ELECTRICITY — WHAT’S IT REALLY WORTH?

By Terry Moseley, Executive VP/General Manager

Electricity is the lifeblood of modern society. From powering our homes and businesses to lighting up our roadways and parks, it’s one of the most valuable goods we rely on every day. Pioneer Electric’s responsibility has always been to safely deliver reliable electricity at an affordable price to meet our members’ needs. Cost is important, but what’s the true value of electricity?

I think people tend to value electricity mostly according to its price, except during those rare times — such as during an outage — when it’s not available. During those times, my guess is that we value it more — at least for a little while — because we realize how much we truly need it.

That’s because electricity is so prevalent in our lives. Name one other product that does so much. Very few items in our homes would work without electricity. Most communication devices depend on it; so do our factories and hospitals.

The absolute need for a reliable electric supply for our survival, comfort and prosperity is why we should value electricity more than we do.

Since 2010, Pioneer Electric’s energy rate has only increased by 1 cent per kilowatt-hour. Compare that change to most other household expenses over the same time period. I think we can all agree that electricity costs have remained more stable. Thanks to strategic planning and decision-making by your board of trustees, we have maintained consistent rates while improving system reliability and services.

On average, our residential members pay $10 per day for electricity. For just $10 a day, you have lights, keep food refrigerated, cook meals, take hot showers, keep your home heated or cooled, watch TV, charge your phone and enjoy all the other conveniences electricity allows. What else can you buy for $10 that does so much for your quality of life?

Pioneer Electric adds value to your membership. Real value means getting the lights back on quickly when outages occur. It means having friendly, local people answer the phone when you call. It’s returning capital credits to members. And it’s our commitment to bettering our communities. We are a cooperative, which means our members are our priority — not shareholders or profits.

The next time you flip the light switch or grab a cold soda from the fridge, think about how much electricity is worth to you. And remember that behind the switch is an army of people who devote their lives to making sure the lights stay on. n