Our Marching Orders: Affordable Power
Jim Coode, General Manager

After a visit to Washington, D.C., last month, I couldn’t help but reflect on and be impressed by the
long-range planning and precision of our nation’s military. But no matter how prepared they might
be, the military can’t make a move without marching orders from the top.

It reminds me of the bind electric cooperatives are in right now. We excel at long-range planning —
most of the power you use today was designed three or four decades ago. We stand at the ready with
plans for new infrastructure, power plants and innovative technologies to provide electricity for the next 30
years. But there’s a problem — we’re waiting on marching orders from our nation’s leaders.

I was proud to join thousands of electric co-op representatives in our nation’s capital this spring. We told
our elected officials that now more than ever we have to plan for a safe, reliable and affordable energy future.
To get there, we need to know the rules for power generation — and we need to know now. Rolling blackouts in Texas earlier this year reminded all of us that electricity must be used as quickly as it’s produced; we don’t have the technology yet to store large amounts of power to fall back on
when renewable generating resources like wind turbines don’t work.

For our children’s — and grandchildren’s — sake, we need to make some tough decisions soon — and we
need to get them right. With a flurry of proposed regulations being discussed for power plants (and
more to come), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been following its own set of marching orders and deadlines set by the courts. However, what the final regulations will look like remains unclear. Co-ops need to know the rules — our marching orders — for power generation. Until the government provides more certainty, we can’t enact our plans for the next three decades. As our appetite for
electricity grows and threatens to outstrip our nation’s generation capacity, we need to build more power plants. But what type of facilities should they be that will make the most sense financially?

Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation’s mission was set by you, our members, 73 years ago. You
charged us to provide safe, reliable and affordable power. Where this power comes from impacts a sizable portion of your electric bill — 76 percent of each dollar you pay us goes to buy wholesale power from the Tennessee Valley Authority. Bucket trucks, poles and wire, right-of-way trimming, payroll and other operating expenses are covered by the rest.

Although expensive, power plants and expanded transmission systems are an investment in a better future for all of us. We’ll keep our ultimate mission at the forefront of our efforts as we work with Congress to get our marching orders and keep the lights on for the next 30 years. It’s one more way we’re looking out for you.