Basin Electric to Join the Southwest Power Pool
Posted on Jul 29, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure | Comments Off on Basin Electric to Join the Southwest Power Pool
The Board of Directors of Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) has authorized the electric generation and transmission cooperative to join the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). Subject to approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Basin Electric plans to integrate into SPP by October 1, 2015. To read more, please click here.
FERC Considers Approving New CIP Standards
Posted on Jul 29, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on FERC Considers Approving New CIP Standards
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is considering approval of new Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards drafted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) under a FERC order. Meanwhile, FERC is also suggesting that NERC revise the standards to potentially cover more grid facilities. FERC is expected to issue a final rule on the standards...
Coop Agrees to Share Utility Poles with Google Fiber
Posted on Jul 25, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Technology, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Coop Agrees to Share Utility Poles with Google Fiber
Pedernales Electric Cooperative, a coop near Austin, Texas, and Google have reached an agreement that allows Google to use the coop’s existing utility poles to attach fiber-optic cables. Click here to read the coop’s press release for more information.
J.D. Power Survey Shows Coop Members Increasingly Satisfied
Posted on Jul 25, 2014 in Corporate Governance, Rates | Comments Off on J.D. Power Survey Shows Coop Members Increasingly Satisfied
With questions focusing on price, reliability and customer service, J.D. Power surveyed more than 104,000 residential members about their experience with their local cooperatives. Compared to last year, overall satisfaction levels increased. Members of Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative and Sawnee EMC reported especially favorable levels of satisfaction. Please click here for...
Kentucky Coop Reaches $19.5 Million Settlement with Coal Supplier
Posted on Jul 25, 2014 in Litigation | Comments Off on Kentucky Coop Reaches $19.5 Million Settlement with Coal Supplier
Big Rivers Electric Corporation (Big Rivers) and coal supplier Oxford Resource Partners (Oxford) have agreed to a $19.5 million settlement to resolve a breach of contract suit against Big Rivers that began two years ago. Even with the settlement payout, Big Rivers is positioned to save $41 million in fuel costs because it switched to a less expensive coal than that offered by Oxford. ...
U.S. Rural Infrastructure Opportunity Fund Announced With Initial $10 Billion in Available Capital
Posted on Jul 24, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on U.S. Rural Infrastructure Opportunity Fund Announced With Initial $10 Billion in Available Capital
The White House Rural Council announced today at the Rural Opportunity Investment Conference the creation of the U.S. Rural Infrastructure Opportunity Fund (Fund), an investment fund intended to promote rural economic development. CoBank, ACB, a cooperative bank serving agribusiness, rural infrastructure providers and Farm Credit associations throughout the United States, has...
Florida Coop Dispute Rages On
Posted on Jul 24, 2014 in Litigation | Comments Off on Florida Coop Dispute Rages On
Lee County Electric Cooperative has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to take up its dispute with the city of Cape Coral, Florida regarding costs associated with moving utility lines and power poles for road projects. Please click here to read more about this story.
Texas Coop to Retire $4 Million in Capital Credits
Posted on Jul 24, 2014 in Patronage Capital | Comments Off on Texas Coop to Retire $4 Million in Capital Credits
South Plains Electric Cooperative (SPEC) announced that it has approved a capital credits refund of $4 million to its members. To date SPEC has returned more than $28 million to its customer-members. To read more, please click here.
South Dakota PUC Rules in Favor of Basin Electric in Wind Power Case
Posted on Jul 24, 2014 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on South Dakota PUC Rules in Favor of Basin Electric in Wind Power Case
The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) ruled unanimously to dismiss a claim against Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) and five distribution cooperatives brought by Prelude, a wind developer that was attempting to force the cooperatives to purchase power it plans to produce. Prelude’s counsel attempted to argue that Basin Electric is not a cooperative under...
NRECA Joins Shippers in Calling on Congress to Act on Rail Reform
Posted on Jul 22, 2014 in Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on NRECA Joins Shippers in Calling on Congress to Act on Rail Reform
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is part of a coalition of shippers that renewed a year-long call for Congress to take action to reform the country’s freight rail system. The coalition, which consists of 24 trade organizations, sent a letter to congressional leaders outlining a series of reforms meant to increase competition and lessen regulatory hurdles for...
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