Brews & Views is back!

Posted on: May 15, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop

Back by popular demand – we are excited to host three Brews & Views events in 2025!

We created Brews & Views to provide a more casual, conversational space where Consolidated members can engage in-person with our team and trustees. Join us to enjoy live music, great food trucks, and a free drink while our team is available to answer all your questions!

Whether you want to learn more about our co-op, get the inside scoop on the energy world, or ask specific questions about our programs and services, we will have experts ready for you at Brews & Views.

Each membership can reserve up to two spots for a Brews & Views event – including a $15 food voucher and a drink ticket for each spot, plus one gift ticket and one raffle ticket. Space fills quickly, so pay close attention as each event approaches!

2025 Kickoff Event: June 4 – RSVPs FULL

RSVPs filled in record time for Brews & Views on June 4! We opened this event up for more members than ever before, and we are so thankful for your excitement to join us. If you RSVP’d, we will send you an email with some more information by Friday, May 23.

If you missed us this time, we hope to see you at one of our other 2025 Brews & Views events – see our full schedule below. We will prioritize RSVPs from members who were unable to join us at Henmick to give as many members as possible the chance to attend.

Event Details

We have expanded our Henmick event to three hours due to popular demand, and we are excited to welcome more members to the event!

When: Wednesday, June 4 from 5-8 p.m. – the event is open-house style, so you can arrive when it works best for you!

Where: Henmick Farm & Brewery in Delaware

Live Music: Fritz Acoustic

Food Trucks:

Kat’s Kraft BBQ

My Chick’n Bites

Pitabilities

Fork in the Road

2025 Brews & Views Schedule

We will provide more specifics about each event as they approach.

Wednesday, June 4: Henmick Farm & Brewery – RSVPs are now closed.

Wednesday, August 6: Hoof Hearted Brewing (Marengo)

Saturday, September 20: Flying Horse Farms – Breakfast and Coffee

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

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.   

2025 Trustee Elections

Posted on: April 25, 2025 By: hcarter@consolidated.coop

Districts 1, 2, and 3.

Online voting for our 2025 Trustee Elections closes at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16. Thank you to everyone who participated this year! Results will be announced at our Annual Meeting on June 24.

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

Voting Instructions

We mailed out paper ballots on April 18, and digital elections opened on April 25. 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.

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.

Didn’t receive an email? The email should have arrived in your inbox on Friday, April 25. 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 future election information. You can update your information on your Consolidated SmartHub account or by calling in.

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: 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.

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

Delaware County Broadband Expansion Project

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.

Natural Gas Pipeline – News Release

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.

Light up your life.