On June 19, Carroll White REMC hosted its 15th Annual Meeting at the White County 4-H Fairgrounds in Reynolds. Over 590 REMC members were registered, and more than 1,000 meals provided by Dan’s Fish Fry were served. Sycamore Ice Cream provided cool treats. Members enjoyed the evening’s musical entertainment, the Whiskey Wreckers.

Directors Kent Zimpfer, District 3; Ralph Zarse, District 5; and Tina Davis, District 7, were re-elected to serve three-year terms. Attorney Patrick Manahan presided over the board election process. Carroll White REMC Board President Kent Zimpfer presided over the business portion of the meeting.

RADERSTORF HIGHLIGHTS THE PAST YEAR’S PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES

CEO Cathy Raderstorf presented the cooperative’s progress and challenges over the past fiscal year. “It has been a very productive and successful year for REMC,” stated Raderstorf. “We ended 2025 in a strong financial position with just over $2.1 million in margins and solid standing with our lenders, exceeding all required key financial ratios. Last fall, your board of directors once again approved the refund of capital credits, totaling $275,490.80.

“In the past two years, CW REMC has experienced approximately 5% growth each year in kilowatt-hour sales. This growth is a key part of affordability by spreading costs over a larger base, helping to maintain stable rates.

“Industry and material costs continue to increase, prompting the need for a new Cost-of-Service Study, which will be conducted in 2026 to determine if rate adjustments are needed in 2027.

“We continue to support fiber internet expansion projects, primarily in the southern part of our service territory. Through this endeavor, we have rebuilt nearly 10 miles of line, replacing older copper conductors and thereby enhancing the system.

“REMC’s system includes more than 48,000 poles. Last year alone, CW REMC replaced 1,553 poles, 201 more than in the previous year. Meter change-outs across the entire service territory have been completed. These changes improve communication speed, allowing faster outage detection and more detailed data to assist in managing the system more effectively.

“It was announced that Carroll White REMC was awarded nearly $30 million through a partially forgivable loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s PACE program to build three microgrids. These microgrids will combine two small solar arrays with battery storage and will include battery storage with an anaerobic digester. This will allow energy to be stored and then released locally during peaks of high demand or during outages. This increases reliability and affordability”

BOARD PRESIDENT ZIMPFER REVIEWS STRATEGIC PLANNING

Board of Directors President Kent Zimpfer presented on strategic planning. “This year, the top priority of the REMC Board of Directors has been to engage in a strategic planning session,” said Zimpfer. “For this process, we partnered with Beacon Strategic Planning and Facilitation Services, a division of CoBank. The two highest priorities are maintaining our membership as the central focus of all decisions and ensuring that safety remains paramount in all field operations”

The Strategic Plan identifies several key focus areas:

• Risk management
• Growth
• Member impacts
• Governance
• Operational needs
• Resources along with project management capacity

“Despite rising utility rates in many areas,” said Zimpfer, “Carroll White REMC is pleased that our power supplier, Wabash Valley Power Alliance, has reduced rates for three consecutive years. Their residential rates remain approximately 10% lower than those of Indiana investor-owned utilities.

“To ensure continued affordability and reliability, all 21 Wabash Valley cooperatives, of which REMC is one, are participating in installing substation battery storage systems. Over the next two years, Carroll White will install battery systems at two substations to help reduce peak demand and costs and enhance reliability.

“Community partnerships are a key focus of REMC. I would like to recognize the REMC Operation Round Up Board of Trustees for their outstanding volunteer service in overseeing the distribution of $44,650 to 35 local organizations. To date, Operation Round Up has granted $1.1 million!

“Renovation was completed on the Delphi facility’s second floor, which now houses the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service. This project illustrates our commitment to supporting vital community partnerships.”

CW REMC AND COBANK AWARD SHARING SUCCESS GRANTS TO FIVE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

Megan Brown, Carroll White REMC accounting manager, presented this year’s CoBank Sharing Success Grants. For several years, CW REMC has partnered with CoBank, one of its lending institutions, in this program. Since 2014, CW REMC, in partnership with CoBank, has invested $180,000 back into the communities it serves.

This year, $20,000 was granted to five entities. CoBank donated $10,000, matched by $10,000 from Carroll White REMC.

Delphi Arts Garden received $4,000 to help transform an underutilized space between the Delphi Library and the historic Delphi City Building. The area will be a vibrant outdoor arts and community gathering space. Julia Leahy and Julie Knoeller accepted the grant.

The City of Delphi received $6,300 for its Delphi Connected project. This initiative will install a downtown sound system integrated into decorative streetscape infrastructure. Julia Leahy and Julie Knoeller also accepted this grant.

The Town of Brookston received $2,500 to support the construction of a new restroom facility at the Town Park. Terry North accepted this grant award.

The White County Boys and Girls Club received $3,200 to support the updating and modernization of furniture in the second- and third-grade program spaces. Dan Fry and Aby Jenkins accepted the grant.

The Delphi Opera House received $4,000 to support a special production, entitled The Carefree Years, an adaptation of a 1920’s book written by a Delphi author. The grant will help create backdrop projections and enhance historic photographs, special effects, and an original musical soundscape. Sara Brosma represented the Delphi Opera House in accepting the grant.

CW REMC JUNIOR BOARD CHAIRMAN STERRETT SHOWCASES ACHIEVEMENTS

Junior Board Chairman Carter Sterrett of North White introduce the other junior board officers: Cady Jones of Winamac, vice chair; Madelyn Goodman of Winamac, secretary; and Rylan Meador of Carroll, treasurer.

Senior members of the board include Jackson Cross, Carroll; Madyson Anderson and Clayton Duff, Delphi; Delayna Grieger, Indiana Agriculture & Technology High School; and Carly Jones, Winamac.

Junior members include Avery Dyer, Carroll; Chamille Spear, North White; Ella Greenes, Twin Lakes; Kaitlynn Lowry and Makylah Holle, West Central; and Elisha Burns, Winamac.

In keeping with the REMC principle of giving back to the community, the Junior Board of Directors annually donates to area nonprofit agencies. This year, $500 grants were donated to the Twin Lakes High School Recycling Program. Ryan and Josie Grennes accepted this grant. The Humanitarian Distribution Center in Pulaski County received a $500 grant, and Chuck Mellon accepted it. The Rebellion Youth Group in Carroll County also received a $500 grant.