Effingham Hosts 2008 IPEA Annual Conference
IPEA Gains New Members, Signs Gas-purchasing Agreements

          Effingham’s Thelma Keller Convention Center again served as the host site for IPEA’s 2008 Annual Conference, “Thriving in a Competitive Market,” held April 8 and 9 and highlighted by presentations from a number of financial and gas industry experts and guest speakers. 

	IPEA President George Smith of Marshall (far right) and his wife, Daralea, enjoy the company of Jim and Alane White of Marshall prior to the IPEA dinner banquet held April 8 at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham.

Among others, these included representatives of the American Public Gas Association (APGA), ProLiance Energy, LLC, Municipal Energy Resources Corp., and Bank of America.

Natural gas pricing and supply trends, various industry marketing initiatives and an overview of both the municipal gas discount and natural gas pre-pay market programs dominated the agenda of IPEA’s fourth annual event, which drew more than 70 attendees from 18 different IPEA-member communities throughout Illinois.   

          IPEA General Manager & CEO Ronald D. Earl initiated kick-off of the agency’s annual business meeting Wednesday (April 8) afternoon by welcoming two new municipal members to the joint-action agency’s ranks: Jo-Carroll Energy, Inc. and Rock Energy Cooperative.   Earl praised both organizations’ efforts in signing new gas purchasing contracts with IPEA as well as the efforts by the agency’s other members in furthering strategic partnerships and growth on behalf of the Springfield-based joint-action agency. 

In addition, he provided a comprehensive review of the agency’s performance for the past year and outlined IPEA’s overall aim, goals and objectives for the coming year as well.

“On behalf of myself and the entire board, we’re proud of the great progress IPEA has made in continuing efforts to secure reliable, low-cost natural gas supplies for its members,” Earl noted. “Such progress, of course, could not have been possible without the dedication, hard work and cooperative team spirit shown by our board members and others throughout the past year, particularly with regard the wise and strategically sound purchasing decisions made on behalf of our members.”

Cheryl Raisner of Marshall visits with Marshall Mayor Ken Smith and his wife Kay (right) prior to the IPEA dinner banquet and awards ceremony.

In other business, the 10-member IPEA Board also elected officers for the 2008-09 fiscal year; reviewed the appointment of members of its Executive Board; heard updates regarding a number of gas-marketing initiatives undertaken by IPEA, APGA and ProLiance Energy, LLC; approved several ordinances and amendments relating to its general sales contract with ProLiance Energy, LLC; approved a number of new gas-purchasing agreements, including the execution of a spot gas-sales contract for the purchase of natural gas from Municipal Gas Acquisition and Supply Corporation and its agent, the City of LaGrange, Texas; and, approved its meeting schedule for the coming year (the period May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009).

Among the speakers giving presentations at this year’s conference were four members of ProLiance’s management team and a representative of Municipal Energy Resource Corp.’s (MERC) senior management.  These speakers and their presentations included Dave Pentzein, Vice President of Marketing, “Our Alliance Partner – An Update on ProLiance Energy; Susannah Hardesty, Manager-Strategic Analysis, “Natural Gas Market Overview”; Carmen Andreoli, Director-Risk Management Products, “Overview of the Signature Guardian Program and Product Development Actitivites”; and, Jake Woodall, Director-Wholesale Services, “Pre-Pay Market Overview.”

A fifth presenter, Jim Smith, Vice President of Municipal Energy Resources Corp. of LaGrange, Texas, provided an overview of his company’s municipal gas discount payment program and its cost impact on the wholesale natural gas market.

	Jackie Butler (left) of Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co. and the ProLiance Energy team of Cindy Collins, Paula Montgomery and Jake Woodall take time to pose for a group photo during the IPEA Annual Conference hospitality hour.

Organized in 2004, the IPEA is a Springfield-based joint-action agency dedicated to securing reliable, stable and low-cost wholesale natural gas supplies for its various municipal and cooperative members.  These members include the 15 Illinois municipalities of Bethany, Bushnell, Casey, Edinburg, Fairfield, Flora, Greenup, Marshall, Martinsville, Morton, Rantoul, Roodhouse, Salem, Sullivan and Wayne City and two state energy cooperatives, Jo Carroll Energy and Rock Energy

Magician Scott Wells and his wife, Kathy, greeted IPEA annual conference attendees with warm smiles just prior to the start of the social hour’s Tuesday evening entertainment.		Jo-Carroll Energy’s Michael Hastings (left) assists Magician Scott Wells with a magic trick during the Tuesday evening dinner banquet.
Magician Wells explains the solution to a puzzling card trick to IPEA dinner attendees.		IPEA Vice President Greg Hazel assists Wells with another card trick during the IPEA Tuesday evening dinner banquet.
IPEA Administrative Manager Tammy Kesterson gets the last laugh in on Wells following a memory trick that required her assistance.		Bank of America’s John Norman, the featured IPEA dinner banquet speaker, points out factors impacting the current prepayment market for natural gas.
ProLiance Energy Vice President of Marketing Dave Pentzien delivers opening remarks as part of his Wednesday (April 9) morning presentation titled “”Our Alliance Partner – An Update on ProLiance Energy.”		ProLiance Energy Manager of Strategic Analysis Susannah Hardesty emphasizes a point about contract gas supplies as part of her Wednesday morning presentation, “Natural Gas Market Overview.”
Carmen Andreoli, Director-Risk Management Products for ProLiance Energy, explains the strategies outlined in his presentation, “Overview of Signature Guardian Program and Product Development Activities.”