Village of Argyle, Wisconsin

Historic Argyle has reproduced to DVD, a copy of an original film by itinerant film-maker, Arthur J. Higgins. Filmed around 1938, it features footage or the people of Argyle going about their daily lives. It especially features the school and the children. It also has footage of the old Mud Branch school. Historic Argyle is trying to identify as many of the people in the film as possible and has tentatively identified over 100 of them.

The DVD, "See Yourself as Others See You" is for sale for $10.00 ($6.00 plus $4.00 shipping and handling) from:

Historic Argyle

P.O. Box 101

Argyle, WI 53504

This article is to inform you of Argyle Electric Utility’s recent decision to enter into a new wholesale Power Agreement with Dairyland Power Cooperative. We are confident that the Agreement represents a fair and mutually beneficial arrangement and that it is the very best power purchase deal currently available to Argyle on the market.

As you may know, Argyle’s current contract with Dairyland will expire April 30^th of 2008. The current agreement is a fixed price contract that has provided Argyle with incredibly low rates for the past ten years or so. In addition to low energy prices, this contract has allowed Argyle to use its own diesel and hydro generators to occasionally provide power to Dairyland when their plants and power lines have problems meeting demands. Our generators therefore give us contract negotiating power in the form of capacity credits, since Dairyland relies on us to provide them with these services.

Unfortunately, it is no longer economical for wholesale providers such as Dairyland to continue offering fixed price contracts. This is due to rapidly rising costs of transporting coal and to the increased costs of natural gas and other fuels used by Dairyland. In addition, power suppliers have had to upgrade their plants to meet new environmental standards and state requirements for environmentally friendly green power such as wind power. This situation is leading to significant and unavoidable cost increases for our purchased electricity.

Foreseeing these cost increases, Argyle undertook efforts beginning in 2004 to procure the most economical power supply arrangements it possibly could. First, Argyle entered into a new agency agreement with 15 other city utilities, maximizing its buying power through joint action, creating the Upper Midwest Municipal Power Agency ("UMMPA").

Secondly, Argyle engaged special legal counsel (Boardman, Suhr, Curry and Field of Madison) and consulting services (Utility Management Services) to develop a wholesale bidding process. Requests for proposals were sent to 19 different power suppliers in the Midwest, and Dairyland was the lowest cost provider.

Finally, Argyle and representatives from the other 15 cities worked for over a year to negotiate a new wholesale power agreement with Dairyland. The entire process took approximately fifteen months and yielded a comprehensive "Master Agreement" that was unanimously approved by the UMMPA Board of Directors and recommended for approval and execution by UMMPA's members, including Argyle.

The new DPC Agreement does represent a significant cost increase over the existing agreement. It is not a fixed price contract, but rather sets energy prices at the actual incremental cost of production with a negotiated margin for Dairyland. In June of 2007, Argyle also started receiving monthly charges from MISO (Midwest Independent System Operator) for ancillary and Market Pass-through charges for Argyle’s load on the ATC (American Transmission Company) transmission system. These are new charges had not been passed through to Argyle prior to June of 2007.

How these cost increases will impact Argyle’s retail rates will of course ultimately be determined by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. With these increases in power supply costs to Argyle, we are forced to apply to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission for an increase in electric rates. However, even with these projected increases, Argyle’s rates should remain lower than most other cities in Wisconsin and neighboring states.

The new Agreement contains many other potential cost-saving features, including retention of value for local excess capacity; a dispatch or market "buy-through" option that will allow Argyle to monitor the market and exercise control over operation of its own generation; implementation of load management programs; and opportunities for base load generation ownership. The Agreement also contains an opt-out provision, that will allow Argyle to continue evaluating and potentially securing more economical purchase opportunities that may become available in the wholesale market, either on its own or in conjunction with other UMMPA members.

In short, we believe the new Dairyland contract reflects the Argyle Electric Utility’s ongoing commitment to provide reliable, low cost energy to its customers. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Argyle’s rates or services.

Village of Argyle signs new power contract with Dairyland Power Cooperative.

Click HERE for detailed information.

Click on the picture below to see pictures of the improvements to the Argyle Power Plant.

A picturesque village nestled into the rolling hills of northeastern Lafayette County, the community of Argyle and the surrounding area are appealing both to residents and to visitors.

The eastern branch of the Pecatonica River weaves its way through the village, offering fishing and boating opportunities to those who love the outdoors. Just eight miles to the northwest is Yellowstone Lake State Park. The 450-acre Yellowstone Lake is the largest body of water in southwestern Wisconsin.

Community Profile

The people of Argyle are an essential component in the community's appeal. They are friendly, open and deeply committed to their community. Many volunteer their time in community organizations, local churches and with the local fire department and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) program.

Although just over 800 in population, Argyle offers a wide variety of products and services to residents and visitors. The village has two restaurants, a supper club, a supermarket, a Laundromat, two banks, a 24 hour gas station with convenience store, and the basic medical services of a physician, dentist and veterinarian. There are also several retail businesses including a lumber yard, hardware store, a jewelry / gift store, an arts and collectibles shop, two local pubs, and two beauty shops.

Argyle is within an easy drive of Monroe, a city of 10,000 people located 15 miles east of Argyle. The largest city in the region is Madison, 40 miles to the northeast. State capital of Wisconsin and home of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this community of nearly 200,000 has a multitude of educational, medical, recreational, and cultural resources.

"SEE YOURSELF AS OTHERS SEE YOU"

The DVD, "See Yourself as Others See You" is for sale for $10.00 ($6.00 plus $4.00 shipping and handling) from:

Historic Argyle

P.O. Box 101

Argyle, WI 53504

Village of Argyle signs new power contract with Dairyland Power Cooperative.

Click HERE for detailed information.

Community Profile