‘We Don’t Want This to Happen to Another Cooperative’: Lessons Learned From a Cyberattack
Release Date: 09/25/2023
2025 NRECA Regional Meetings to Focus on Co-ops' Most Pressing Issues
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NRECA's 2025 Regional Meetings kick off Sept. 3 in Providence, Rhode Island. The five meetings, which will take place across the country through October, are a key step in the member resolutions process that guides NRECA's policy advocacy. The meetings are also a chance for co-op leaders to discuss the most pressing issues of the day—from growing data center demand to innovative ways they're serving members. Learn more about the agenda from NRECA's Jeffrey Connor, Erin Pressley and Pat Mangan.
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How Co-ops are Educating Their Members on Rooftop Solar
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Rooftop solar is gaining popularity with homeowners and businesses, leading to a surge in installations over the past decade. But the technology isn’t right for everyone, and electric co-ops are doing their part to help consumer-members make informed decisions and avoid misleading or inaccurate information from some third-party vendors. Hear from Lidija Sekaric, NRECA vice president of innovation and emerging technology, and Neal Brown, member services and marketing manager for Garkane Energy.
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Co-ops Confront Growing Threat of Wildfires
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Drier and hotter weather conditions are creating longer wildfire seasons in many parts of the country, and even regions not typically at risk of wildfires are vulnerable. In this episode, learn how electric co-ops are dealing with this growing threat and how a bill in Congress, the Fix Our Forests Act, could help with mitigation efforts. Hear from NRECA's Erin Kelly and Hannah Hardin as well as West Oregon Electric Cooperative's Billi Kohler.
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Co-ops Using Elective-Pay Credits to Meet ‘Unique Future Goals’
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After years of advocacy from NRECA, Congress passed legislation in 2022 that allows electric co-ops to access federal tax credits for certain energy projects, including renewable power facilities, through an elective-pay option. These incentives can slash costs for co-ops to build, own and operate eligible generation and energy storage projects. Hear from NRECA's Hill Thomas as well as Doug Browne of North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives on how co-ops are reaping the benefits of these credits.
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Co-ops Confront Growing Threat of Third-Party Cyber Incidents
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Cybersecurity incidents involving the systems and data of third-party vendors are on the rise for utilities in the U.S. It's a worrying trend that has directly impacted electric co-ops, and industry cyber professionals are working hard to counteract it. In this episode, NRECA's Carter Manucy discusses what co-ops are doing to enhance security and mitigate this threat, and Blue Ridge Energy's Tanner Greer discusses how his co-op dealt with a third-party cyber incident in 2023.
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Executive Actions Underscore Co-ops’ Reliability Message
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East Kentucky Power Cooperative's Tony Campbell joined President Donald Trump for a White House ceremony on April 8 to sign four major actions to boost power reliability and affordability. Campbell’s invitation to speak at this event is a high-profile recognition of the role that co-ops have played in shaping the national conversation about grid reliability. Hear from Campbell as well as NRECA CEO Jim Matheson about the impact these executive actions will have on co-ops.
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Getting to Know New NRECA President Mike Partin
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Earlier this month, Mike Partin was elected president of NRECA at the PowerXchange conference in Atlanta. Partin has been CEO of Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative in central Tennessee since 2015. He joined the co-op in 1998 and has represented Tennessee on the NRECA board of directors since 2019. Hear from Partin about his thoughts on leadership, what the future looks like for electric cooperatives and what specific things he’ll focus on during his two-year tenure as president.
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The Electric Co-op Policy Outlook in a Rapidly Changing Washington
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The 2024 elections were pivotal for policies affecting electric co-ops. President Donald Trump’s victory and Republicans’ majorities in Congress could bring major changes to environmental rules, permitting requirements, funding programs and tax incentives that touch on co-ops’ daily operations. Hear from NRECA's Louis Finkel about what those changes could be and what they mean for co-ops, as well as how co-op leaders can engage with policymakers.
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An Inside Look at NRECA’s PowerXchange and TechAdvantage
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NRECA's annual gathering of members is a critical touchpoint for co-ops and a place to exchange ideas and stay connected. 2025 PowerXchange and TechAdvantage come amid a period of unprecedented disruption—soaring demand from data centers and other load drivers, shrinking supply caused by misguided federal and state policies, and increasing changes in co-op leadership and work culture. Hear from NRECA's Erin Pressley about how this year's events will help attendees confront today's challenges.
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Inside the Palisades Nuclear Plant Recommissioning
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The Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan was shut down in 2022 but is on a path to be repowered by late next year—an unprecedented project that wouldn't be possible without the involvement of the two Midwestern generation and transmission cooperatives that signed long-term agreements to purchase power from the plant. Hear from Wolverine Power Cooperative's Eric Baker and Hoosier Energy's Donna Walker about how co-ops became involved in this historic effort.
info_outlineIn November 2021, Delta-Montrose Electric Association was hit with a ransomware attack that quickly spread through the co-op’s network and took over key systems like phone and email, customer information and meter data management. It took months of work to re-create and restore DMEA’s network, build new cyber protections and get back to a new normal. Hear from DMEA Chief Information Officer Bob Farmer and IT Manager Jay Suckey on the details of the attack and the valuable lessons learned.