Members of a Texas Cooperative May See 2012 Rate Increase
Posted on Jun 9, 2011
At its annual meeting, Farmers Electric Cooperative (FEC) announced a probable rate increase in 2012 due to a new natural gas plant and heightened delivery costs associated with a new rail contract for coal. Three directors were also re-elected at the annual meeting, and nuclear power was named FEC’s likely generation resource for the future to serve increasing member demand. The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune has the story.
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Flood Damage to Vermont Coop’s Offices Should Not Raise Rates
Posted on Jun 9, 2011
Customers of Washington Electric Cooperative (WEC) will not face extra charges to pay for recent flood damage to a WEC office building. WEC representatives stated that damage caused by the May 26 flood waters will primarily be covered by insurance, and customers need not worry about disconnection due to delayed payments or rate increases. The coop is working to mitigate the customer service and related issues caused by the loss. Click here for details.
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Lower Colorado River Authority General Manager Resigns
Posted on Jun 8, 2011
The general manager of the Lower Colorado River Authority, which has a number of electric cooperatives as customers, has announced his resignation effective July 1. This vacancy may lead to further changes in operations at the LCRA. The Texas Tribune has more details.
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Kentucky Coop Seeks Rate Hike
Posted on Jun 8, 2011
The Commonwealth Journal has a detailed story on a recent request for a rate hike by a Kentucky coop, which cites a period of low growth and pressures from new environmental regulatory requirements on coal generation plants.
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Load Growth and Rising Commodity Prices May Lead a North Dakota Coop to Increase Rates
Posted on Jun 3, 2011
Roughrider Electric Cooperative Inc. projects that demand will grow by 10 percent per year for the next five years. Based on this projection, the coop is investing in additional generation and transmission facilities to meet its members’ future needs. According to the executive team, higher commodity prices will significantly increase the construction costs of the new facilities and rate increases may be needed to cover the coop’s costs. The Dickinson Press has more.
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Legislative Reform Introduced to Change Attorney’s Fees Reimbursement Program
Posted on Jun 2, 2011
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is among the supporters of a bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would reform the process of reimbursing certain attorney’s fees incurred while suing the federal government. The Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) allows such repayment in certain situations when plaintiffs who sue the federal government “prevail” in the case. Legislators who support the reform contend that large environmental groups are taking advantage of the EAJA funds at the expense of the intended beneficiaries – individuals, small...
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NRECA Requests Extension of EPA Mercury-Rule Public Comment Period
Posted on Jun 1, 2011
NRECA and the American Public Power Association have requested that the public comment period for a new Environmental Protection Agency rule related to mercury and other hazardous air pollutants, such as nickel and cadmium, be extended from July 5 to September 5. More details can be found here.
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Regulators Approve Green Mountain Power’s Vermont Wind Project
Posted on Jun 1, 2011
The Vermont Public Service Board approved Green Mountain Power’s proposed 63-megawatt wind facility in Lowell, Vermont. The project, which will be comprised of 21 turbines, is a joint project between Green Mountain Power and Vermont Electric Cooperative. Read more about the project here.
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Storms Hit Close to Home for Vermont Coop
Posted on May 31, 2011
Washington Electric Cooperative in Vermont has experience with restoring the power of customers affected by storms, floods, and other inclement weather. However, last week, the entire ground floor of the coop’s headquarters in East Montpelier was flooded during the heavy rains that hit the area. The coop is asking customers to limit calls to very important matters as it restores its own storm damage. The Associated Press has the story.
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Arizona Coop Litigates for Funds Allegedly Misappropriated
Posted on May 31, 2011
Mohave Electric Cooperative is in the midst of discovery in a now-year-and-a-half struggle with its former CEO, Robert Broz. The coop alleges that Broz abused his authority as the board president of two spinoff companies for his personal financial gain, potentially in the ballpark of $4 million and $22 million. The coop seeks to recoup this money, which would go back to its members. The Mohave Daily News has more details on this litigation.
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Coop Plans for Growth Related to Shale Drilling Operations
Posted on May 27, 2011
In its annual meeting, South Texas Electric Cooperative discussed and laid out plans to deal with its expected growth over the coming years. One of the primary drivers of the coop’s growth is the development of the Eagle Ford Shale drilling operations. See the Victoria Advocate for more.
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State of Kansas Delays Disaster Relief Payments to Coops
Posted on May 27, 2011
After lengthy budget negotiations, Kansas legislators returned home without providing funding to pay for work that coops have already completed. The $2.3 million in delayed payments are a part of Kansas’ match of federal disaster relief funding. Without these funds, coops are turning to other sources of financing. The Kansas City Star has the full story.
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Idaho Public Utilities Commission to Consider Wind Power Dispute
Posted on May 26, 2011
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission announced it will hear oral arguments between Boise-based Exergy Development Group, the developer of four proposed Cassia County wind projects, and Rocky Mountain Power on June 9. Exergy filed a complaint against Rocky Mountain, arguing that its planned wind projects near Malta should receive a higher rate from Rocky Mountain. Rocky Mountain filed a motion to have the complaint dismissed, alleging Exergy does not have the necessary interconnection and wheeling agreements with Raft River Electric Cooperative and the Bonneville Power Administration...
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U.S. Supreme Court Affirms $345 Million Payment to Coops
Posted on May 26, 2011
On May 16, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear BNSF Railway Company’s appeal of a 2009 Surface Transportation Board decision, which required BNSF to pay $345 million to Basin Electric Power Cooperative, based in Bismarck, North Dakota; other participants in the Missouri Basin Power Project; and a fuel supply cooperative. A federal appeals court previously affirmed the board’s ruling, which found that the carrier overcharged its customers for freight service. Electric Coop Today has the full story.
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