GRDA CEO appointed to Hometown Connections Board of Directors

The organization helps public power communities get the best value for industry services …

Vinita – Another opportunity to help the Grand River Dam Authority’s municipal electric customers.

That is what GRDA Chief Executive Officer Kevin Easley says is the intended result of his recent appointment to the board of directors of Hometown Connections, Inc (HCI). The utility services subsidiary of the American Public Power Association (APPA), HCI was established a decade ago as sort of an aggregate buying entity, responsible for helping municipally owned electric utilities get the best value for their dollar when they purchase industry related goods and services.

“My hope for serving on the HCI board is to help insure those goods and services are available, at the best value, for GRDA’s public power partners in Oklahoma,” said Easley. GRDA sells wholesale electric power to 17 municipal customers.

As an HCI board member Easley (who also serves on the APPA Board of Directors) will help guide the organization as it works to strengthen the buying power of public power utilities all across the nation.

According to HCI President and CEO Tim Blodgett, the organization focuses primarily on services that “help municipal electric systems operate more effectively,” he said. Metering equipment and software are just a couple examples of the good and services HCI helps public power utilities purchase.

“We don’t just look at prices, but overall quality and services. At the end of the day, we are looking for total value,” added Blodgett. 

As for the board’s role, Blodgett said the close contact board members have with their customers is really the foundation for HCI. “The board’s ability to stay in touch with the industry and its needs is important to our success. We look to our board to help us charge our course and vision for the future,” he added.

Appointed to the HCI Board in late June, Easley said GRDA’s involvement with both HCI and APPA is good for public power in Oklahoma.

“Since being named GRDA CEO in 2004, I’ve had a goal of insuring we would have a seat at the table when important decisions were made that affect our customers, Oklahoma public power and the electric industry,” he said. “Staying invovled with APPA and HCI is part of that.”