Jackson Energy’s 2010 annual meeting proved that less is more. The scaled down meeting didn’t have the car show and community exhibits members have come to expect, but it did include the popular fireworks finale that brought thousands of spectators to the co-op farm on KY HWY 290 last Friday night.

Another change to the annual meeting format, proved to be popular with co-op members in Jackson Energy’s service area. For the first time, members didn’t have to drive to McKee to pick up their bucket of bulbs. They could register for the annual meeting and pick up their bucket at district offices and customer service centers in Beattyville, London, McKee and Manchester.

“As a result of this change,” said Jackson Energy President & CEO Don Schaefer, “we were able to distribute buckets of bulbs to almost 2,000 members, which was a record number.” Schaefer addressed the co-op members during the business meeting, which was held under a tent at the McKee office. He emphasized the co-op’s use of technology in bringing reliable electric service to the region, including the use of smart grid and automated reading equipment, as well as the use of computers and computerized maps in service trucks. He noted that these technology tools help the co-op restore service more quickly when there are outages and also to provide more efficient and cost effective electricity to southeastern Kentucky.

Schaefer also talked about the expenses associated with operating the co-op. He noted that 66 cents of every dollar paid by members goes to pay Jackson Energy’s wholesale power bill to East Kentucky Power. By the time loan payments, depreciation and other expenses are taken out of the dollar, Jackson Energy retains 19 cents for operating expenses, such as salaries, system upgrades and maintenance costs.

Also during the business meeting Jackson Energy recognized the winners of the 2010 scholarship contest. They were Jackson County, Logan Isaacs; Clay County, Megan Cotton; South Laurel, Madison Combs; North Laurel, Chesley Maggard; Owsley County, Erin Reynolds; Estill County, Jera Fallen; Rockcastle County, Joanie Alexander; and Lee County, Jenna Cox.