Federal Judge Removes Montana Coop’s Bankruptcy Trustee
Posted on Dec 2, 2013
In November, a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge ruled to remove the trustee overseeing the bankruptcy proceedings of Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative (Southern Montana). The judge noted that because Southern Montana’s members are now in agreement to liquidate the cooperative’s plant and assets and the bankruptcy trustee has failed to obtain confirmation of his reorganization after two years, the trustee is no longer needed. Some of Southern Montana’s lenders, Prudential Insurance and Modern Woodmen of America, opposed the trustee’s removal. Two of Southern Montana’s...
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Texas Coop Seeks to Supply Electricity to New Jail
Posted on Nov 27, 2013
Central Texas Electric Co-operative (CTEC) has presented a proposal to the Gillespie County Commissioners outlining the cooperative’s plan for providing power to the new two-story jail under construction in Gillespie County. The cooperative’s chief executive officer cited the 200-foot rule, which allows an entity to choose between the utility designated in that area or another service provider if, prior to 1976, the alternative service provider had a line existing in the area within 200 feet of the relevant location. The City of Fredericksburg, which would like to provide service to the...
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Missouri Coop Refinances RUS Debt
Posted on Nov 27, 2013
Co-Mo Electric Cooperative recently refinanced $38.7 million in debt held by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS). CoBank and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Cooperation issued new debt for the refinancing transaction. The cooperative cited better interest rates and the desire for flexibility outside of government-based borrowing as reasons for the decision to refinance. Read more here.
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FERC Expands SGIA and SGIP to Cover Energy Storage
Posted on Nov 27, 2013
On Friday, November 22, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) revised its standardized Small Generator Interconnection Agreements (SGIA) and Procedures (SGIP). The changes are intended to make the interconnection of small generators (20 MW or smaller) greener and more efficient. Read the full Sutherland Legal Alert.
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Minnesota Coop May Expand Service Territory
Posted on Nov 27, 2013
Federated Rural Electric Association, a member of the Southern Minnesota Energy Cooperative, may expand its service area in southwest Minnesota and acquire an additional 1,700 customers from Alliant Energy’s customer base. The purchase is rumored for 2014 and would be subject to approval by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Read more here.
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Wisconsin Coop Secures Additional CFC Financing
Posted on Nov 25, 2013
Washington Island Electric Cooperative (WIEC), based in Washington Island, Wisconsin, has recently refinanced its debt with another lender to become a 100-percent National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) borrower. WIEC, which serves 1,080 members on an island in Lake Michigan accessible only by ferry, has plans for some improvement projects, including the installation of an advanced metering infrastructure system. Click here for more.
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Delaware Coop to Distribute $3 Million in Capital Credits to Members
Posted on Nov 25, 2013
The Board of Directors of Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) recently voted to return $3 million in capital credits to all of DEC’s members and former members who held an active account in 1995. Click here for more.
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SMECO Drills to Install Underground Cables
Posted on Nov 25, 2013
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), based in Hughesville, Maryland, is carrying out its plans to run lines for a new 230-kilovolt system under the Patuxent River. SMECO’s project manager, Black & Veatch, is currently drilling tunnels, through which the lines will run, 50 feet below the river’s bottom. SMECO undertook the project to provide increased reliability for its customers in Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. Click here for more.
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Big Rivers Seeks PSC Approval for New Smelter Deal
Posted on Nov 25, 2013
Kentucky-based Big Rivers Electric Corporation (Big Rivers) is seeking approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) of a deal that would allow a Big Rivers customer, Century Aluminum (Century), to purchase power for one of its Western Kentucky smelters on the wholesale market. Century maintains that such an arrangement is necessary to keep the smelter open. The PSC approved a similar agreement for another Century smelter earlier this year. Click here for more.
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Water Heater Efficiency Act to Help Coops?
Posted on Nov 21, 2013
Republican Senator John Hoeven and a bipartisan group of senators today introduced the Water Heater Efficiency Act, a bill that would enable rural electric power coops and their members to continue using large, energy-efficient water heaters in “demand response” conservation programs. New Department of Energy rules threaten to phase out such water heaters by 2015. The bill is seen as a win for coops using this relatively inexpensive energy storage method. For more on this story and details on what kind of water heaters would qualify, click here.
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New Mexico Coop Vote for Trustee Questioned
Posted on Nov 21, 2013
The District III Socorro Electric Coop trustee election held on November 16 is being scrutinized over whether enough individuals were present to make quorum. Only 65 member/owners were counted as present at the meeting and 66 were needed to make quorum, but there are reports that more members were and not counted. Another vote will have to take place if this one is found to be invalid. Read more here.
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Iowa Coop Closes 1960s Coal-Fueled Plant
Posted on Nov 21, 2013
In early November, Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) closed CIPCO Fair Station, a 66-MW coal-fueled power plant located in eastern Iowa. CIPCO’s decision to close the plant stemmed from new federal environmental regulations, current energy prices and the overall efficiency concerns in running a plant built in the 1960s. Read more here.
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Coops Respond to Outages from Midwest Tornadoes
Posted on Nov 20, 2013
Dozens of electric cooperatives have called line workers and other personnel to respond to outages caused by last weekend’s storms in the Midwest. The massive storm system, which spawned more than 80 tornadoes, caused power outages affecting tens of thousands of electric cooperative customers. Cooperative crews have been working around the clock to replace broken poles and restring lines. For more on the efforts of the cooperatives to restore power, click here.
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Alaska Coop Files for FERC Approval of Hydro Project
Posted on Nov 20, 2013
Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for permission to build a new hydroelectric project near the town of Old Harbor, Alaska. The proposed run-of-river project would consist of two 262-kW turbines and would be used to provide power to the residents of Old Harbor. To read more about this project, click here.
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