Co-op buys 16 defibrillators to use in field
Socorro Electric Cooperative is investing more than $21,500 into safety.
Socorro Electric Cooperative is investing more than $21,500 into safety.
At its regular meeting on July 28, the co-op’s board of trustees voted to purchase 16 battery-powered Automated External Defibrillators from Cardiac Science Inc. at a cost of $1,349 apiece.
Trustee Luis Aguilar, who is chairman of the safety committee, proposed the idea. He said the company recently gave a demonstration of their product to the committee.
“We felt that it was a good piece of equipment to purchase for employees to carry out in the field. Maybe we could save a life,” he said.
The units would be assigned to linemen crews, who routinely face the risk of electrocution while working on highly charged power lines.
“To me, safety is very dear to me,” Aguilar said. “These linemen are exposed to danger.”
At least one AED would be kept at the co-op’s office in Socorro.
Trustee Donald Wolberg said he thought buying the AEDs was “an excellent idea.” He said the linemen cover a large territory and often work in remote areas, many miles from medical facilities. They might come in handy when crews are out and about, and come across someone having a heart incident.
General Manger Polo Pineda said crews have assisted the public during emergencies in the past, in one case they helped deliver a baby.
Wolberg asked if in such cases liability would be an issue. Co-op attorney Dennis Francish said he believed New Mexico had a “Good Samaritan” law that would protect the co-op from liability, but would look into it to be sure.
Trustee Leroy Anaya asked if anyone had looked into getting price quotes from other companies.
Aguilar said requests were sent to two other companies but neither replied.
Pineda said he had checked on pricing from about three other companies “and this is a good price. We actually get a break through NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association).”
Pineda said he knew of a couple of rural electric cooperatives in the state who have purchased AEDs and others have looked into buying them.
Anaya made the motion to purchase the AEDs and Wolberg seconded it. The motion passed unanimously.
During his general manager’s report, Pineda talked about a future rate increase. He said there hasn’t been a rate increase in several years, but there had been a power cost adjustment about five years ago. He noted that Socorro Electric’s system charges remained the lowest of any co-op in the state.
Pineda said he would present the board with two options for rate increases at a future board meeting or special meeting. He suggested it might be a good idea to hold a public meeting to explain to customers why a rate increase was needed.
The board awarded a bid to Western Energy Services of Durango Inc. to install 33 miles of double circuit lines from near Springerville, Ariz., to the substation near Quemado.
Pineda said Western Energy Services had done work for Socorro Electric before and submitted the lowest of three bids received, at $2,858,051.
Trustee Milton Ulibarri reported that low-cost insurance coverage could be made available to member-owners in the future through the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association, but details needed to be worked out.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, member-owner Marie Watkins, of Luis Lopez, questioned why the co-op was in the practice of taking out 30-year loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture every four years.
Pineda said that taking the loans, which are used to pay for system improvements, has been the practice for the last 40 years. He said Larry McGraw of the USDA Rural Development could provide a better explanation, and he would see if he could get McGraw to come to Socorro.
The board set a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26, to hear the co-op’s auditor report on the past fiscal year.
The board’s next regular meeting is the day before, Wednesday, Aug. 25, also at 5:30 p.m.
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