Posted on: March 28, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop
Do you have a Consolidated fiber line in your yard after getting connected this winter? In order to continue connecting members throughout the winter when the ground is frozen, sometimes our crews create temporary drops, meaning they lay the line on top of the ground to connect it to your home. If you received a temporary drop this winter, please practice caution around the fiber line until our crews come out to bury it.
Our fiber team makes calls out to impacted members before coming out to bury the line, so be on the lookout for a call from us! These calls are designed to give you a heads up and help you remember to mark any private underground utility lines like irrigation systems or dog fences. We will work with OUPS to mark public utilities, but private utilities are the responsibility of each homeowner.
We are focused on efficiency as we work through these drops, because we understand the inconvenience of having a line in your yard as the weather warms up. However, weather has a significant impact on our ability to bury lines safely and efficiently. Mud not only creates safety hazards, but also increases the risk of damaging surrounding landscaping. To keep our teams and members safe and to help protect lawns while we work, every day of rain pushes our schedule back by an estimated three+ days.
While the line is in your yard, it is your responsibility to keep it safe. Please work around the line and not over it, especially if you are mowing or driving in the area. If you have questions, or if the line is creating a safety hazard for you or your household, please reach out to us at 800-421-5863.
Posted on: March 19, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop
1st Impressions Landscape & Garden Center is a Sunbury-based landscape design, build, and maintenance company founded in 1998. Their mission is to provide quality products and timely service focused on their four core values: Humility, Integrity, Knowledge, and Experience (H.I.K.E).
When 1st Impressions was founded, they solely provided lawn care services. Over the years, they have expanded into creative design, build, and construction services as the demand for outdoor living space increased. As the community continued to grow, 1st Impressions decided to open its doors to homeowners and professionals alike for pickup and delivery of quality landscape products they utilized in their projects.
1st Impressions encourages sustainability in their landscaping projects. They work to choose native species that require less water and care to thrive, and they construct permeable paver surfaces to help minimize run-off and control erosion. In addition to recycling their own organic waste from operations, they accept organic waste for recycling from anyone interested in making a positive impact on the environment.
The team at 1st Impressions shares that they take great pride in maintaining the grounds of The Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial, and that they strongly believe in honoring those who have made sacrifices to serve our country.
“I want to thank our community for all the support they have given us over the years,” shared Scott A. Wagner, President of 1st Impressions. “We have been truly blessed to be a part of your lives.”
If you are interested in learning more about 1st Impressions Landscape & Garden Center and the work that they do, check them out online using the links below:
Posted on: March 12, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop
We are proud to partner with Delaware County to bring our reliable, high-speed internet to underserved and unserved neighborhoods in our communities! Please read the full story from Delaware County on their website: Broadband Expansion Announcement.
High-speed internet has become an essential service, especially as more people have begun working and learning from home. We started Consolidated Fiber to help connect our members to the future, and we are excited to partner with Delaware to extend that connection.
How will I know if service is available to me?
We have begun the construction process, and plan to begin opening service to impacted areas this spring. We will notify households with door hangers and mailers when we are building and when service becomes available. You can check fiber service availability any time by typing your address into our map, found here.
FAQs for Consolidated Members
Is this project going to cost Consolidated members?
No. Delaware County received federal funding to bring internet service to underserved and unserved communities. They are using a portion of that funding to hire us to bring our fiber-to-the-home internet to specific areas in the county.
Why is Consolidated providing fiber service outside of its service territory?
In addition to helping the underserved and unserved in our surrounding communities by giving them access to reliable, high-speed internet, this project stands to create long-term benefits for both our members and communities:
More of Delaware County will have access to excellent internet, helping neighborhoods thrive, empowering families to move to more rural areas without sacrificing their ability to connect, and supporting the continued development of the local economy.
As your local cooperative, we are not driven by profits. Our rates reflect the costs we pay to provide you with reliable, high-speed internet service. Bringing more subscribers to our fiber network means that the costs of building and maintaining our network will be split among more people, helping us keep our rates down.
Will this project impact Consolidated’s current fiber construction plans for within Consolidated service territory?
No. Our partnership with the county enables us to bring on additional contracted crews who will complete the extension work. Construction within our territory is still moving forward as planned.
On February 24, we are sending out nomination ballots to members in districts 1, 2, or 3 via paper mail and email. Each member can choose to nominate using the detachable ballot and return envelope found in their letter, or through the digital form sent via email.
The nominee must be a Consolidated member who lives in your district, and who meets these qualifications for nomination.
Didn’t receive an email? The email should arrive in your inbox soon after 7 p.m. on February 24. If you do not see it, we may not have your correct contact information on file, or it may have gone to your spam folder. The email came from Consolidated Cooperative, via this address: noreply@electionrunner.com. Update your contact information with us and/or add that email address to your “safe senders” list to make sure you receive your digital election ballot in April. You can update your information on your Consolidated SmartHub account or by calling in.
2025 Election Timeline
February 24: Nomination ballots mailed/sent digitally to members in districts 1, 2, and 3. Digital ballots open at 7 p.m.
March 10: Nomination ballots must be postmarked by March 10, or submitted online by 4:30 p.m.
March 18: Nomination ballots will be counted.
April 25: Election ballots mailed/sent digitally to members in districts 1, 2, and 3.
May 16: Election ballots must be postmarked by May 16, or submitted online by 4:30 p.m.
June 10: Election ballots will be counted.
June 24: Consolidated’s annual meeting – results will be announced.
Why should I participate?
As a Consolidated member, you have the right and responsibility to participate in our trustee elections and select a representative who will act in your community’s best interests.
Our trustees set the path for Consolidated’s future, and they have the final say on all strategic and budgetary decisions. They are committed to making decisions in the best interests of their districts and Consolidated’s membership as a whole, while ensuring that our co-op stays true to our founding principles.
Democratic Member Control is one of the seven guiding principles of all co-ops – it reminds us that cooperative employees are accountable to our trustees, and our trustees are accountable to our members.
Posted on: February 20, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop
Consolidated Cooperative Partners with Morrow County on Natural Gas Pipeline
Consolidated Cooperative signed an agreement with Morrow County to expand the natural gas service that supports the I71/SR61 interchange. This partnership is designed to pave the way for growth – both for Morrow County and Consolidated.
“As we continue to keep our targeted areas of growth in mind, I am encouraged to work with companies, like Consolidated Cooperative and to be able to think outside the box on how we can meet the current and future needs of our community,” said Jamie Brucker, Executive Director of the Morrow County Development Authority.
Consolidated brought natural gas to the I71/SR61 interchange decades ago, but demand from recent growth in the area has pushed their existing pipeline to the limits of what it can deliver. This location needs significant additional capacity to continue supporting projects that will enhance quality of life and bring jobs to the area.
As a not-for-profit cooperative, Consolidated has a long history of working to attract growth that helps improve life in the communities they serve. Morrow County stepped up as a partner on this project because the anticipated business growth stands to create numerous economic benefits for the entire county and surrounding areas.
“As Morrow County’s local, not-for-profit cooperative, we are proud of our nearly 90-year commitment to working alongside so many others who continue to strive to make our communities places where we can all prosper.” Shared Consolidated President and CEO, Phil Caskey. “This project is yet another shining example of the great work we all can do when we work together.”
Consolidated began construction in December 2024, and they expect to complete the 12-inch line in the third quarter of 2025.
Posted on: February 18, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop
Recreation Unlimited is a not-for-profit organization in Ashley, Ohio, that provides recreation and educational experiences to over 4,000 individuals with disabilities or health concerns each year.
Recreation Unlimited is one of the largest providers of its kind in Ohio. Their overall mission is to provide year-round programs in sports, recreation, and education, while building self-confidence, self-esteem, and promoting positive human relations, attitudes, and behaviors for individuals with disabilities and health concerns.
Recreation Unlimited states that many economically disadvantaged individuals with disabilities have not experienced the opportunity to be away from home and enjoy a first-class, accessible indoor and outdoor recreation experience designed for their individual needs. They offer many camps, from seasonal residential and day camps to veteran family camps to their year-round respite weekends. Their camps are designed to not only help improve the health and quality of life of the individuals attending, but also that of their parents and/or caretakers who get a respite from the 24/7 responsibilities of caregiving.
“Recreation Unlimited is a dream come true for individuals with disabilities and health concerns,” shared Paul L. Huttlin, Executive Director & CEO. “For over 60 years, Recreation Unlimited has been an integral part in the health and welfare of thousands of individuals with disabilities and health concerns.”
They have 12 full-time employees and up to 75 seasonal/part-time employees each year. Recreation Unlimited shares that they rely significantly on the generosity of dedicated benefactors to make their mission possible.
If you are interested in learning more about Recreation Unlimited’s mission, donating, or getting involved, check out their information below:
Posted on: February 5, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop
As of February 5, 2025, our area is under Winter Weather Advisories for freezing rain and ice accumulation.
Ice can weigh down powerlines, create dangerous conditions on the roads, and add hazards to the outage restoration process. Our team is ready to act safely and efficiently if this freezing rain leads to downed lines or outages – make sure make sure you and your family are prepared too!
Please read through the information below to ensure that you know how to report outages, track restoration, and remain safe if power is lost in freezing temperatures.
Never approach a downed powerline or attempt to clear debris from a powerline, even if it appears to be de-energized. Lines can become re-energized as restoration efforts progress, and it is extremely dangerous to go near them without the proper training and equipment. If you see a downed line, call us and 911 right away.
During the restoration process, sometimes power comes back on in spikes that can damage electronics. Unplug all electronics and heat-producing appliances when an outage occurs.
Never operate your generator inside your home or garage – even if doors and windows are open.
Never plug your generator into a wall outlet to try and power your home – this can send electricity down de-energized lines, putting line workers in serious danger.
Call our 24-hour outage hotline: 866-567-2753 (please call using the phone number linked to your account – our computer system will automatically register your outage)
Sign up for outage texting to report outages via text message.
Sign up for Outage Alerts to receive text message updates about outages in your area.
Use our outage map to see the impact of an outage across our territory and track our restoration progress.
Important Outage Preparation Reminders:
Do you have any medical equipment or treatments that require electricity or refrigeration? Make a plan with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure that you know how to stay safe when a power outage occurs.
Maintain an emergency kit with necessary items like non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, etc.
Make sure you have blankets and warm clothing easily accessible.
If you know a storm is coming, take time to charge important devices like phones, laptops, and portable batteries in case of an outage.
Ensure that all of your sensitive electronics are protected from power surges. Remember that newer appliances often include computer elements and will need surge protection. Read this article to learn more about the importance of surge protectors and how to pick the surge protectors that best suit your needs.
Remember to include your pets in your preparations!
Posted on: January 31, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop
Over the holidays, our area experienced mail delays that caused our members to receive their bills late in the mail. While this issue was exacerbated by holiday shopping traffic, mail delays are becoming more common, especially in rural areas.
SmartHub, Paperless Billing and AutoPay are some of the best ways to help ensure that mail delays do not impact your ability to manage your account.
SmartHub is our free, secure online account management system for Consolidated members. Create an account to access all of your billing information online, make payments, track your energy use, and more.
With Paperless Billing, your bill is delivered to you via email as soon as it becomes available each month, so you don’t have to worry about mail delays. Sign up for Paperless on your Consolidated SmartHub account under “Settings,” or contact our team for help
Set up AutoPay to avoid the risk of late payments and ease the stress of remembering to pay your bill each month.Simply choose the account or card that you would like to pay with, and your bill total will be automatically withdrawn and applied to your Consolidated account on your due date each month. You can set up payments through SmartHub or contact us for help
Learn more about all of our billing and payment options on our About My Bill page.
Posted on: January 17, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop
Get ready for frigid weather!
If you have our natural gas, propane, and/or electric service, please read through important updates about each service below.
In temperatures like these, heating systems use a lot more energy to keep your home at a reasonable temperature. You may be using more gas, propane, and/or electricity to keep your house colder than it usually is, simply because your systems are working much harder to offset the weather.
Due to extreme demand, our natural gas supplier has issued “Transport Critical Days,” for January 18-21, which means that all natural gas purchased during this time will cost us about three times more than it usually does.
As a not-for-profit cooperative, our rates reflect the costs we pay for the services we provide you. This means that we never charge extra to make more profit, but it also means that when our costs increase it increases our members’ costs too.
Help us keep costs down for all natural gas members by conserving during these Transport Critical Days. While conserving will not change the rates, it will help us purchase less natural gas while the costs are so high. The less we have to purchase during this time, the less impact it has on our members.
We will share more information with our natural gas members when the Transport Critical Days are over and we have a more complete picture of their impact.
Electric
Peak Alerts
During times of extreme demand (like a polar vortex), you may hear about “peak alerts” or “peak demand.” A “peak alert” occurs when a utility provider is close to demanding more electric power than they have ever used before. When demand reaches a new peak, it also sets a new, higher price than electricity.
Now more than ever, it is important for us all to try and safely conserve power during times when demand is high – not just to curb rising costs, but also to help avoid the need for rolling blackouts. Conservation during peak times can be as simple as lowering your thermostat by a few degrees, or turning off unused appliances and electronics. Learn more about electric energy reliability and affordability on our Energy Policy Resources page.
Propane
Keep an eye on your tank!
Our propane team is working hard to make sure you have the fuel that you need to stay warm, but times of high use can make it harder for members to keep tabs on their propane tank. Please be aware that you are likely using propane at a faster rate than usual, even if you have turned your thermostat down.
During times of extreme cold, we recommend calling in to schedule a refill when your tank reaches 40%, instead of our typical recommendation of 30%. High use can catch our members off guard, and our teams are running a tight schedule as many more members are calling in for regular and urgent refills. When demand is this high, it takes us more time than usual to work in unexpected, last-minute deliveries. It also may cost you more, as you can incur leak test and rush fees if your tank is empty or below 10% capacity.
We understand that sometimes things happen, and we will do our best to get to you efficiently if your tank is running low. Please join us in taking extra precautions and checking your tank more frequently during cold snaps. Thank you for working with us!
Posted on: December 29, 2024 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop
Reliability and Affordability Concerns
For almost 90 years, our mission has been to deliver safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible electricity to our members at stable and affordable rates. Our members count on us to deliver their power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year – our communities and livelihoods depend on it. But, for the first time in our history, that reliability is in jeopardy.
Buckeye Power, our generation and transmission provider, generates enough power for all 400,000 cooperative members in Ohio. However, we depend on the larger grid to get that power to our members, and the grid’s ability to balance supply and demand in our region and across the nation is increasingly at risk.
Here are a few of the reasons why the risks to reliable, affordable energy are growing:
Demand for electricity is higher than it has ever been, and it continues to rise. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that U.S. power demand will reach its highest levels ever in 2024 and 2025.
The overall supply of reliable electricity is down because of the rapid retirement of coal and nuclear plants.
Intermittent sources of energy like wind and solar power have come online, but they have not filled the gap and they are not always available.
Unreasonable regulations are creating unnecessarily high costs while providing minimal environmental benefits.
Winter Reliability in Ohio
According to a The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Ohio is at an elevated risk for blackouts this winter. Their 2024-25 winter reliability assessment shows that our region has the potential for insufficient operating reserves in above-normal conditions.
During times of extreme demand (like during a cold snap), you may hear about “peak alerts” or “peak demand.” A “peak alert” occurs when a utility provider is close to demanding more electric power than they have ever used before. When demand reaches a new peak, it also sets a new, higher price that we have to pay for electricity.
Now more than ever, it is important for us all to try and safely conserve power during times when demand is high – not just to avoid rising costs, but also to help avoid the need for rolling blackouts. Conservation during peak times can be as simple as lowering your thermostat by a few degrees, or turning off unused appliances and electronics. Learn more about peak alerts here.
Political Action
Consolidated leaders attend events in Washington, D.C. and at our Ohio statehouse to meet with policy makers and speak up for the good of our members. You can join us in advocating for common-sense energy policy. Check out America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC and Voices for Cooperative Power to learn more about how you can get involved and speak up for cooperative members!
America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC
The National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA) has renamed its political action committee: The program once known as “ACRE” is now America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC.
This political action committee (PAC) was founded in 1966 to support political candidates who speak up for and protect the interests of electric co-ops and their member-owners. Thousands of co-op members, employees, and directors from across our nation contribute to the PAC.
PAC accepts contributions on a monthly basis, and the average contributor gives about $65 per year. When everyone’s individual PAC contribution comes together, it builds our collective strength as cooperatives across the nation. This strength and recognition on the national level is key as decarbonization and electrification policies have threatened cooperatives’ ability to deliver power to their members.
If you would like to be a part of this national movement, click here to make a donation, or give us a call at 800-421-5863 for help.
Voices for Cooperative Power
Join us in speaking up for reliable, affordable electricity! Voices for Cooperative Power (VCP) is a network of rural electric cooperative members who work together to promote policies that help cooperatives thrive. VCP makes it easy to be an advocate by empowering you to share your story, connecting you with opportunities to use your voice, and keeping you informed about important issues and policies.
You can choose your level of involvement – whether you use the information they provide to be an informed voter, or you take advantage of opportunities to contact legislators and speak up for cooperatives. Learn more about VCP at voicesforcooperativepower.com or get in touch with us at Consolidated for help.
Resources
“Reliability and Affordability” – This webpage from America’s Electric Cooperatives (NRECA) will give you a background of the current energy landscape, the cooperative stance, and a timeline of the events that led up to this point.
“Carbon-free by 2035?” – This article from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives (OEC) analyzes the vast challenges that must be overcome to meet the government’s decarbonization goals.
Here is a short list of some of the key terms and organizations that you will read about while researching this topic. Click or tap the link in each point to learn more or visit the organization’s website.
The Electric Grid: The complex, interconnected system that transports electricity from power plants through substations, transformers, transmission lines, and the distribution lines that deliver energy to consumers. Learn more about the electric grid.
PJM: PJM Interconnection – a regional transmission organization that ensures reliability and coordinates the movement of electricity in Ohio and surrounding states.
NRECA:America’s Electric Cooperatives – the national organization designed to promote, support, and protect the best interests of electric cooperatives and their members.
OEC:Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives – the statewide organization designed to promote, support, and protect the best interests of electric cooperatives and their members in Ohio.
EPA: The United States Environmental Protection Agency – The EPA was founded to study environmental issues, provide information, and develop and enforce environmental standards and regulations in America.
