Support Power Reliability in Ohio
Make Your Voice Heard
It’s important for me to keep you informed about the issues that impact our ability to provide you with safe, reliable, and affordable electricity. This month, I’d like to discuss some pressing challenges facing the electric grid, both nationally and locally, and share our cooperative’s efforts to address them.
The most significant challenge we are dealing with is the shutdown of existing baseload generation plants, which are often replaced with sources that provide less capacity or are intermittent. This affects the reliability of our power supply, as we have no control over the transmission system and the grid at large. However, as a cooperative, we’re committed to working proactively to ensure that our local distribution network remains reliable and well-maintained.
Another concerning issue is with the continuing supply chain challenges. Delays in receiving essential equipment and components have a direct impact on our ability to provide reliable electric service, quickly restore power after outages, and meet the growing demand for electricity. While this is a national issue, it affects us locally as well. The longer wait times for distribution transformers, for instance, can lead to slower responses in addressing power outages and meeting new service requirements in our community.
There is also the outdated and time-consuming permitting process required to build, site, and maintain electric generation and transmission infrastructure, which is a significant impediment to meeting our national energy needs. This can lead to delays in the implementation of new projects that could improve the reliability and affordability of electricity for everyone, including our members.
Despite these challenges, I want to assure you that Union Rural Electric (URE) is doing everything we can to maintain the level of service you expect. We’re constantly working on local projects to improve our distribution system and we continue working with our generation provider, Buckeye Power, to expand renewable energy options. We’re also staying informed about the latest developments
in the energy sector and actively participating in industry discussions to advocate for policies that support the long-term reliability and affordability of electricity for our members.
However, our efforts alone won’t be enough to address these issues on a larger scale. We need the support of elected officials to enact policies that will ensure a reliable and affordable electric grid, both now and in the future. That’s where you, our cooperative members, come in.
I again encourage you to reach out to your local, state, and federal representatives and share your concerns about the challenges facing the electric grid. Let them know that we need
their support to ensure a reliable electric grid for our community today and in the future. An easy way to do this is to log in to Voices for Cooperative Power (VCP) at voicesforcooperativepower.com and sign up for a free account. VCP is a network of electric co-op members working together to influence elected officials who are making energy policy decisions that impact our co-ops and, by extension, our way of life. Our collective voices are powerful in this effort, and together, we can make a difference.
While we face challenges at the national level that impact our local community, our cooperative remains dedicated to maintaining reliable service for you, our members. With your support and engagement, we can advocate for policies that help address these challenges and ensure that your electric cooperative continues to provide the safe, reliable, and affordable energy that you’ve come to expect.