs year-round and typically includes removal or mowing of tree debris. Before any clearing takes place, ECE sends out a notification by email or letter to all members that are included within a project area.
When crews are removing trees, the debris is generally cleaned up the same day; however, sometimes circumstances arise. If this occurs, the property owner is notified.
Hazard tree removal typically does not include debris removal. In most cases, no notification is given, unless the trees are located within or near the landscaped area. These trees will be identified with either red paint or ribbon. Branches will be left on site, which members can either burn or haul to a local yard waste facility. ECE will not transport diseased or infested debris from the property.
Trees and debris left behind from a storm situation will not be cleaned up by ECE. For more information call 1-866-293-9068 or visit our Tree Concerns & Requests page.
The ability to charge an electric vehicle (EV) at home is one of the major benefits to making the switch from traditional cars fueled by gasoline.
Every EV comes with a Level 1 charging cord that plugs into a regular household outlet. However, if your driving exceeds 30 miles per day, or you prefer a faster charge, you will want to invest in a Level 2 charging station.
To alleviate the up-front cost associated with this equipment, we currently offer members a $750 rebate to install a Level 2 charger on either the time-of-use rate or off-peak storage rate. A charger installed on ECE’s time-of-use rate will always receive electricity, so you can charge your vehicle whenever needed. A special meter is installed that allows the rate to fluctuate based on the time of day.
Even better, you can also power your EV with 100% wind energy through the Revolt program for the lifetime of the vehicle, at no extra cost. While you’ll still have to pay for the energy you use, you can do so knowing when you go electric, you’ll always be going green. Learn more.
ECE Operations Manager Dave Curtis is retiring this month after 32 years of service. Dave and his wife Mary plan to enjoy their summer at Yellow Lake near Danbury, WI, floating on the pontoon and exploring with the UTV. They would also like to visit their four children and one granddaughter who live in Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and St. Peter, MN. Winter plans include a warm location like Arizona or Florida. Though he has some house projects to complete, Dave intends to fully enjoy retirement with beautiful weather and the people he loves. Congratulations, Dave!