Rising costs have affected every industry, including ours, with increasing expenses for essential materials and equipment, like transformers, up to 125%. The past six years have been a period of exploding costs for the electric utility industry, pushed by soaring demand, supply chain challenges, raw materials shortages, increased labor costs and tariffs. These impacts have resulted in rapid increases in the cost of producing power, longer and more unpredictable project timelines, and the need for more financing - all of which have driven electric rates up for residences, businesses, and other end-users.
Here's a glance at what's contributing to the trend across our industry:
Our cooperative also has a responsibility to meet financial obligations and ensure long-term reliability. With rising costs and back-to-back challenges, the December 2025 rate change was an unavoidable necessity to support the level of service our members expect and deserve.