Pioneer Electric Awards $5,000 in Grants to USD 214 Wrestling Program

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Representatives of Pioneer Electric’s Helping Us Give to Society (H.U.G.S.) team met with coaches from the USD 214 wrestling program on Dec. 19 to present $5,000 in grant funding to the program. The team will use the grants to purchase new mat. An additional $5,000 in grants was awarded courtesy of CoBank’s Sharing Success Program.

“Purchasing this new mat will allow our wrestlers to increase their skills and knowledge of the sport,” said Jen Hittle, girls wrestling coach. “More mats are vital to the program to create an adequate and safe practice environment.”

“We’re excited to see how the USD 214 wrestling program will continue to grow with the addition of this new mat,” said Rae Gorman, H.U.G.S. team member.

Hittle stated that the program has seen its numbers increase, with girls’ wrestling becoming one of the fastest-growing sports for Ulysses.

Further information regarding Pioneer Electric’s H.U.G.S. program and grant applications can be found here.

Pioneer Electric Awards $7,000 in grants to Ulysses Schools

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Representatives from Pioneer Electric’s H.U.G.S. (Helping Us Give to Society) program awarded a $3,000 grant towards Hickok Elementary’s music safety program and $4,000 towards Ulysses High School’s Reading Recharge.

The grant awarded to Hickok Elementary will assist in purchasing safety rails for risers used in performances held by the school. The rails will help keep students safe during music and other performances.

“This will impact all students at Hickok Elementary,” said Susan McConnell, Music Teacher for the school. “The goal is to keep all kids safe while performing on stage. Our number one goal is always the safety of our students.”

For Jennifer Burns, Media Center Instructor with Ulysses High, the grants offer an opportunity to make the school’s library more appealing to students.

“It’s quite a challenge to get students to read in today’s age of cellphones and short attention spans,” shares Burns. “Our library, and what we offer, has to change with our students if we want to encourage a love of reading, The goal of the project is to update our library so that students find our selections appealing and our display of these items engaging.”

The multi-part project will bring dynamic shelving for eye-catching displays and provide additional reading options for students.

“It’s so important that students have access to books that reflect themselves and their interests,” said Burns. “This means purchasing books they ask for, such as graphic novels and books they are seeing on social media.”

 

 

It Pays To Be A Member – Join Us For Member Appreciation!

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Pioneer Electric is proud to announce the retirement of $5.6 million to members in the form of capital credits checks. Pioneer Electric’s Board of Trustees approved the retirement during their September board meeting. Capital credits checks will be issued to members for service used in 2000 and 2023. Members will also receive generation and transmission capital credits for service used in 2012 and 2023.

Getting Your Check

Capital credits checks will be available for pick up at this year’s Member Appreciation celebration on Dec. 10 from 4-7 p.m. at the Grant County Civic Center in Ulysses. Members are invited to join us for an evening of community and free family fun. Attendees will have the opportunity to see Santa, pet reindeer, and enjoy a free chicken and noodles dinner!

Those looking to pick up their checks will be able to meet with Pioneer staff during the festivities. Please note, retired balances under $5 will not receive a check at this year’s celebration. These credits will be kept on file and a check will be available after a $5 minimum is met. Pioneer will mail all remaining capital credits checks following the event and will not hold them for members.

Questions regarding capital credits may be directed to 620-356-1211.

Common Questions

Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALLOCATED AND RETIRED CAPITAL CREDITS?

A: Allocated (or booked) capital credits are excess margins that are currently recorded on Pioneer Electric’s books. These margins, unless determined otherwise by the board, are generally allocated proportionally, each year, based upon the amount of electricity purchased by the member. These margins are then held until they are retired (or paid). As outlined in the member-approved bylaws, capital credits may be retired in the manner, method and timing determined by Pioneer’s Board of Trustees.

Q: WHY CAN’T MY CAPITAL CREDITS ALLOCATIONS BE REFUNDED TO ME ALL AT ONCE?

A: Retiring capital credits all at once would dramatically increase the cooperative’s borrowing cost and ultimately raise rates for members. In lieu of borrowing to meet all of its operating and capital project needs, accumulated capital credits allocations are used to partially fund long-term reliability improvements and maintenance. Each year, the board of trustees determines if the cooperative is financially able to pay prior years’ capital credits back to the members. When approved, the cooperative refunds capital credits to the members who used electricity during those designated years.