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Renewables

Going green with Green Power

CREC members can get greener with the power they use by purchasing Green Power through the cooperative's power supply network. This secures a portion of wind power generated in our region for delivery to the power grid for you for 12 months. One of the first in Missouri, the program remains one of the largest in the state today. 

Participation in the Green Power program is an inexpensive way of getting your energy from a renewable source. 

 

Enroll Now!

Green Power cost

New changes for 2022! CREC's power supply cooperative, Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (AECI), which provides Green Power has drastically lowered their monthly residential price for a 100kWh block of energy. Here's what that means for CREC members who already participate or are interested in signing up for the program: 

  • The Green Power charge to CREC members will now be $1.00 per block of 100 kwhs. To participate in this program, you will be required to purchase a minimum of one, 100 kwhs block each month (this will add $1.00 to your bill).
  • You can request to purchase additional blocks each month but the number of kWhs purchased cannot exceed your average monthly usage. For example - if your average monthly usage is 1,800 kWhs, you can only sign up to receive 18 blocks (equal to $18.00) of Green Power each month. When you request to participate in the program, our Member Services Representative will determine how many blocks you can commit to. 
  • When you sign up, you will be agreeing to a 12-month commitment. This will be noted on your account. We will accept new participants at any time during the year but new contracts will only start in January or July. 
  • Each 12-month commitment will renew automatically unless CREC receives a cancellation request from the member. Cancellation requests must be made before December 1 for January contracts and before June 1 for July contracts. 
  • CREC reserves the right to adjust the price at the end of each 12-month commitment if AECI's price increases significantly. Each participating member will be notified before their renewal date if a price adjustment is made. 

Green Power Fact Sheet for members

 

Wind energy is delivered to the cooperative grid each day it is available, at a fixed price per kWh that is higher than traditional energy.

Because most renewable resources are not available on-demand, they are more expensive. The power generated by these facilities must be backed by other generation resources to maintain a steady, reliable power supply. Also, they are more difficult and costly to convert into usable electricity for delivery to the power grid. Other energy resources vary in price each day and are used when they are the most affordable option.

All kWhs look the same once they enter the transmission network when CREC members purchase Green Power. Energy from renewable resources is delivered to the utility grid for them. There's no guarantee that the same electrons which leave a wind farm are delivered to the member's meter, but CREC can guarantee the amount that member orders will be delivered onto the cooperatives power grid for that member. 

Those who want to generate energy by installing residential solar or wind systems for their homes face much higher costs but do receive credit for any excess power they deliver to the grid. Missouri's Net Metering and Easy Connection Act provides more information.

Missouri Net Metering and Easy Connection Act

On January 1, 2008, a law took effect in Missouri mandating that all electric utilities offer net metering and interconnection to consumers generating 100 kilowatts (kWs) or less of electricity from renewable resources. 

Net metering enables the consumer (generator) to "export" power to the utility's grid that is in excess of immediate on-site needs to offset an equal amount of power supplied by the utility at a different time in the billing period. When this situation occurs, the consumer is billed by the utility for the "net" amount of power used in excess of the power the consumer generates on-site. 

During the billing period, if the consumer generates more power than the total amount of kilowatt-hours (kWhs) used (a combination of the amount generated on-site and the amount supplied by the utility), the utility provides the consumer a "credit" from the surplus power based on the avoided cost of the utility to generate the kWhs.

The law applies to only generating systems that are powered by renewable resources. These resources may include wind, solar, or any other source of energy certified as renewable by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. 

Consumers with qualifying generating systems are required to complete an application. The application must be accompanied by a plan that includes a wiring diagram and specifications for the generating system and must be approved by the utility. The consumer must also submit certification from a professional engineer or licensed electrician indicating that the installation meets the interconnection requirements of the various safety codes, and other requirements.

The consumer is responsible for all costs and expenses to install, operate, maintain, repair, and periodically test the generating system.  The cost of special metering equipment is also the responsibility of the consumer. For safety purposes, the generating system is required to have a lockable, visible disconnect, accessible to utility personnel. The system must also have controls that prevent it from supplying power to the utility's grid when the generating system is not energized or operating normally.

Many other requirements are contained in the application.

For more information or to request an application, please contact Chris Ryan at cryan@cuivre.com.

For more information on renewable energy, see the Missouri Department of Natural Resources website at https://dnr.mo.gov/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Enroll

To enroll in Cuivre River's Green Power program, contact Manager of Member Services Representative Gabe Twellman at 636-695-4836, gtwellman@cuivre.com

For general information about renewable energy, visit dnr.mo.gov. For a copy of CREC's guidelines to connect private residential wind or solar energy projects to the utility grid, contact Neal Harrell, nharrell@cuivre.com

In 2019 CREC members received 21% of their power from renewable sources.

 

Enroll Now!

Wind power generated in Missouri
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