co-op issues Website Urges Members To Act
Visit
Action.coop to learn how to fight against costly EPA regulations that could raise your electric rates
s the federal government pushes power plants to comply with stricter emission regulations, Kiamichi Electric and other cooperatives across the country are pushing back by educating co-op members about the issue and how it could affect their future electric rates.
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At
Action.coop, co-op members are encouraged to watch a short video explaining the electric cooperative position on the issue and its potential impact on ratepayers. On the home page, co-op members can sign up for email alerts and updates on these and other issues that threaten the reliability and affordability of their rural electric service.
Electric co-op members will also find resources and information on federal legislative and regulatory issues at
www.nreca.coop, the newly redesigned website of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Seventy percent of electric cooperative members across the nation rely on electricity that is generated using coal. As mandated by the Clean Air Act, coal-fired plants must reduce coal emissions by 50 percent by 2015.
Electric utilities contend that compliance with this mandate is impossible without significant and costly advances in technology. The necessary technology hasn't been developed, much less tested.
Co-ops fear the regulations will eliminate coal as a generating fuel completely, and force power plants to rely more heavily on natural gas, which is prone to volatile price swings.
Electric co-ops advocate a balanced mix of generating fuels that includes natural gas, hydro power, renewables, and coal. This reasoning prevents dependence on one fuel source, and helps ensure the most affordable prices for their membership.
KEC makes geothermal more affordable New program pays geothermal installation costs to encourage greater efficiency
geothermal program from Kiamichi Electric Cooperative (KEC) is making geothermal heat pumps more affordable by eliminating the considerable upfront costs of installing underground loops.
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With this program, the member pays KEC a small monthly fee for use of the loops. All maintenance and repairs on the loops is covered by the co-op for the life of the loop.
"With this program, the member only pays for the cost of the unit
f you've always wanted a ground source heat pump but think you can't afford it, sit down. The new
itself," said Todd Minshall, KEC's manager of member services.
When coupled with the co-op's existing rebate program—which pays up to $650 per ton on qualifying geothermal units— the cost for a ground source heat pump becomes much more affordable. To further sweeten the deal, homeowners who install geothermal heat pumps can also qualify for a 30 percent energy efficiency tax credit from the federal government.
Using innovative programs to encourage greater energy efficiency among members is one way KEC
and other co-ops are helping prepare for an uncertain energy future.
"We can't do much about the price of coal, natural gas and other generating fuels, but we can help our members become more energy efficient," Minshall said. "Curbing the demand for electricity through improved efficiency is a lot less expensive than building new power plants."
ClimateMaster will be on hand at the KEC Annual Meeting to visit with members about geothermal systems. For details on KEC's geothermal program, visit
www.kiamichielectric. org, or call 800-888-2731.
Light Post | september-october 2013 | 7
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