It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching the end of another year. Reflecting on our collective accomplishments over the past 12 months, I am again “Proud to be CHELCO.”

The past year has been a testament to the dedication of the CHELCO team. Together, we’ve navigated challenges, celebrated successes and continued our mission of powering the communities we serve. While every day is an achievement, let’s look at some of our most significant accomplishments of 2023.

No Lost-Time Incidents

At CHELCO, our top priority is ensuring the safety of our employees, members and the general public. I’m proud to say that at the time I’m writing this, we have managed to make it the full calendar year without any injuries or incidents that forced an employee to miss work. In fact, in January, we are scheduled to eclipse the two-year mark, an accomplishment that requires careful attention to safety by our entire team. As CEO, my No. 1 task is to send our employees home to their families safely every night, and I’m proud that we have accomplished that in 2023.

No Distribution Rate Increase

Another accomplishment our members will appreciate is our avoidance of raising local rates. While the Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment (WPCA) is determined by the cost of electricity we purchase from our power supplier, the Distribution Cost Adjustment (DCA), which includes the monthly service charge and energy charge on members’ bills, has remained at the same rate for another year. In fact, we’ve avoided raising our local distribution rates since 2013 and have reduced them twice over that period of time. I’m proud of our continued efforts to reduce controllable costs to keep our rates affordable.

Supporting Growth

If you’ve lived in our area for any period of time, it’s no secret that our population is growing rapidly. To date, we have welcomed more than 2,400 new members to our lines this year. As growth continues, especially in the Freeport area, we coordinated with PowerSouth to construct a new substation near the Owls Head community to serve the growing needs of Freeport and surrounding areas.

Community Involvement & Support

In addition to hosting two member appreciation events in the community, we also were able to grant nearly $100,000 to local non-profits thanks to the contributions of our members enrolled in Operation Round Up. These grants genuinely make an impact in our local communities.

Happy Holidays

I hope you and your family have a chance to enjoy one another’s company and make lasting memories this Christmas season. From all of us at CHELCO, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
CEO Insights: Reflecting on another successful year at the co-op

Steve Rhodes,
Chief Executive Officer