Dear Members:
Your cooperative staff is reviewing the need for rate increases across the next several years. Not only has there been significant inflation in the cost of materials and labor, but we are also starting to see impacts from the growth of data centers in California and Nevada on the wholesale cost of power.
Any proposed increase will be presented to the board of directors and the membership before implementation, with the intention of being modest. In addition, we are closely monitoring precipitation in the watersheds that supply Plumas Sierra REC’s share of federal hydropower. We will know by spring if there is a need to add a temporary wholesale power cost adjustment to the kilowatt-hour rate for the following 12 months.
The drivers of the cost increases will be discussed in future issues of Ruralite, as well as the proactive steps your board and staff are taking to mitigate these increases as best we can.
The investor-owned utilities in our region have recently raised rates, and our 2 local neighboring not-for-profit utilities have also had to plan for rate increases. As you may expect, Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (PSREC) is subject to the same cost in market conditions. We will keep you informed as the year progresses and our plans are finalized.
Continue To Be Prepared for Outages
Winter is here, and though PSREC has invested in system improvements, removed hazardous trees, and maintained the system, outages can and will happen. Being prepared can help make the best of a bad situation. Visit our website for information on outage preparedness and electrical safety.
PSREC’s outage notification system provides localized outage information to members via text and email. To view the most up-to-date outage information or to report an outage, log in to the PSREC SmartHub app on your Apple or Android device or log in on our website. All outages—day or night—should be reported to PSREC at (530) 832-4261 or through the app.
Telecommunications
Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications (PST) crews and contractors had a busy end of the year working on many of Plumas Sierra Technologies’s grant projects to expand our system as fast as possible. Weather does play a role in construction planning and, depending on what kind of winter we have, will determine where crews are able to complete buildout work.
Check service availability for your location on the PST website or by calling (530) 832-4126. PST’s internet services are unlimited. You don’t have to worry about data caps. PST offers speeds up to 1 gigabit per second on fiber optic service. To learn more about services or be added to the interest list, visit the PST website or call (530) 832-4126.
Scholarships
PSREC and PST offer scholarships to students who receive electric or internet services from PSREC or PST at their primary residence in Plumas, Sierra, Lassen, and Washoe counties. Applications and more information can be found on our website. The deadline to apply is April 24.
PSREC participates in the Washington Youth Tour program. This program provides an enriching experience for local youth that helps them discover themselves and their roles as citizens.
It also introduces them to the cooperative way and teaches the value of involvement and commitment to their communities.
The Washington Youth Tour application deadline is January 30. More information is available on our website or by calling the member services department at (530) 832-4261.
If you have questions, contact me by phone at (530) 832-6076 or by emailing Bob Marshall.
Sincerely,
Bob Marshall
General Manager