In the past few months improvements have been made to the Stroud and Warwick substations.  These improvements will facilitate a larger supply for the growing demand in that region of our service area.  These improvements will also increase system reliability for members near Stroud and Carney.
As CREC continues to make improvements that will allow for a larger supply of electricity, members can do their part to help reduce demand while reducing their electric bills at the same time.  One way to accomplish this is to make your home more energy efficient.  There are many ways this can be done. Adding insulation, buying Energy Star appliances, and replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs are just a few examples.  More tips are available on the Web site, www.crec.coop.    
Rising cost of generation
CREC’s power supplier, Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., has several different generation sources.  AECI uses coal, natural gas, and hydropower to provide power to cooperatives like CREC.   This diversified mix of generation resources provides a safe, reliable supply of power to electric cooperatives.  Coal is the most used fuel source, producing 81 percent of AECI’s energy. While coal prices continue to increase, it is the shipping of coal by rail that has increased so much that now shipping a load of coal costs as much as the load of coal itself.  The lack of competition in the rail shipping market often leaves coal shippers with no alternative carrier.   In an effort to continue to diversify generation sources,  AECI recently partnered with three 50-megawatt wind farms being developed by Wind Capital Group and John Deere Wind Energy, and in January AECI began purchasing power from these farms. 
Government regulation
In the past year, climate change has been a big story in the media.  As Congress moves toward introducing legislation aimed at confronting climate change, people may begin to wonder just how much they, the consumers, are willing to pay.  While government regulations are one way of combating CO2 emissions, CREC believes a more proactive approach by members is a better solution.  It is a good practice to conserve energy, and CREC is dedicated to helping members conserve electricity through a variety of programs, from home energy audits to loans that help members make their homes more energy efficient.  Did you know that compact fluorescent lights use one-third the energy of their incandescent counterparts?  And, the energy used to power incandescent bulbs accounts for up to 25 percent of the average home’s electric bill.   Changing to CFLs can make a huge difference for the environment, let alone your electric bill. 
For members wanting to go to the next level, CREC offers Renewable Choice.  This program allows CREC members to purchase 100-kilowatt blocks of renewable energy each month.  For more information or to sign up for Renewable Choice, call a customer service representative at 405-372-2884. 
Being a cooperative, CREC has a strong sense of loyalty for our members and we want you to know that the staff and board at CREC have worked diligently to make management decisions to minimize the amount of the rate increase.