Cost of Socorro Electric’s Lawsuit Unclear
Posted on Aug 15, 2011
The cost of a lawsuit filed in New Mexico last year by Socorro Electric Cooperative against all of its approximately 10,000 member-owners is still unclear. Judge Albert J. Mitchell Jr., who was appointed to the case by the New Mexico Supreme Court, has yet to decide whether to award attorneys’ fees and expenses to the lawyers who defended the case. Judge Mitchell is also considering a countersuit, which could extend the life of the case. Despite the uncertainty about the cost of the suit, and whether or not the coop’s insurance will cover any of that cost, the information the coop turned...
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Consolidation of Two Indiana Coops on the Horizon
Posted on Aug 11, 2011
The Carroll County Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) and the White County REMC are positioned to merge into a single electric coop by the end of 2011. The creation of Carroll White REMC would cut costs and save members at least $5.2 million over the first nine years, according to an outside accounting firm. White County members have already voted in support of the consolidation, and Carroll County members were scheduled to vote on August 11. Read more.
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Florida Public Service Commission Rules against Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative in Service Dispute
Posted on Aug 10, 2011
The Florida Public Service Commission voted unanimously against awarding the right to serve a new mixed-use development in the Florida panhandle to Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative. Instead, the Commission awarded the right to serve the development to Gulf Power Company, part of Southern Company. The Northwest Florida Daily News has the rest of the story.
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East Kentucky Power Cooperative Finalizes New Credit Facility
Posted on Aug 10, 2011
East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) has finalized a new five-year $450 million credit facility to replace an existing three-year credit facility in the same amount. EKPC expects to save more than $5 million annually under the new credit facility, due to lower interest costs improved operating performance. Read more about the new credit facility here.
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Mohave Electric Cooperative Proposing Rate Increase for the First Time in 20 Years
Posted on Aug 10, 2011
For the first time since 1991, Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) is attempting to increase its rates to offset the increasing costs of wholesale energy. The rate increase is expected to bring in nearly $3 million in new revenues for MEC, but the typical MEC customer’s bill should only go up by about $8 a year. The Mohave Daily News has additional details.
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Maryland PSC Investigates Power Cuts During Recent Heat Wave
Posted on Aug 9, 2011
High demand triggered by a record heat wave last month has resulted in a Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) investigation of four public utilities. The PSC has issued an order to Pepco, Delmarva Power, Baltimore Gas and Electric and Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative Inc. regarding their performance on July 22, 2011. Specifically, the PSC order requires the utilities to explain the circumstances under which they cut customers’ electricity and how the radio signal that communicates with the thermostats and switches got jammed. Click here for more information.
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New Mexico Coop Seeks Tenants for Command Center to Defray Costs
Posted on Aug 9, 2011
The Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in New Mexico is opening a new regional command center amid concerns about its costs. The center was supposed to be paid for by the coop, municipal agencies and rental tenants. However, the mayor of Taos claims that the city council has never seen a firm proposal from Kit Carson, and at this time the coop is the only tenant in the building. If the coop remains the sole tenant, it may be left with a 40-year obligation to pay the $10,000 monthly loan payment. The command center was designed to enhance operational efficiencies, response times,...
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Montana Coop Refuses to Pay Umbrella Organization’s Rate Hikes
Posted on Aug 8, 2011
Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative (YVEC), which is Southern Montana Electric Transmission and Generation Cooperative’s largest member, is refusing to pay for recent rate increases and fees imposed by Southern. YVEC, a Huntley-based cooperative, is one of five rural cooperatives, along with the city of Great Falls, that are members of Billings-based Southern. YVEC represents 32 percent of Southern’s revenue base, and the coop sued Southern in 2008 to end its contract and to leave the umbrella organization. The case is set for trial in November. Southern is now seeking a temporary...
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Electric Coops Gaining Ground in Canada
Posted on Aug 8, 2011
The province of Alberta’s first member-owned retail power coop has signed up 140 customers in its first month. The coop hopes to offer lower energy costs because of low administrative overhead and a voice in promoting more green energy projects in the province. The coop’s success marks a contrast to past startups, which faired poorly. The dominant electric provider is Epcor Utilities, which many consumers rely on to deliver power under the fluctuating regulated rate regime. Click here to see the Edmonton Journal’s full story.
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Coop Brings High-Speed Internet to Rural Minnesota
Posted on Aug 8, 2011
Backed by the support of Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, Arrowhead Electric Cooperative is working on a large-scale project to help Cook County get connected. The project will provide nearly 5,200 households with much needed high-speed internet access. Most Cook County residents currently use dial-up, satellite, or DSL internet connections, all of which can be unreliable. Senator Klobuchar hopes the project will help grow jobs and provide a new learning tool for schools in the county. Read more here.
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Fairbanks Coop Working Towards Natural Gas Liquefaction Facility
Posted on Aug 6, 2011
Golden Valley Electric Association, an Alaskan electric coop, recently decided to move forward with its partnership with Flint Hills Resources, a Koch Industries subsidiary, to build a natural gas liquefaction facility at Prudhoe Bay. With engineering and design work underway, the project is expected to be online in 2014. See Platts for more on this story.
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Coop Helps With Marketing of Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport and Nearby Industrial Park
Posted on Aug 6, 2011
Greystone Power Corp., a Georgia electric membership cooperative, is working with county officials to promote the growth of aviation-related business at the airport and the adjacent 10,000-acre industrial park. The coop is highlighting its history of reliable electric service and its connections to state and local business leaders as a way to draw attention to the business development efforts. Electric Co-op Today has the full story.
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Transmission and Distribution Grids Struggle to Beat the Heat
Posted on Aug 4, 2011
A high-voltage breaker exploded recently at Lake Region Electric Cooperative’s Tahlequah substation in Oklahoma. Approximately 1,600 coop members lost power with most back online within two hours of the incident. Consistently high temperatures were to blame for the explosion. Due to this year’s intense summer heat, transmission and distribution systems have lacked cool-off periods needed to help keep equipment from overheating. The Tahlequah Daily Press has the full story.
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Missouri Coop Experiences Large Revenues Without Much Growth
Posted on Aug 4, 2011
At its annual meeting held in late July, the Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative reported strong operating revenues and $1.64 million in capital credits paid out to members this year. The coop’s leaders credit smart fiscal management for the numbers because the coop has experienced almost non-existent growth over the last few years. Also at the meeting, members approved certain bylaw changes and elected directors to the board. Read more.
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