From the CEO - No Rate Increase in 2012

I am very happy to share a bit of good news:  our rates will be stable for 2012 with no increase.
    
Although we are expecting a slight increase in our wholesale power cost in 2012, your cooperative is going to absorb this increase and not raise our rates. I want to assure you that we are working diligently to control the costs we can and are striving to keep rates affordable.  But with the current political environment this is more and more difficult every year. New and proposed regulations still have the potential to significantly impact our rates in the future.  But at least for the upcoming year, your rates will not be going up.

RECare
With the heating season underway, please do not forget our RECare Program. Our RECare Program allows you to add a donation to your monthly bill to help other members with their monthly bills. The majority of the families assisted by RECare are elderly or handicapped. Proposed federal budget cuts will significantly lower the amount of funds available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps these deserving people with their heating bills.With fewer dollars available to LIHEAP, the need for additional assistance will be greater this coming heating season.  Your contribution to our RECare will help these folks served by Access Energy Cooperative.
    
With the continued sluggish economy, I also realize that some members may be experiencing problems with their electric bills. I would encourage you to contact our billing department, who will be happy to work with you on a payment plan to spread part of your monthly bill out over several months. In order to avoid additional charges associated with being delinquent with your payment, it is always best to contact us prior to your due date.
    
As this is the last newsletter for 2011, I want to take this opportunity on behalf of the Board of Directors and the Employees of Access Energy Cooperative, to thank you for your support of the cooperative during 2011 and wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.