CHELCO’s wholesale power provider, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, recently hosted the Fall Focus Conference in Sandestin. The conference allows member services and communications staff to discuss current events, key strategies and industry trends.

In a panel about the evolving energy landscape and regulatory challenges, PowerSouth’s President and CEO, Gary Smith, highlighted the key priorities for cooperatives: reliability, affordability and capability.

“Affordability gives people a better way of life, but it’s about more than just cost,” Smith said. “We want reliable, cheap electricity to lead economic development. We are in a position to welcome economic development benefits that come from large-load consumers.”

Smith was joined by two fellow Southeastern generation and transmission (G&T) CEOs - Jeff Bowman of Cooperative Energy (Mississippi) and Lisa Johnson of Seminole Electric Cooperative (Tampa). While these G&Ts have unique characteristics, they share a common shift from coal-fired to natural gas-fired generation. All three leaders agree that shifting to natural gas was the result of resource planning and the need for long-term reliability to address environmental regulations.

Access to reliable generation allows each G&T to add renewables and, more importantly, keep the lights on when it matters most.

Overall, the three stressed the importance of the cooperative business model. As Johnson stated: “The cooperative model is the best plan to serve electricity. We provide something people cannot live without, something that supports economic growth and sustainability that becomes more essential every day. We must be reliable, affordable and responsible for our current and future consumers.”