Barrow Utilities and Electric Coop

“Lewis Brower, board director, is the brother-in-law of Ben Frantz, General Manager.”

“The following propositions were approved and incorporated into the by-laws: Articles of Conversion Proposition B: This proposal would update BUECI's address in the Articles of Conversion to provide the street address and update the P.O. Box. Bylaws Proposition 1: This proposal would eliminate the $25 membership fee from the Bylaws and refund it to the members. BUECI does not believe the benefits of charging a membership fee outweigh the costs of collecting and tracking the membership fee. This was approved in bylaws and failed in the articles in April 2017. The corresponding article was approved in April 2018. Bylaws Proposition 2: This proposal would expand joint membership from just husbands and wives to allow any two adults living in the same household to become joint members. This makes joint membership more flexible and ensures that the cooperative is in compliance with legal requirements. Bylaws Proposition 3: This proposal would require members to purchase their electricity and gas from BUECI. Members would still be free to install their own back-up generation, renewable energy, etc. They simply could not purchase such energy from anyone other than BUECI. This helps ensure that costs will remain low and fair for all members. Bylaws Proposition 4: This proposal would eliminate language in the Bylaws authorizing the Board to use mail-in ballots for any issue to be decided at a membership meeting. The Board believes that the membership wants to require in-person participation in membership meetings. Bylaws Proposition 5: This proposal would update the order of business to include items that have historically been a part of the membership meeting, including the call to order, roll call of directors and invocation. It also moves member concerns to occur after the election of directors, allowing ballot counters more time to count ballots and thus helping to keep meetings shorter. It would also give the members flexibility to change the order in which business is conducted. Bylaws Proposition 6: This proposal would increase the qualifications required to be a director. It would require a director to be a member in good standing, which means not delinquent on cooperative bills. It also requires that the director be an active consumer of one or more of BUECI's utility services. Bylaws Proposition 7: This proposal would clarify the attendance requirements for directors. Directors who miss three consecutive meetings without being excused will be automatically deemed to have resigned. Bylaws Proposition 8: This proposal would improve the process for filling Board vacancies. Filling a vacancy would only require a majority vote of the Board members present instead of the current requirement that a majority of the entire remaining Board vote to fill a vacancy. Bylaws Proposition 9: This proposal would eliminate the Executive Committee from the Bylaws. The Board has not used the Executive Committee in many years. The Board also strongly believes that the Board's authority should be exercised by the entire Board, not just a committee of the Board. Bylaws Proposition 10: This proposal ensures that all members will receive notice of Bylaw amendments before the meeting at which they will be voted on. It has long been the cooperative's practice to provide advance notice of Bylaw amendments, but this change will put that practice into the Bylaws.”

“Our members consist of customers with electrical service to their residence or business. We do not have any stockholders.”

“Members can be nominated and voted on by other members for a three year term. Three seats a year are voted upon.”

“Any bylaw changes have to be approved by the membership. Annual financial report has to be approved by the members. The board has authority to adjust rates.”

“The admin manager reviews the 990 by comparing it to the financial records of the organization.”

“There is an honor system in place in which the board of directors is expected to disclose to the organization if and when a conflict arises.”

“3rd party performs compensation surveys every other year which is the basis for pay rates.”

“Financials are sent out to active members annually. Governing documents and conflict of interest policy is made available upon request.”

“Excess fire insurance proceeds 3,515 new memberships 2,100 total to form 990, part xi, line 9 5,615”

“Description:cost of natural gas total expenses:1514094”

“Description:electric production total expenses:996366”

“Description:water & distribution total expenses:1065987”

“Description:electric distribution total expenses:661663”

“Description:gas distribution total expenses:547232”

“Description:consumer accounts total expenses:628755”

“Description:taxes total expenses:598409”

“Description:miscellaneous total expenses:30227”