Isn Chugach Consumers just another special interest?
NO! A special interest is different from the general public (or membership) interest in that it seeks to obtain benefits, advantages or privileges for itself above and beyond what it ordinarily would be entitled to as an average member of the public. At Chugach Electric, the special interest is the IBEW Union, which represents the majority of co-op workers under three contracts: Outside Electrical, Generation, and Office and Engineering. The independent board majority fought very hard to pass a bylaw reducing conflict of interest, a bylaw strongly opposed by IBEW-backed board members. Now members and employees of the IBEW Union as well as suppliers, contractors, consultants and others doing business with Chugach Electric are not allowed to serve on the Board, nor is anyone holding more than a 10% interest in such a business. Chugach Consumers just consists of fellow ratepayers, and its candidates and supporters get the same benefits as other ratepayers from an independent and effective
