Grain and Feed Association of Illinois
In 2005, the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois (GFAI) was looking for ways to help our members transition to a different way of purchase electricity due to changes in state law. We were referred to Latham, Ervin, Vognsen & Associates (LEV) whom we asked to conduct a study on the economic feasibility of forming a consortium to purchase electricity and natural gas. The detailed study provided the confidence we needed to form the GFAI Energy Consortium.
LEV has been with us every step of the way by providing practical advice and common-sense solutions to our needs. The fact that they provide us with information and independent advice instead of the commodities of electricity and natural gas, gives us great confidence that they are guiding our consortium in the right direction.
Without reservation, the best thing we did when looking to help our members deal with electricity and natural gas issues was to hire LEV.
Jeff Adkisson, CAE, Executive Vice President and Treasurer
Missouri School Boards' Association
The Missouri School Boards' Association worked with Latham, Ervin, Vognsen and Associates (LEV) to secure legislative authority and subsequently develop and implement a natural gas purchasing program for schools in Missouri. While the program began in 2002, there was much groundwork done prior to that time with the leadership and services of LEV. The expertise and counsel of LEV has been invaluable to MSBA throughout the history of the program as we have had internal changes, and LEV has always made certain anyone new understood the basics of the program.
LEV has worked with MSBA and our purchasing agency to monitor the market, changes within the pipeline industry and activities of the utilities to make certain we are in the best position to offer our participants the best pricing on natural gas. We have found their work in other states and knowledge of what has happened or is happening in those states to be of great benefit to our program. Additionally, LEV has provided monitoring and basic audit services related to billing of our participants. They have been forthright with their findings and communication of such.
A key element over the years has been the expertise offered by LEV not only in our regular operations and examining the market, both current and future, but also in our dealings with the Missouri Public Service Commission. They have been outstanding in providing a 360-degree analysis of the issues and potential impacts as we have dealt with numerous cases over the years. At the same time, they are also very conscientious of the cost to the program and firmly advise as to the potential cost-benefit of involvement in some cases. They stand strong for the interest of the program.
Simply put, LEV has been a critical partner in our Missouri Natural Gas Consortium. Their expertise and servant attitude have allowed MSBA to develop and maintain a program we simply could not have done on our own. I am available to respond to inquiries from any firm or agency considering LEV as a potential client or partner.
Michael D. Parnell, Associate Executive Director, Member Relations and School Business Services
Large Energy Group
The Large Energy Group (LEG) is a group of industrial companies and institutional organizations that have joined together to monitor electric rates in the Alliant Energy territory in Iowa (IPL) and respond to utility rate cases to ensure that electricity rates are fair and reasonable. We partner with the Latham, Ervin, Vognsen & Associates consulting firm in Cedar Rapids for their expertise in these matters.
LEV has represented our group for many years and is a strong advocate for Alliant Energy customers and Iowa residents in energy regulation that comes before the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) and the Iowa state government.
LEV serves as LEG’s sole technical adviser and directs our legal proceedings with the Iowa Utilities Board. The LEG was also active in 2018 with providing information and feedback to the Iowa legislature during debate on the Omnibus Energy bill; thanks to LEV's diligence and expertise in energy regulations, the LEG had a direct impact on limiting some of the more expensive aspects of the proposed bill.
LEG members have found that our investment with LEV has been returned to us many times over in electricity savings and avoided costs associated with utility rate cases and legislation.
Mark Weldon, President of LEG
St. Luke's/ Coe College
Ever since the 2008 floods affected our collective infrastructure, St. Luke’s Hospital and Coe College have partnered on a steam plant that has been a benefit to our organizations. However, this partnership would not have been successful without the support and expertise offered by Latham, Ervin, Vognsen and Associates.
LEV has provided expertise from their knowledge of the energy markets and suppliers to help us find the best resource fit, not only for our local facilities, but also now for the majority of the large hospitals through UnityPoint Health. Collectively with LEV, we are routinely able to assess our demand, predict our usage, and lower our risk by purchasing Natural Gas on contract. These contracts have routinely worked in our favor for the many years that we have been with LEV when other organizations and users have faced major swings in costs in the natural gas markets.
St. Luke’s/Coe Steam Inc, and UnityPoint Health have regularly renewed our decision to use LEV as an advocate and a resource in our future natural gas planning and I am pleased to recommend their services to others seeking to develop a solid and cost-effective model for managing your natural gas cost.
Scott Kallemeyn, Director of Facility Planning and Operations, UnityPoint Health/Chair of UnityPoint Natural Gas Governing Council
Nebraska Joint Utility Management Program
The Nebraska Association of School Boards offers a natural gas purchasing program called Nebraska Joint Utility Management Program (NJUMP) to our school district members who receive their gas through the Black Hills Energy pipeline. This was started primarily for the purpose of relieving school district personnel from the difficult task of choosing gas suppliers and helping them to reduce the uncertainty of budgeting for a major commodity in a changing environment. Latham, Ervin, Vognsen & Associates (LEV) has served as our natural gas consultant since forming our interlocal consortium 15 years ago.
The knowledge LEV have provided about natural gas market trends, gas providers, best purchasing practices and general oversight for our program has been an invaluable asset in providing our participants with reliable gas supplies at very competitive prices. LEV has consistently brought insightful overviews of the natural gas industry, market analysis, and timely notifications for finding opportunities to secure our members’ gas supplies.
LEV's very professional and thorough assistance has allowed us to grow this program to its potential and ensure our member districts that they have the best industry expertise available on their side. From the very beginning, we have relied on LEV to implement, analyze and monitor all the technical aspects of our gas purchase program.
We continually rely on LEV to point out when the best opportunities arise for securing those supplies and for reviewing the records and reports of our purchase transactions. We simply could not have offered this program to our members without the industry expertise that LEV has brought to us over the last decade and a half.
Jim Leubbe, Nebraska Association of School Boards, NJUMP Secretary and Treasurer
Graham Health System
We engaged LEV two years ago, and their positive impact was felt almost immediately.
As we continue to grow across 5 counties and 12 sites of care, in an industry with historically tight margins, managing our utility spend is more critical than ever.
The hedging options that we now have in place have produced significant savings, eased the budgeting burden around the purchase of commodities, and lets us really focus on our core mission of expanding healthcare access across central and western Illinois. Louie Ervin and the entire LEV team have been outstanding to work with, easily accessible, and prompt with responses to our needs. The decision to switch to LEV was one made after a significant amount of due diligence, and one we have been extremely pleased with. They are a true group of professionals.
Bob Senneff, President & CEO of Graham Health System