Our Energy, Our Future, Our Indiana:
A dialogue with America

April 10, 2008
Climate change legislation will affect future electric rates

The prospect of increasing electric rates due to climate change legislation was one of the messages delivered by Gregg Kiess, Northeastern’s president and CEO, to members attending the cooperative’s area meetings in March.

Climate change is one aspect of a looming energy crisis created by increasing demand for electricity and decreasing capacity to meet that demand.  The National Electric Reliability Council predicts that our region could face serious power concerns by 2012. And yet energy supply isn’t an issue our elected representatives are spending much time on.  The desire by government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions quickly and the growing demand for power by consumers are about to collide. The result will have a direct impact on our cooperative – and on you, the co-op member. 

Some people believe we can meet the demand through efficiency and renewable energy. In reality this will not be enough.

To avert an energy crisis, the federal government must exercise true leadership.  Without a sound, responsible plan, government risks the reliability of our electric system, as well as the ability of many Americans to be able to afford to pay their electric bill.  

Electric co-op members must call on elected officials to provide this leadership.  That’s why Northeastern encourages you to contact your elected officials. Now. 

You don’t need to be an energy expert to ask questions.  Asking questions will help solve the problem of balancing climate change goals with keeping your lights on and your electric bills affordable.

Members of Congress and elected state officials are hearing from many different interest groups who have ideas on addressing climate change.  However, no one is talking directly to consumers.  We need a plan that people can live with today while also addressing the climate change problem of tomorrow.   

To make things easy, we have a website that will send an email for you.  Go to www.ourenergy.coop  and click on “Contact Elected Officials”. By filling out your address, it will determine the legislators who represent you. You can either send the prepared e-mail or personalize it. We’re kicking this effort off with a basic but critical question:  What are they doing to make sure we’ll have the power we need in the future?

Far too often questions don’t get asked by policy makers until it is too late.  We believe it makes sense to know the answers before any laws are passed.  You can help your elected officials and yourself by having this conversation.  The electric bill you save will be your own.