Alaska Coop Seeks Purchase of For-Profit Utility
Posted on Oct 14, 2013 in Corporate Governance, Mergers/Acquisitions, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Alaska Coop Seeks Purchase of For-Profit Utility
Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC), which serves Western Alaska, is seeking to buy Bethel Utilities Corporation (BUC), a for-profit company. According to AVEC’s President, the buyout, on schedule to become effective this Spring, would cut electric rates for customers of both entities. BUC’s rates could drop by 8 to 10 percent immediately. The two entities jointly sought...
Georgia Coop Settles Class Action Over Patronage Capital for $98 Million
Posted on Oct 11, 2013 in Corporate Governance, Derivative Suits, Litigation, Mergers/Acquisitions, Patronage Capital, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Georgia Coop Settles Class Action Over Patronage Capital for $98 Million
After nearly four years of litigating a class action over patronage capital, Cobb EMC has agreed to pay a $98 million settlement to nearly one million of its current and former members. The plaintiffs are to receive their portion of patronage capital (or “capital credits”) they were allegedly owed but never paid. The Marietta Daily Journal has more.
Kansas Supreme Court Nixes Permit for Coop’s Coal Plant
Posted on Oct 7, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Litigation, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Kansas Supreme Court Nixes Permit for Coop’s Coal Plant
In a unanimous decision, the Kansas Supreme Court overturned a permit granted to Sunflower Electric Power Corporation in 2010 to build a coal-fired power plant in the southwestern part of the state. The court found that the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment (KDHE) erred in issuing the permit because it did not take into account a series of regulations that were enacted...
Vermont Net Metering Dispute Heats Up
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Energy Savings Programs, Financing, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Vermont Net Metering Dispute Heats Up
Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) seeks to resume its net metering program after reaching the state’s 4% cap on mandatory net metering. VEC’s tariff proposal would adjust credits downward for new participants due to the rapid increase in demand and the decrease in prices associated with net metered solar energy systems. However, Renewable Energy Vermont opposes VEC’s proposal,...
Hawaiian Coop Explores Fuel Options
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Financing, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Hawaiian Coop Explores Fuel Options
With its fuel supply contract set to expire in April 2015, Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative has requested information from prospective fuel suppliers to determine whether alternatives to oil are feasible. State officials would like to see the coop turn to liquefied natural gas. The coop must also consider its goal of 50% or more renewable sources by 2023. Click here for the full...
Iowa Coops Appeal Denial of FEMA Aid
Posted on Oct 2, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Iowa Coops Appeal Denial of FEMA Aid
Iowa electric cooperatives are appealing a decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which denied $20 million in aid for emergency and permanent repair costs from a snow and ice storm in spring 2012. FEMA based its decision on distribution and transmission line laboratory testing requirements, passed in 2009, which the Iowa coops claim are unrealistic. To read more...
NRECA Receives $3.6 Million Cyber Security Grant
Posted on Sep 25, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Technology | Comments Off on NRECA Receives $3.6 Million Cyber Security Grant
The Department of Energy recently awarded the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) a $3.6 million grant to be used to develop advanced cyber security technology to assist rural cooperatives in monitoring and securely managing their systems from changing threats. NRECA will work with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Carnegie Mellon University, Honeywell...
Coop Action Plan for EPA Regs
Posted on Sep 24, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on Coop Action Plan for EPA Regs
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) plans to enlist the support of electric coops and their members nationwide to deal with proposed regulations for future power plants that are built. The new Cooperative Action Network website seeks to organize this movement. NRECA will seek coop input as it develops comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s...
Coops Continue to Take on EPA’s New Climate Plan
Posted on Sep 24, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on Coops Continue to Take on EPA’s New Climate Plan
Representatives of electric coops across the country are trying to get the following message across on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rulemaking announced September 20: This rulemaking is not feasible and prohibitively expensive. Specifically, the EPA’s rulemaking implementing the Clean Air Act requires future coal-based generation to employ carbon capture and storage...
Coop Industry Group Seeks Reconsideration of Wastewater Rule
Posted on Sep 23, 2013 in Environmental, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coop Industry Group Seeks Reconsideration of Wastewater Rule
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider its proposed guidelines for wastewater discharges from coal generation. According to NRECA, the EPA should carefully consider the cost effectiveness of the pending effluent limitations guidelines and especially their potential impact on smaller power...
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