I’m writing this with a full heart, grateful for our collective journey at Wiregrass Electric Cooperative (WEC). We traveled some exhilarating paths lately, reflecting our ongoing commitment to providing safe, reliable and affordable power to our community.
Celebrating Safety
Allow me to share a recent triumph — the successful conclusion of the Rural Electric Safety Accreditation Program, or RESAP, inspection. This National Rural Electric Cooperative Association program, guided by the Alabama Rural Electric Association, is no walk in the park. It’s rigorous, comprehensive, but most importantly, it’s an affirmation of safety. We soared through with flying colors!
This achievement isn’t just about securing an accreditation. It’s about our dedication to a safe environment for our team and our community. It’s about ensuring that every flick of a switch is backed by a safety-first principle. We’re not just celebrating passing the inspection, we’re celebrating a safety legacy that will serve our community for years.
Community Solar
Now, let’s discuss our commitment to you as we explore diverse and innovative methods to power our community. Our new community solar garden, located beside our Hartford office, stands as a testament to our forward-thinking energy strategy.
Though our solar garden might be small, it’s a step toward making solar power more accessible to our members. This has been made possible through our partnership with PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, our wholesale power sup- plier. PowerSouth is contributing increasingly more solar energy to the grid via their larger-scale solar gardens located across the region. While solar energy might not be the most cost-effective power source, it does play an important role in our diverse energy portfolio.
If you’re interested in solar energy, this is a viable option we can offer members.
Instead of shouldering the high upfront costs of installing rooftop solar panels, members can participate in our Green Power Choice Com- munity Solar program. This alternative can save those members thousands of dollars, presenting a more economical way to utilize solar energy.
Although solar may not provide the necessary capacity during high-demand times, such as cold winter mornings, it contributes to the diversification of our energy mix. We’re consistently looking for ways to power our community through a variety of power sources, including but not limited to, natural gas which remains an essential component in our energy supply.
In the end, our goal is to remain realistic about the role and potential of each power source, while also providing members with choices that align with our overall goals of sustainability, reliability and affordability..
Tuning our Rates
This past year has taught us some valuable lessons about managing power costs amidst market volatility. Now, we’re acting on those lessons and exploring innovative ways to incentivize our members to lower electric demand during the peak winter hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
This shift is critical. WEC experienced an all-time record peak in the early morning of December 24, leading to increased fixed costs this year. It’s part of the reason for the power cost adjustment, or PCA, on your monthly bill.
We believe a minor adjustment to our rate structure will have a significant cost-saving impact. After all, every bit of conserved energy during peak winter times is a step toward more affordability.
Driving for a Cause
On the topic of community, I feel a wave of excitement for our second annual Operation Round Up Charitable Golf Tournament this September. It’s not just about teeing off on a beautiful golf course, it’s about rallying behind a shared cause. Each swing translates into funds raised for the Operation Round Up Foundation, which, in turn, are funneled back into our community through grants. This event is about giving back, ensuring that our success echoes throughout the Wiregrass community.
Every day at WEC, we’re cultivating a legacy of safety, sustainability, affordability and com- munity involvement. And every day, I’m humbled to be a part of it. As we move forward, let’s continue to write this story together. Thank you for your trust and continued support on this shared journey.