Charging up 'The Hill'
Electric co-op leaders seek member support as they press Washington to ensure affordability

In these difficult economic times, a lot of Americans are struggling to make ends meets. As not-for-profit, consumer-owned and controlled electric co-ops, we want to make certain that each and every citizen in this country can continue to receive affordable electric power. We want to make certain we don’t step back from the commitment that President Franklin Roosevelt made 74 years ago.

Congress is currently working to address issues related to climate change and debating federal mandates regarding renewable energy development and energy efficiency. Even if Congress doesn’t act, the U.S. Supreme Court has given the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a green light to put new rules curbing emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants in place. 

As a result of these efforts, there’s little doubt electric bills are going to rise. The only question is whether higher electric bills will be kept affordable. 

Electric co-ops are dealing with a very different situation than we have in the past. Electric bills will go up because of the climate change and energy policy decisions of U.S. senators and representatives on Capitol Hill  — or worse, un-elected federal bureaucrats. Higher electric bills will become the norm as we are all forced to comply with these government mandates.

At Indiana’s electric cooperatives, we’re talking to our members of Congress this month. Co-op directors, managers and staff will be joining other co-op leaders from around the nation on Capitol Hill to bring our message of affordable electricity and other member-driven energy issues to our lawmakers. We will be trying to convince them to work with us to make sure that we not only deal with climate change, but we do so in a way that keeps electric bills affordable. To accomplish this goal, we need your help.

Nationwide, 42 million consumers are served by electric cooperatives. If every co-op member contacted his or her senators and representative, we could make a real impact on the final shape of any energy or climate change legislation.

Over the last year, electric co-op consumers have made their voices heard on keeping electric bills affordable through the Our Energy, Our Future™ grassroots awareness campaign. More than 1.6 million messages have been sent to Congress so far — you can add to that list by visiting www.ourenergy.coop.

Make certain that those who lead us in Washington, D.C., hear from you today.