This story ran in the August 2016 member newsletter titled Member Matters, which is included in monthly bill statements.  An earlier version also ran in the January member newsletter.

Reserve funds that have fully offset the 2014 rate increase for residential members are expected to phase out in coming months, beginning in October.

Members have received this credit on their bills since Feb. 1, 2014, when the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) adjusted the revenue and rates of Big Rivers Electric Corp. — Kenergy's wholesale energy supplier — to reflect the departure from Big Rivers' system of the Century Aluminum smelter in Sebree.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission issued an order on March 31, 2016 scheduling a hearing to begin on May 10, 2016, at 9:00am, EDT, in Hearing Room 1 of the Commission’s offices located at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky, for the purpose of cross-examining witnesses of Kenergy Corp. and Intervenors in Case No. 2015-00312, which…

Requires action on cyber security and customer privacy; utilities allowed to develop opt-out rules for customers who do not want smart meters FRANKFORT, Ky – The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) has completed its review of the use of smart grid technology with a decision to allow utilities considerable flexibility in deciding how to deploy…

Big Rivers Electric Corporation, the generation & transmission cooperative owned by Kenergy and two other distribution cooperatives (Jackson Purchase Energy Corp. and Meade County RECC), is applauding a Supreme Court ruling on the Clean Power Plan. In a 5-4 vote announced earlier this month, the court agreed to temporarily halt the enforcement of federal climate…

HENDERSON, Ky. — On Friday, Oct. 30, Kenergy plans to file a request with the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) for a 2.46 percent rate increase.

This is the first rate increase the electric distribution cooperative has sought since 2011. At that time, the PSC approved a 2.87 percent increase.

If the PSC approves Kenergy’s proposal, the cooperative expects its new rate to take effect by May 1, 2016.

If approved, the proposed rate would increase the average residential bill by $3.90 a month. Kenergy’s average residential use is 1,352 kilowatt hours.

Did you know it is illegal to post garage-sale signs on utility poles? Some linemen find signs, deer stands, basketball hoops and satellite dishes — to name a few items — attached to utility poles.  Attaching items to poles deteriorates them faster and creates a work hazard for linemen, who can be killed or injured if a staple…

A reserve fund that has been applied to fully offset a 2014 increase in Kenergy's wholesale power costs to the co-op's 19 industrial members is expected to end in August.

The fund's depletion will end a credit on Kenergy bills this class of members has received since Feb. 1, 2014.

Business members should expect their credits to end at the same time.

By President and CEO Greg Starheim

Kenergy’s management team continuously looks for ways to improve service to members, to strengthen system reliability and to operate more efficiently.

I am excited to announce an upcoming upgrade to Kenergy's electric system that will achieve all those objectives.

This year, Kenergy will undergo a replacement of existing meters with a new digital advanced metering system.

Reserve funds that have been applied to fully offset a 2014 increase in Kenergy's wholesale power costs to the co-op's 19 industrial members is expected to end in August. The fund's depletion will end a credit on Kenergy bills this class has received since Feb. 1, 2014.

Business members should expect their credits to end at the same time.

Earlier projections had the reserve fund drying up in July.

"We are pleased the credits are expected to remain intact until August," said David Hamilton, Vice President of Member Services. "We're sure our commercial and industrial members will be pleased with this additional assistance."

Despite "a tumultuous two years," Kenergy Corp. is performing well.
That was the overarching message Greg Starheim, Kenergy Corp's president and CEO, delivered to the Green River Area Development District board of directors and guests Wednesday.
"We're doing well in about all aspects, and we're off to a good start in 2014," Starheim said.
The nonprofit co-op returned $2.3 million to its members in 2013 from positive margins earned the previous year, he said.