American families and businesses expect consistent and affordable electricity. The nation’s energy policies should align with this fundamental expectation, transcending partisan divides. As the demand for electricity escalates and supply dwindles, it is imperative to have a substantive policy discussion about our future direction and the realistic means to achieve it.
Nearly 50 co-op leaders from Ohio’s electric cooperatives recently attended the NRECA’s 2024 Legislative Conference. They met with staff from 12 Ohio Representatives and Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance, advocating on industry-critical issues.
Ohio’s leaders urged the Ohio Congressional Delegation to oppose the U.S. EPA’s impractical power plant rule. They also supported the Department of Energy’s revised transformer efficiency rule, which they believe will help mitigate supply chain challenges among other issues.
As electricity demand grows, co-ops continue grappling with procurement challenges for grid components in a timely manner at reasonable prices. The Department of Energy’s initial proposal for a transformer efficiency rule would have aggravated these existing challenges and increased costs — all for minimal efficiency gain. However, due to co-op advocacy and Congressional pressure, DOE’s final rule is significantly improved over its initial proposal.
