As I watch costs rise on everything from food to fuel, I am reminded of an old saying, “Tough times make tough people.” Every challenge we face helps prepare us for the future. 

Unfortunately, it’s a lesson that must be experienced rather than simply taught, and no one is exempt. Not even your cooperative. 

We are impacted by the same rising costs and material shortages you experience at home. The cost of energy is rising at an accelerated rate while at the same time costs associated with operating and maintaining electrical distribution systems are increasing. High fuel costs, limited labor pools, long delays for basic construction materials and through-the-roof vehicle pricing have enormous impacts on a not-for-profit’s bottom line. 

The cooperative is designed to ensure you receive a competitive energy rate by not focusing on profit and ultimately returning any profit back to you in the form of capital credits, as we just did in December. While we will always stay true to providing electric service at a competitive rate, current economic challenges have created a need to make adjustments.  

Within this newsletter and on our website, you will find information relating to a rate adjustment, effective April 1, in three rate categories. For residential members, this equates to a change of two-tenths of a cent ($0.002) per kWh and a one-dollar adjustment in the service availability fee.

Rate adjustments are unfortunately an unavoidable cost of operating the cooperative. Central does everything it can to minimize the impact rising costs have on you. Our commitment to you is that we will continue to provide you with exceptional reliability as we strive to maintain one of the lowest rates in the state.