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The Reliability Conundrum

  By: Chris Reese, President & CEO

  Email: contacttheceo@sussexrec.com

Our members count on reliable electricity at a price they can afford. But with power supply costs continuing to climb and the reliability of always-available power sources at risk, smart energy policies are more important than ever.

At Sussex REC, our job goes beyond keeping the lights on day to day. We are responsible for advocating on behalf of our members to ensure decisions being made at the state and federal levels protect reliable, affordable power in our local communities.

The Honorable Andy Kim, Senator of New Jersey, recently visited our office. This was the first time we’ve been host to a member of the Senate. We’ve hosted Congressman Josh Gottheimer and state leaders in the past.

As a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity, SREC representatives will join fellow electric co-ops from around the country in our nation’s capital to engage policymakers at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual Legislative Conference. We proactively engage our elected officials to advocate for energy policies that will benefit our members, such as:

• Faster disaster recovery through improved FEMA partnerships
• Streamlining outdated and overly  complex permitting rules
• Keeping reliable power plants online
• Protecting critical hydropower
• Smarter land management policies 
• Maintaining funding for grid innovation and investments

These issues are important because when storms strike, every second counts, especially in rural communities. A more responsive FEMA means quicker recoveries and lower costs for the families and businesses we serve. Sussex REC has received almost $2 million from FEMA aid—money our members would have had to pay otherwise.

Reliable power shouldn’t get stuck in paperwork because permitting rules are outdated and slow down critical upgrades to power lines and substations. Sussex REC just experienced this issue in our territory on a section of Iron Mountain Road that runs through state parklands.

Although Sussex REC is quick, we can’t replace dependable power overnight. When officials shut plants down too soon, it puts reliability at risk. That’s not a risk our members want to take, nor should they have to.

Also, strong federal partnerships help keep costs down for co-op members. Federal loan and grant programs allow 
co-ops to strengthen the grid, prepare for extreme weather, boost cybersecurity, and explore new energy technologies, without shifting costs onto the members we serve. Sussex REC is currently applying for a federal grant that will boost our grid hardening and vegetation management efforts.

While you may not consider it on a daily basis, electricity is essential and underpins nearly every aspect of modern life. Understanding today’s evolving energy landscape is important as it shapes how electricity is produced, delivered, and consumed. Advocating on behalf of Sussex REC’s members is a critical part of our commitment to you. These policy priorities all come back to the same goal: making sure our members have safe, reliable and affordable power, now and in the future.