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Critical Co-op Issues Tackled in Washington

>> Representatives from Tri-County EMC joined cooperative leaders from around the country in May at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. Tri-County CEO Hill Bentley, Chairman Tom Thompson, Secretary/Treasurer Thomas Noles and Tri-County Attorney Tom Daniel met with Congressmen Jim Marshall (D-3rd), Lynn Westmoreland (R-8th) Phil Gingrey (R-11th) and Charlie Norwood (R-9th) and the chiefs of staff for Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson.

There were four key issues addressed by the group, each very important in ensuring that electric membership cooperatives are able to affordably and reliably maintain service to our members. Here is an overview of these four issues:

The Energy Bill:  Currently awaiting Senate approval, the Energy Bill (H.R. 6), would protect the reliability of our nation's transmission system and minimize new regulatory burdens on coop-eratives. As it was passed by the House of Representatives, H.R. 6 would assure a fair charge for all entities benefiting from transmission improvements. Small co-ops would avoid unrealistic charges which would be passed on to their members. 

Rural Utilities Service Funding:  The current national budget proposal for RUS electric loan program is nearly 24 percent less than the total agreed upon by the House and Senate appropriators. Funding from the Rural Utilities Service is essential for electric co-ops to continue to effectively improve infrastructure and build new construction in high growth areas while keeping rates as low as possible.  Co-ops also oppose loan criteria favoring poorer rural parts of service areas, drastically changing the mission of the RUS agency and limiting the ability to use funds for construction and maintenance in growing areas.

Captive Shippers:  Shipping is a major portion of the cost of coal-based power generation, which accounts for about 60 percent of Tri-County EMC's electricity generated. Since rail is usually the only shipping option and utilities are often forced to use one carrier, these utilities and the prices they are forced to pay are considered "captive."  The rates charged to "captive shippers" are at least double the rates for noncaptive shippers. Georgia cooperatives are lobbying for the passage of two bills currently before the house and senate which would limit the rates charged by monopoly shippers to captive shippers.

Highway Bill:  Conference attendees discussed the status of the Senate's "Highway Bill" (H.R. 3) which contains a permanent exemption for utility service vehicles from the Department of Transportation's hours-of-service rule. Utilities currently abide by a temporary exemption from this rule. Without the exclusion, Hours-of-Service regulations would limit the hours utility technicians could work meaning slower outage restoration for electric consumers. The rules were originally intended to reduce accidents for long-haul freight trucks. Utility leaders challenge that the regulations provide no safety benefit for utility technicians and would only delay power restoration. Failure to pass H.R. 3 with this provision would require quick passage of a seventh temporary exemption to prevent utilities from having to comply with the costly measure. (3607-01) 

While in Washington, Georgia's EMC representatives, Georgia Transmission Corp. and Oglethorpe Power Corp. gave $3,000 to the Fisher House Foundation in honor of the Georgia legislative del-egation. The home, located at Fort Gordon in Augusta, provides temporary lodging to the military, veterans and their families. <<