Ask the Energy Coach: When will incentives resume? Dear Energy Coach: I just installed a hot water heat pump and want to take advantage of WEC’s incentives. When will they be available again? You can submit the invoices for any eligible equipment upgrades now – in fact, WEC hopes you will. All eligible equipment upgrades dated from September through December …
Concern for community: WEC maintains winter holiday and relief programs during an expensive winter
In 2022, inflation and high fuel costs combine to pose another challenging winter. Households are aware their dollars don’t cover as much. Just as worrying, the nonprofit programs that help people access basic needs – like food shelves and pantries – are finding donations are down, and their buying power is eroded. “From a service delivery standpoint, our first principles …
Members Write
To Co-op Currents: As a longtime WEC member, I was disappointed by the many negative and one-sided portrayals of solar net metering in the recent Coop Currents. Meeting the challenge that global warming presents to our safety and security requires an increase in new supplies of renewable energy like solar. New solar energy displaces polluting fossil fuels and enables a …
President’s & General Manager’s Message
Evolution and alignment More on net metering; updates on rate increase, supply chain, and changes to incentive program Time to evolve net metering Steve: We continue to hear from our members in response to our net metering theme issue (September 2022). It’s worth reminding our members that we are not faulting those homeowners who have already chosen to net meter, …
Rates Information
Energy Efficiency Charge Rates for 2023 In November, the Public Utility Commission issued its order setting Energy Efficiency Charge (or EEC) rates to take effect on electric bills issued on or after February 1, 2023. Per the order, almost all customer classes will see rate reductions in 2023, based on the rule that governs the calculation of EEC rates. Efficiency …
High winds, heavy snow: Be prepared for winter storms
“We live in a territory that has a lot of severe winter storms, and we have a lot of trees. Some of those trees come down on power lines,” said General Manager Louis Porter. Already, high winds have caused outages. Because of the rural, heavily forested nature of WEC’s territory – and all those north-south mountain ranges that create natural …
Supply chain delays complicate beneficial electrification efforts
WEC asks for patience and communication in a time of high demand and low supply You don’t need a Level 2 charger unless your daily mileage exceeds what a Level 1 can do overnight. – Bill Powell You’ve been on the list for 18 months, and you’re finally about to pick up your electric vehicle. There’s just one hitch. You …
Notice: Supply chain interruptions
By Dave Kresock Like many other utilities across the nation, WEC is experiencing unprecedented challenges in procuring a wide variety of electric distribution equipment. The result is that there now may be significant delays in completing some member-requested electric services. This particularly affects new or enhanced service to members’ properties, as transformers are in short supply. In many cases, our …
What the Co-op Means to Me
A meditation on Co-op Month from a recently elected Director By Betsy Allen When I first moved to the Northeast Kingdom, I heard about a neighbor who was selling bulk food items from her home in town. I could fill out a piece of paper with how many pounds of flour or beans or dried fruits I’d like. Once a …
October/November – Brief Updates
Got something to say? Letter to the editor, comment, or a story tip? Drop us a line at currents@wec.coop or Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc., P.O. Box 8, East Montpelier, VT 05651, Attn: Co-op Currents. Where’s WEC? Crews are busy working to keep rights-of-way clear. Right-of-way maintenance is necessary to keep your power safe and reliable. Click here for right-of-way updates. …