As we step into a new year, I’m reminded of how much progress we can make when our communities move forward together.

Approaching my first full year of serving as Central’s CEO, it has been a year of growth as I’ve learned from our members, worked alongside an incredible team and gained a deeper understanding of the values that make Central a strong cooperative.

As we look toward the future, I want to touch on something that plays a big role in how we purchase and deliver electricity: demand. In simple terms, demand refers to those moments when many of us are using a lot of electricity all at once.

For me, it’s a bit like managing cattle; you can plan your day around steady routines, but when everything hits at the same time, it puts pressure on the whole operation. The same is true for our electric system.

When usage spikes across homes, farms and businesses simultaneously, the cost of providing power during those peak moments goes up, even if overall energy use hasn’t changed.

Understanding how demand works helps us make smarter decisions as a cooperative and continue to provide reliable, affordable and safe service to the communities we serve.

I’m incredibly proud of the men and women who keep our cooperative running. From the account representatives who speak with members to our incredible linemen who restore your power even during the worst of weather. Their work is demanding, often unpredictable and always essential. Their dedication is a big reason our cooperative has seen such growth this past year.

We are proud to be the fastest-growing electric cooperative in Oklahoma and hold the 78th spot nationally for 2024. That growth reflects the strength of our communities, our members and the dedication of our employees.

Thank you for welcoming me during my first year and for continuing to support the cooperative’s mission. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, and I’m even more excited for what lies ahead in 2026. Together, we’ll keep building a resilient, member-focused cooperative for the future.