December Ruralite
Photo & Story By: Dana Greig
The 87th Annual Meeting of the Idaho County Light & Power Cooperative Association (ICLP) brought together members, employees, and directors to reflect on the past year and discuss future plans during the Nov. 6 meeting held at the Elks Lodge in Grangeville.
Welcome and Introductions
President Jim Poxleitner opened the meeting, followed by an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as a lunch catered by Rodonna’s out of Cottonwood. The agenda included reports from leadership, elections, prizes, and a chance for members to ask questions and provide feedback.
President’s Report: Managing Growth and Rising Costs
President Poxleitner highlighted a 1.5% growth in membership and steady energy sales. While the cooperative continues to invest in infrastructure and return capital credits to members, a major concern this year is the 21.7% increase in power costs from BPA, effective October 1, 2025. This marks the most significant rate hike in years.
To manage this, ICLP partnered with CFC to conduct a Cost-of-Service Study, which recommended incorporating a demand charge into billing—a change designed to align costs with usage more fairly across all member types.
Poxleitner reassured members that ICLP remains committed to delivering safe, affordable, and reliable power as a not-for-profit cooperative.
Secretary-Treasurer’s Report: Financial Strength Amid Rising Expenses
Secretary/Treasurer Bruce Nuxoll presented the consolidated financials, noting a $1.2 million increase in net value, bringing total net assets to $24.7 million, with over $20 million in member equity. Despite inflation and increased power costs, the cooperative continues to operate efficiently and remains financially sound.
ICLP's total net margins for 2024 were $2.1 million, with $709,000 from electric operations. A $500,000 capital credit retirement was issued, and over $9 million has been returned to members since 1988. Around 33% of members are now enrolled in the early discounted capital credit program, allowing them to receive credits in December.
Propane Report: Steady Growth and Community Value
Director Frank McIntire shared that Idaho County Propane (ICP) had another strong year, marking 28 years in business. Sales rose to over 2 million gallons, with a 2% increase in customers—adding 103 new accounts. Revenues reached $5.2 million, with most growth attributed to word-of-mouth.
ICP made a $750,000 dividend payment to ICLP and paid $295,000 in management fees and rent, helping offset electric member costs—about $15/month per member. The company also maintains competitive pricing with no added fees for delivery or hazmat, unlike many commercial competitors.
Manager’s Report: Reliability, Wildfire Prevention, and New Rate Structure
General Manager Max Beach emphasized the dual focus of improving reliability and managing new cost pressures.
This year, over $2 million was invested in pole replacements, line upgrades, and transformer improvements—especially in Kamiah and Tahoe. Wildfire mitigation remains a top priority, with continued investment in vegetation trimming and defensible space education.
Beach also addressed the BPA power cost hike, caused by court-mandated water spills at dams and ICLP moving into Tier 2 power, which is nearly double the cost of Tier 1. To help manage this, ICLP joined the Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative (PNGC), strengthening their influence and access to market solutions.
To handle the added power costs, ICLP will introduce a three-part rate structure starting in 2026. While the average residential member using 1,200 kWh/month will see a $6 increase, members with higher demand will see proportionally more. The energy rate per kWh will remain unchanged, but bills will include a new demand charge line item to reflect actual costs of service.
This approach aims for fairness, ensuring lower-use members aren’t subsidizing higher-use members, especially during peak times (6–9 AM and 5–8 PM).
Youth Engagement, Board Elections
The cooperative continues to support youth through programs like the Youth Rally, with this year’s delegates including Audrey Brown, Kaden Schaff, Katelyn Riener, and Erica Schlader.
Board elections were held for Districts 3 and 4, where current vice-president Martin Poxleitner (3) and current secretary/treasurer Bruce Nuxoll (4) ran unopposed and were unanimously re-elected by the members to serve in their respective districts for the upcoming three-year term.
Members also had opportunities to submit questions and provide feedback during the open forum session.
Prize Drawings and Member Appreciation
As always, door and grand prizes added excitement to the event. Drawings took place throughout the meeting, where 22 items were awarded to randomly selected members in attendance.
The event closed with final comments, grand prize awards, and expressions of appreciation from the Board and staff for member engagement and support.
The member meeting delivered vital updates on ICLP’s financial health, strategic initiatives, and challenges ahead to the 106 members in attendance. The cooperative continues to navigate rising costs while maintaining service quality and community focus.
For more updates, visit www.iclp.coop or contact the office at (208) 983-1610.