2025 Trustee Election Results

Posted on: June 24, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop

Districts 1, 2, and 3.

Voting for our 2025 Trustee Elections closed on Friday, May 16. Results were officially announced at our annual meeting on June 24.

Election Results

District 1: Doug Loudenslager (Nominees: Kent Kramer and Doug Loudenslager). 

District 2: Megan Forman-Karbler (unopposed).  

District 3: Tim Bachelder (unopposed).

Our elections in Districts 2 and 3 were uncontested this year. This can occur when there are no new qualified candidates nominated from a district, when there is only one qualified nominee, or when nominated candidates opt not to run.

Visit our Trustee Page to find your district and learn more about our board.

2025 Election Timeline

February 24 (COMPLETED): Nomination ballots mailed/sent digitally to members in districts 1, 2, and 3. Digital ballots open at 7 p.m.

March 10 (COMPLETED): Nomination ballots must be postmarked by March 10, or submitted online by 4:30 p.m.

March 18 (COMPLETED): Nomination ballots will be counted.

April 25 (COMPLETED): Election ballots mailed/sent digitally to members in districts 1, 2, and 3.

May 16 (COMPLETED): Election ballots must be postmarked by May 16, or submitted online by 4:30 p.m.

June 10 (COMPLETED): Election ballots will be counted.

June 24 (COMPLETED): Consolidated’s annual meeting – results will be announced.

Why should I participate in elections?

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.

Key Account Spotlight: Groovy Plants Ranch

Posted on: June 19, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop

Groovy Plants Ranch is a family-owned greenhouse in Marengo. They grow thousands of plants each year, and they specialize in providing “unique and intriguing botanical oddities.”

Groovy Plants Ranch is on a mission to become an eternally inviting plant destination. Their team embraces individuals across every skill level, striving to ensure that their journey is inspirational and supportive. They share that they work to advance the lifestyle of growing plants, generation to generation, by cultivating trust, nurturing knowledge, and delivering consistently outstanding experiences.

Customer service is a priority at Groovy Plants Ranch, and they are focused on helping their customers succeed. Together, their team has over 100 years of horticulture experience, and they love to share their knowledge with others. They even offer a DIY “Potter’s Saloon” where customers can pot the plants they buy while team members are nearby to help.

The Groovy Plants Ranch team is proud of the role they play in bringing people from all over the state to Marengo. They share that they love to help their fellow local organizations thrive by recommending them to visiting out-of-towners. They also support their community by providing donations and in-kind gifts to local non-profits.

In addition to their greenhouse setup, they also offer classes and events at their location, including everything from crafts to yoga.

Check out the links below to learn more, view their event schedule, and find helpful resources that can help you get the most out of your visit:

Website: https://Groovyplantsranch.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groovyplantsranch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groovyplantsranch

Groovy Plants Team holding plants

2025 Electric Rate Adjustment

Posted on: May 27, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop

In alignment with our recent cost-of-service–study, member feedback, and input from our trustees and other experts, we are implementing a 2.1% average overall rate increase for all electric members. Please read through the information below to learn more about the change and the reasons why it is necessary. 

The following change is going into effect in June, 2025: 

  1. We are enacting a 2.1% average overall increase across all our electric rate classes. This means that each member will see an average of a 2.1% increase in their annual electric costs. The change goes into effect in June, meaning it will be reflected on the bill you receive in July.
  1. The portion of the rate that was adjusted for each rate class varies. Please visit the Documents section of your Consolidated SmartHub account to see our individual rate sheets and schedule of charges. The rate sheets for this change are labeled “Effective 6-1-2025.”

Why is Consolidated raising its electric rates?

The costs that we pay for the electricity we deliver to you and the infrastructure in our distribution system have seen substantial increases over the past few years. Our overall operating expenses have increased by 35% since 2020. In addition, the cost of our frequently purchased, necessary supplies and equipment increased by an average of 94% in the years leading up to our cost-of-service-study.

In 2023, we initiated our cost-of-service study with expert third-party consultants to address these cost changes and assess the financial health of our cooperative. While working with consultants, our trustees, and the financial experts on our team, it became clear that we would need to increase our electric rate – either all at once, or gradually over time. 

Member Feedback and Our Rate Adjustment Plan

As a not-for-profit cooperative, we are committed to operating in the best interests of our members. After our cost-of-service study, we sent out a rate adjustment survey to all our members to get feedback on how we could best implement the necessary changes.

We used your feedback on the survey to create our rate adjustment plan with our board of trustees. Over 82 percent of responding members expressed a preference for smaller, more frequent rate adjustments rather than delaying and implementing larger increases later. We created a plan to implement small, approximately 2% changes from year to year to help get our rates to a sustainable level while creating a smoother transition for our members.

Is Consolidated changing rates to increase profits?

No. Because we are a not-for-profit cooperative, we return all our margins to our members through Capital Credits. This increase is designed only to cover the rising costs that we have to pay to continue providing you with safe, reliable electricity.

What is a “Service Availability Charge” and why is it on my bill?

Our “Service Availability Charge” is the monthly fee that all Consolidated members pay to have access to our electric service. It is the same each month and it does not change based on consumption. This charge is necessary for us to provide electric service to you, and it plays an important role in keeping rates steadier overall. – The revenue from this charge helps cover fixed costs, including maintaining the system, updating equipment, and managing vegetation. All of this supports reliability and helps prevent costly outages and repairs.

Our reliability remains strong, and we have consistently stayed below state and national SAIDI medians over the past ten years. SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index) represents the total number of minutes of service interruption the average member or customer experiences from their utility provider.

What is the Generation & Transmission (G&T) charge on my bill, and why does it change from month to month?

The G&T Charge is a pass-through charge that covers the costs of producing and transmitting the electricity that we distribute to you. It changes from month to month depending on the costs for things like fuel and transmission equipment. Generally, this cost has been on the rise in recent years due to increased fuel costs and demand, supply chain issues, and increasingly challenging government policies that make generation more expensive.

How do Consolidated’s rates and charges compare to other providers?

Population density makes a big impact on an electric provider’s rates and monthly charges. Larger, investor-owned utilities that cover mostly urban and suburban areas serve more members per mile of line than cooperatives like us who cover a lot of rural territory. When each mile of line in a distribution system serves more people, each person can pay a smaller portion of the maintenance, upgrade, and repair costs.

As a cooperative, we are proud of the role we play in helping our members thrive in rural areas by providing high quality services that might otherwise only be available in cities. Cooperatives like us were founded to serve rural areas when investor-owned utilities were not willing to take on the additional costs. While some costs are unavoidable because of the locations we serve, our rates remain comparable because we are a not-for-profit and do not pad our rates to line the pockets of investors. Our rates and charges reflect the costs we pay to provide you with safe, reliable electricity, and we return any excess to our members through capital credits.

What happens during a cost-of-service-study?

While we have a skilled financial team and trustees who are always looking to maximize the value we provide to members, we brought in third-party experts to ensure objectivity and help our leadership determine the best path forward. Our consultants follow standards set by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) while they carefully evaluate everything from equipment costs to community growth.

The focus of this study was to ensure fairness to our members while taking steps to maintain Consolidated’s good financial health. We worked with our consultants to identify the necessary and appropriate changes to our rate structure, and we are moving forward with our trustees’ full approval.

How does energy policy impact rates?

While costs are rising for goods and services of all kinds, the energy world has become an increasingly challenging place. As supply chain issues and overreaching regulations have costs up, we are joining forces with cooperatives from across the nation to advocate for energy policies that support reliable, affordable energy.

Learn more about these issues and how you can speak up for your community here.

What resources does Consolidated provide to help members as costs are rising?

As a not-for-profit cooperative, we offer many programs and resources designed to help our members become more efficient and save money. Check out some of our programs below, and please get in touch with us if you have questions:

  • High-Use Emails – Our high-use system alerts members when they have a higher energy bill than usual. Each email contains a custom video designed to help you understand why your energy use may have changed and find ways to use less in the future. Make sure the email address on your account is up to date so we can send you this helpful information.
  • Energy use tracking through Consolidated SmartHub – Set goals and track your energy use from month to month to make your home more efficient!
  • Home Energy Audits – Contact us to book an appointment for an in-person audit of your home’s energy efficiency with an expert from our team.
  • Energy Resource Center – Our free, online Energy Resource Center offers calculators and educational materials designed to help you become more efficient. You can get custom tips for your home and compare the costs and energy use of different heating options, appliances, lighting, and more.
  • Rebate Program – We offer rebates on multiple energy-efficient home upgrades to help you save while making your home more energy efficient.
  • Budget Billing – Budget Billing helps even out your electric costs throughout the year so that you are budgeting for a similar amount each month, even when the weather and your energy use change.
  • InControl Prepay – Stay InControl of your electric use by paying for electricity as you use it, instead of paying a lump sum each month.

What is Consolidated doing to reduce costs during this time?

Our trustees and teams are always looking for ways to improve our cooperative’s efficiency and effectiveness.

  • We have a robust vegetation management program that helps us reduce costly outages and system damage.
  • We invest in technology like our Advanced Metering Infrastructure that increases efficiency and improves the longevity of our system.
  • We ensure that all our teams are well-trained to work safely and efficiently.
  • We are committed to supporting community growth by creating relationships with prospective businesses and developers, creating franchise agreements, and working closely with our local community leaders. When our community grows, the costs to provide power can be shared among more people and businesses, making it less expensive for everyone.
  • We advocate for energy policy that supports reliable, affordable electricity. We join forces with co-ops on the state and national levels to speak up, and we encourage our members to join us through programs like America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC or Voices for Cooperative Power here.
  • We are saving printing costs and trees by making more of our processes digital. For instance, our recent efforts to help more members switch to Paperless Billing will help Consolidated save over $27,000 a year on printing and mailing.

Energy Policy Resources

Posted on: May 5, 2025 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.

2025 – Summer Reliability

In May and November of each year, The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) publishes a grid reliability assessment. This summer, our region’s grid operator – PJM Interconnection – was placed at a low risk for insufficient reserves and rolling blackouts. This is good news, as PJM had been placed at an elevated risk in recent years, and Ohio just narrowly avoided rolling blackouts in December of 2022.

While this report was positive for the summer, it does not mean that reliability concerns are coming to an end. Learn more in this brief article from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, or check out NERC’s full Summer Reliability Assessment.

What can we do about it? 

Energy Conservation

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.
  • “EPA Power Sector Rules” – This article from America’s Electric Cooperatives gives an overview of key regulations that threaten reliable, affordable power, and it provides updates as decisions progress.
  • “PJM Warns of Risks Expected Resource Retirements Pose to Grid Reliability” – This article from OEC discusses recent reports of increased reliability risks, and warnings about retiring reliable resources while demand for electricity is growing.

Key Terms and Organizations

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 12 surrounding states.

NERC: The North American Electric Reliability Corporation – a not-for-profit, international authority designed to protect the reliability and security of the electric grid.   

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.   

Key Account Spotlight: Reef Systems Coral Farm, Inc.

Posted on: April 24, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop

Reef Systems Coral Farm is a small agricultural coral farm focused on education, conservation, and helping make the aquarium hobby fun and enjoyable. 

Reef System’s mission is to offer quality services and products at a reasonable price to the hobbyist. They believe in the sustainable farming of captive-raised corals, aqua-cultured live rock, saltwater fish, and tank-raised saltwater fish. They also shared that farm-raised animals help support the protection of the world’s reefs, a mission that is close to their hearts.  

Reef Systems shared that they prefer to teach over making sales. They offer assistance for their customers and potential customers covering a wide variety of topics, including issues like water chemistry, lighting, and flow rates for each individual tank.  

In addition to providing advice and assistance in their store, Reef Systems also partners with educational institutions to further their mission. They provide work experience to students from local high schools who are interested in the aquarium hobby, conservation, and learning, and they collaborate with universities and other educational institutions for the common goal of public education on the preservation of the world’s reefs. Currently, they are working with The Ohio State University and The University of Georgia on a research grant focused on marine conservation. 

Reef Systems Coral Farm is based in New Albany, where they have eight employees and three interns. They raise 90% of their corals at their farm, allowing them to ensure that their customers have disease-free, healthy animals for their aquariums. 

 If you would like to learn more about Reef Systems Coral Farm, their work, and their services, check them out at the links below: 

Website: https://reefsystemscoralfarm.com/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reefsystemscoralfarm  

Storm and Outage Safety

Posted on: April 1, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop

Our team is ready when severe weather strikes – make sure you are too!

View Ohio weather alerts here.

How to Report an Outage:

Outage Tracking

  • 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.

Outage Safety

  • Never approach a downed powerline, even if it appears to be de-energized. Lines can become re-energized as restoration efforts progress. If you see a downed line, call us and 911 right away.
  • Do not try to remove any debris from a powerline, even if you think it may be impacting your service. Without the proper training, equipment, and safety gear, it is extremely dangerous to go near a powerline.
  • Always follow these generator safety tips, including:
    • 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.
  • 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.

Outage Preparation

  • 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! 

Tornado Safety:

  • Make sure your yard is free of heavy debris that could be tossed around by the wind.
  • Choose a safe area in your home where your family can gather if a tornado warning is issued. Pick a spot in your basement or in a room with no windows on the lowest level of your home.
  • In extreme weather, look for the following potential signs of a tornado: a dark sky, low-lying clouds, large hail, or a loud roar.
  • If you are outside or in a vehicle, do not try to outrun a tornado. Seek shelter in your home or a building immediately.
  • Follow this link for more tornado-specific safety tips.

Key Account Spotlight: 1st Impressions Landscape & Garden Center

Posted on: March 19, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop
1st Impressions Logo

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: 

Website: https://1stgardencenter.com/ 
Facebook: facebook.com/1stImpressionsGardenCenter
Instagram: instagram.com/1stimpressions_landscapegarden

Light up your life.