While the adults in your household are going through the winter storm preparation checklist in this issue, I thought it would be fun to include a scavenger hunt for young people. This is a great activity to include with fall chores, to get kids moving, or to start conversations about electrical safety. Because we’re looking at electrical equipment here, this scavenger hunt should be completed
October 30, 2025
By Susan Alexander So, what’s really in it for me if I transfer my gas dollars into electric dollars? Aside from the benefits to our air quality, the real reason is that as a member of a co-op, and helping to make that co-op financially strong, we can all benefit from an increase in the number of kWh sold. – Susan Alexander Cooperatives exist in
October 30, 2025
Being prepared is taking responsibility for the safety and comfort of yourself and those around you. That means staying informed, having the supplies you need, and making wise choices. As winter storm season approaches, the Co-op asks all members to please prepare for the possibility of outages. During major storms, outages can last several days. This annual checklist is published in Co-op Currents to help
October 30, 2025
WEC’s Right-of-Way Coordinator Describes how AI Supports Plans to Trim Trees and Reduce Outages The work of reducing outages proactively in a forested utility territory is ongoing—never finished. – Patrick Davis In WEC’s heavily forested territory, falling trees are the most frequent cause of outages. And in member surveys, WEC members consistently say reliability is what they value the most. But as long as there
October 30, 2025
FEMA mitigation grant supports line improvement using new tree-resistant cable The goal is fewer outages on that section of line. Even if a tree lays on the wires, power should stay on. – Dave Kresock In December 2022, Winter Storm Elliott left Washington Electric Cooperative with some of the worst storm damage of any cooperative in the country, including 41 broken poles and thousands of
October 30, 2025
WEC Buys a Ford F150 Lightning, Surpasses 1,000 Net Metering Members An increasing number of members are using electricity for charging EVs and powering cold climate heat pumps and hot water heat pumps for their primary heat and hot water. So there’s a group of members who are depending more on electricity for more purposes, and that presumably sparks an interest in having electricity be
October 30, 2025
Monday – October 20, 2025 – 2:45 pm All outages have been restored! Thanks to WEC’s line crew members for their great work, and to members for their patience! Remember: if you see lines down, do not touch or approach them. They could still be energized. Please report any downed wires or trees by calling WEC immediately at 1-802-223-5245 or 1-800-932-5245. Monday – October 20, 2025 – 2:20 pm
October 20, 2025
It’s really important to me to be in public power. And I think WEC’s a great place to participate in public power. – Brian Callnan When you’re the size of WEC, you can do innovative things a little bit quicker. – Brian Callnan Brian Callnan, who recently joined WEC as Director of Power Supply and Regulatory Affairs, is a public power lifer. He values the
September 4, 2025
Federal legislation ends a slew of energy efficiency tax credits; state and WEC incentives and rebates continue The federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for new electric vehicles and up to $4,000 for used EVs ends September 30. A slate of other beneficial electrification incentives end December 31, 2025. These ending tax breaks were intended to combat climate change and reduce dependence on oil
September 4, 2025
Every year, Co-op Currents profiles one or more organizations that receive funding from WEC’s Community Fund. Year over year, the Community Fund gives grants to libraries throughout WEC’s service area, supporting general operations and some specific programs. Libraries in Vermont are not all funded the same way: some are municipal and town-funded; many others are private nonprofits. Grants and donations are vital to continuing these
September 4, 2025
Federal Tax Incentives End Early; Member Survey; WEC Secures FEMA Grant If WEC is going to meet the expectations of people who are using electricity for charging electric vehicles, running all-season heat pumps, and other uses, i think there’s an expectation we need to keep improving reliability. This kind of targeted investment—using federal funds to address known weak spots—is a great example of what WEC
September 4, 2025
Wednesday – 3:40 p.m. All outages have been restored. Remember: if you see lines down, do not touch or approach them. They could still be energized. Please report any downed wires or trees by calling WEC immediately at 1-802-223-5245 or 1-800-932-5245. Wednesday – 7:30 a.m. WEC crews worked through the night restoring all but a few outages. Work continues to bring power back to the 36 members who remain
June 24, 2025
Friday – June 20, 2025 – 5:30p.m. WEC Crews have restored all outages. It is possible additional outages will occur into the evening. Remember: if you see lines down, do not touch or approach them. They could still be energized. Please report any downed wires or trees by calling WEC immediately at 1-802-223-5245 or 1-800-932-5245. Friday – June 20, 2025 – 5:00p.m. Even as crews restore power to some
June 20, 2025
12:35 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Crews have restored the outages. With another set of storms bringing rain and wind later today we may see additional outages. Remember: if you see lines down, do not touch or approach them. They could still be energized. Please report any downed wires or trees by calling WEC immediately at 1-802-223-5245 or 1-800-932-5245. 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Crews have discovered lines
June 10, 2025
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 Crews have restored power to all members. Remember: if you see lines down, do not touch or approach them. They could still be energized. Please report any downed wires or trees by calling WEC immediately at 1-802-223-5245 or 1-800-932-5245. 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 A vehicle accident has caused an outage in the Upper Road/Bartlett Road area of Plainfield. About 19 members are out
June 3, 2025
A Vision For How to Live I have been getting electricity from Washington Electric Co-op for over five decades, starting in 1971. I have lived in my home on Bliss Road, East Calais, Vermont two-thirds of my life now. I first got involved actively at the end of 1973 during the oil embargo, when Vermonters and folks all over the country were waiting in lines
June 3, 2025
Recap of Annual Meeting Election Results and Mike Kline Presentation on Waterways, Grant Funding Increases The Co-op tries to use member resources in the best interest of all members. We’re always seeking solutions that benefit as many people as equitably as possible. – Stephen Knowlton After the 2023 flood, we thought we’d escaped much of the damage. But in 2024, we saw serious erosion along
June 3, 2025
“We’re fighting against a process we haven’t dealt with much before: a valley reforming process. I’m proposing we need to have a different response in recovery.” – Mike Kline Mike Kline, retired State Rivers Program Manager and WEC member from the Bear Swamp area of Middlesex, was the Annual Meeting’s featured speaker. He discussed flooding causes and potential mitigation strategies, drawing from past flood events
June 3, 2025
Co-op Currents invites new WEC Directors to talk about the values and experience they bring to the role, how they’ll balance vision and fiscal responsibility, and what drives them to serve fellow members. Profiles do not necessarily represent the values and policy decisions set by WEC’s Board as a whole, but rather the individual perspectives of Board members. In 2025, Bill Powell was elected to
June 3, 2025
Meeting Themes Include Flood Response, Emerging Technology, and Potential Impacts of National Policy Uncertainty Susan Alexander and Board Secretary Betsy Allen, both one-term incumbents, were re-elected to Washington Electric Co-op’s Board of Directors. They were joined by first-time candidate Bill Powell, who retired from WEC staff in late 2024 before declaring his candidacy. Two-term incumbent Steven Farnham and candidate Ian Buchanan finished fourth and fifth.
June 3, 2025