For the past decade, the Wolverine Board and senior team set aside a special day to reflect on significant accomplishments of the past year and dig into strategic questions that might shape our future. How does Wolverine continue to bring value to its members? What will Wolverine focus on next year? Where are the opportunities for upcoming years? How much will Wolverine invest in generation, transmission and distribution substations? Should we build more generation? What type should it be? What will happen to our members’ rates if we do all this investing? What will happen to Wolverine if we don’t? By taking on hard questions regularly, we can remain synced with the interests, appetites and needs of our member-owners.

The past year felt very different to me. For years, Wolverine’s senior team had to dedicate the majority of its time to power supply. This year we got to shift to other priorities and that allowed you to achieve some very significant milestones:

  • Hired a new communications team
  • Landed the largest new load in the 70-year history of our company with EJ Foundry near Boyne
    • Signed a contract
    • Secured transmission easements
    • Completed line and substation design
    • Procured material
    • Began construction!
  • Signed a new labor agreement with our IBEW field employees
  • Began the new Michigan Joint Apprenticeship Program
  • Completed a culture survey to identify our strengths and identify areas where YOU feel we can improve
  • Completed 70 miles of new transmission line
  • Opened two new services centers at Atlanta and Dorr
  • Performed an internal cyber security audit
  • Reviewed Wolverine’s entire Risk Management program
  • Supported Wolverine Power Marketing and delivered new long-term contract extensions
  • Managed legislative changes to Michigan’s Energy laws
  • Established a full-time business origination function

Along the way, many of you were tasked with ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of our electric system. Keeping the lights on, responding to bad weather, keeping our generating plants ready to go, maintaining our transmission network and making sure bills are paid, employees are paid and keeping our financial reporting up to date. Your everyday efforts make a difference for our members. Thank you for what you do. What a year!