Several hundred Tipmont members joined us for a winter edition of Kilowatts & Brats events this month. We served some tasty food and shared the latest on our fiber-internet build, pursuit of a new power supplier and how we’re positioning ourselves now for future energy transformation.
Communication director Rob Ford first discussed Tipmont’s achievement of a new all-time high score of 86 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index. This quarterly member survey is the benchmark by which Tipmont measures its success in delivering essential services to its membership.
Ford then discussed a recent increase to the Tipmont service charge, which increased by $3.50 in January 2023 – the first such increase since the start of 2020. The service charge covers the cost of equipment and goods necessary to provide electric service, which inflation has drastically increased.
Ron Holcomb, president and CEO of Tipmont, then recalled the winter storm that hit our service area just before Christmas in 2022. We offer many thanks to our members for their patience as our linemen and operation analysts worked to restore service safely and quickly amid brutal winds and temperatures. Our strong performance during that intense storm speaks to our ongoing upgrade of lines and poles across our system, as well as strategic investments in technological innovation.
Holcomb shared developments in how Tipmont is fighting for you to find a power supplier that will offer fairness, freedom and flexibility. Tipmont has stated its case to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which recently invalidated a new, unfair contract proposed by our supplier (which we refused to sign). Now, we await FERC’s ruling on the terms and conditions required to exit our existing contract with that supplier. (Read more about why, and how, Tipmont is fighting for you.)
Ford then offered an update on Wintek’s fiber-internet build plans, with a presentation outlining where we’re building now and where we’ll be in 2024 – by which time everyone on Tipmont’s electric-service grid will have access to broadband. This presentation also included details on a federal subsidy for discounted home internet service, as well as free in-person seminars to learn more about the world of streaming entertainment.
WINTEK FIBER BUILD MAP
View our build map to search when Wintek fiber internet will be available at your home.
Lastly, Ford offered an overview of Tipmont’s efforts in the energy transformation space – in which more renewable energy sources will replace that of the traditional fossil-fuel generation. As energy demand increases, it taxes current generation capacity. Renewable energy is an essential part of addressing needs in the future. Tipmont has undertaken numerous initiatives today to help our members participate in that future of energy, including:
- Evaluating a new bi-directional metering system that will help give us real-time data.
- Conceiving programs to help members manage distributed energy resources with plans to deploy them in the next two to three years.
- Conducting focus groups to gauge members’ perceived needs and answer their questions.
Tipmont thanks everyone for attending, whether it was their first event or they have been thinking about those delicious brats since last summer. We also thank our hosts for these events at North Montgomery High School (Montgomery County), River City Community Center (Tippecanoe County) and Fountain Central Jr.-Sr. High School (Fountain County).
Want to catch up with us later this year? We’ll plan to have booths at county fairs this summer, and our 2023 Annual Meeting will take place in September. Look for more details to follow on this blog, on our social media outlets and in your monthly Indiana Connection magazine.
