Ringing in a new year sparks renewed hope and optimism about the future. As the CEO of LaGrange County REMC, it’s a time to reflect on where we are and where we’re going. At the heart of this reflection, I think about ways we can better serve you –– the cooperative members.

Our team at LaGrange County REMC is always looking ahead, exploring ways to innovate and utilize new technologies to improve our services. As our nation increasingly relies on electricity to power the economy, keeping the lights on has never been more important. We’re committed to powering –– and empowering –– our community at a cost local families and businesses can afford.

So, how are we working to ensure reliable and affordable power while adapting to a changing energy landscape and our community’s evolving needs?

One critical component of reliable power is the mix of energy resources used to generate the electricity that keeps the lights on across the area we serve. You may not realize it, but LaGrange County REMC doesn’t generate electricity. Instead, we purchase it from our energy provider, Wabash Valley Power Alliance, and distribute it to homes and businesses throughout our community. Our current energy resource mix comprises of 48% coal, 23% natural gas, 17% renewables, and 12% nuclear.

Though some of the electricity we use nowadays is from renewable energy sources, we still depend on a diverse energy mix to ensure reliable power is available to our members whenever they need it.

In addition to managing a reliable energy mix, LaGrange County REMC uses technology to enhance our local grid, limit service disruptions, and improve outage response times.

Advanced metering technology, or AMI, enables two-way communication between the co-op and consumers. In the event of a power outage, AMI helps pinpoint the exact location of the outage and can even analyze damaged or tampered meters. AMI helps LaGrange County REMC save money with real-time data, improving power reliability and outage restoration for our entire community.

Proactive tree trimming is another way we limit service disruptions. Scheduled trimming keeps power lines clear from overgrown limbs likely to fall. Power line and vegetation inspections have allowed us to reduce labor and equipment costs while bolstering reliability. As technology advancements become more accessible, we anticipate using advanced mapping software to better maintain the environment while providing more reliable service.

One of the best ways to better serve you is to monitor trends and leading practices from other electric co-ops in Indiana and nationwide. Learning from other co-ops is one of the many benefits of the cooperative business model because, for us, it’s about cooperation, not competition.

As we begin focusing on 2024, LaGrange County REMC will continue working to provide the reliable, affordable electricity you expect and deserve –– for today and tomorrow.