Kootenai Electric Cooperative, of Hayden, told its membership that to minimize future increases in power rates it has partnered with Kootenai County in the development of the Fighting Creek Landfill Gas Project.

The facility will allow the cooperative to produce power from waste landfill gas at costs that are comparable to current market prices and less than the forecasted cost of power during the life of the facility.

The cooperative held its 73rd annual meeting of the membership at Lake City Community Church on April 9, reporting on the "State of the Cooperative" and electing members to the board of directors.

At the meeting, Board President Ed Gossett and General Manager Doug Elliott said the cooperative has invested $5,681,000 in system improvements and member extensions. The investments improved system reliability and provided service to new members.

The cooperative leaders also said it was able to close the year with margins of more than $3.5 million. The margins allowed it to maintain equity after issuing $7 million in clean renewable energy bonds to finance the Fighting Creek project.

The cooperative retired $417,890 in patronage capital allocated to members in 1980 and 1981.

Along with completing the Fighting Creek project this year, the cooperative plans to implement new services for members, including online daily and hourly consumption reports. It also will offer optional pre-paid metering and smart phone applications.

The cooperative said it must prepare this year for the Bonneville Power Administration's wholesale power cost increases of approximately 10 percent, which will be effective Oct. 1. The increase will be passed through to members using a wholesale power cost adjustment.

The leaders also touted the cooperative's stable rates, with no increases since 2009.

Board treasurer David Pratt, of Coeur d'Alene, retained his board position for District 3. Board President Ed Gossett, of Harrison, retained his board position for District 5. Terry LaLiberte, of Rathdrum, retained his at-large board position. For the first time, the election was conducted both by mail ballot and at the annual meeting. More than 3,700 ballots were received.