Co-Op Heroes: Stories from Electric Utility Operators
Real stories of co-op electric utility operators overcoming challenges and serving their communities. Co-hosted by James Tanneberger (CEO of SCI-REMC) and Pablo Fuentes (CEO of Bloom Spatial).
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006: Beyond Borders: How Indiana Co-Ops Are Electrifying Rural Guatemala (with Mandy Barth - IEC)
08/05/2025
006: Beyond Borders: How Indiana Co-Ops Are Electrifying Rural Guatemala (with Mandy Barth - IEC)
In this inspiring episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, host Pablo Fuentes sits down with Mandy Barth, Vice President of Communication at Indiana Electric Cooperatives (IEC), to explore an extraordinary international mission that has been transforming lives for over a decade. What began as a one-time project in 2012 to celebrate the UN's International Year of the Cooperative has evolved into Project Indiana—a sustained effort to bring electricity to remote Guatemalan villages that have never had power. Mandy shares how Indiana became the first state to send an all-state team on an international electrification project, working alongside NRECA International to light up communities in Guatemala's mountains. Key Highlights: How 14-15 Indiana linemen have electrified more than 700 homes across multiple trips The profound impact on both Guatemalan families and Indiana utility workers Unique challenges of working in remote jungle locations with some 1,000-foot spans The cultural and logistical complexities of international utility work How they're helping villages form their own electric cooperatives Current efforts to solve power supply challenges through government advocacy Ongoing Impact: The project has brought electricity to families (including a woman in her 90s getting power for the first time), and it has also introduced the cooperative business model to Guatemala. The initiative continues to face challenges around connecting to the national power grid due to regulatory restrictions, making each project a complex balance of engineering, diplomacy, and community development. Mandy explains how this work has transformed the Indiana linemen who participate, with many saying it changed their perspective on gratitude and family priorities. The episode showcases how electric cooperatives extend their mission of community service far beyond their traditional service territories. For those interested in international development, cooperative business models, or utility infrastructure challenges, this episode demonstrates the powerful impact that skilled volunteers can have when they combine technical expertise with a mission to serve. Learn more about Project Indiana at projectindiana.org
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005: Delivering Life-Enhancing Services: Beyond the Power Lines
07/22/2025
005: Delivering Life-Enhancing Services: Beyond the Power Lines
In this episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, hosts Pablo Fuentes (CEO of Bloom Spatial) and James Tanneberger (CEO of South Central Indiana REMC) explore how electric cooperatives go beyond traditional utility services to improve their members' lives. James shares South Central Indiana REMC's mission to "improve the lives of our members" and how this philosophy has led them to provide services that investor-owned utilities typically don't offer. The conversation covers their journey from early dial-up internet services in rural Texas to their current $100+ million fiber-to-the-home project serving over 12,000 users. Services discussed: High-speed fiber internet and its impact on rural communities Early dial-up internet provision when no local options existed Security services (15-year operation before strategic exit) Propane delivery (discontinued due to risk considerations) Future considerations for water service delivery Key insights: How the cooperative business model enables innovation that profit-driven utilities might avoid The strategic decision-making process for entering and exiting non-electric services How fiber infrastructure improvements enhance both internet service and electric grid reliability The role of cooperatives in rural economic development and infrastructure James explains how the cooperative structure allows them to take calculated risks on services that improve member lives, even when the immediate financial return isn't guaranteed. The episode highlights how electric cooperatives often become innovators in rural service delivery, filling gaps that other providers won't address. Whether you're interested in cooperative business models, rural infrastructure development, or utility innovation, this episode demonstrates how mission-driven organizations can expand their impact beyond their core services.
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004: Manager on Call: The Day the Line Exploded
07/08/2025
004: Manager on Call: The Day the Line Exploded
In this episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, hosts Pablo Fuentes (CEO of Bloom Spatial) and James Tanneberger (CEO of South Central Indiana REMC) explore real-world utility emergency response through personal experience. James recounts his early days as an electrical engineer when he was assigned to the "manager on call" rotation. During a severe storm, a 69kV transmission line took a lightning strike and, instead of safely tripping as designed, the line exploded—destroying 30 spans of critical transmission infrastructure and leaving scattered aluminum fragments across the landscape. What you'll learn: How utility crews responded to an unprecedented transmission line failure The decision-making process during emergency restoration efforts Working through challenging conditions to restore critical infrastructure The importance of resource allocation during major outages How extreme weather creates unexpected operational challenges Key Lesson: James shares an important leadership principle he learned that night: "Call too many people too soon, rather than too few, too late"—a philosophy that has shaped his approach to emergency response throughout his career. This episode offers insights into the challenges and decision-making that utility operators face during emergency situations. Whether you work in the utility industry or are interested in infrastructure and emergency response, this story provides a practical look at how electric cooperatives maintain reliable service for their communities.
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003: Surviving 2023: Tornadoes, Derechos, and a Global Crisis to Boot
06/24/2025
003: Surviving 2023: Tornadoes, Derechos, and a Global Crisis to Boot
2023 was supposed to be a manageable year for SCI-REMC. Instead, it became a masterclass in crisis management when two of the worst weather events in the co-op's history struck within three months of each other. In this episode, James Tanneberger walks us through the devastating tornado outbreak in late March that left 12,000 members without power, followed by an even more destructive derecho in June that knocked out service to over half their territory – 18,000 members – in just 10 minutes. But Mother Nature wasn't finished: the global energy crisis triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war simultaneously drove wholesale power costs through the roof, forcing rate increases after a decade of stable pricing. James shares the tactical details of managing 36 restoration crews simultaneously, the critical role of "bird dogs" and damage assessors, and why sometimes the fastest way to restore power is to resist the urge to rush into dangerous conditions. He reveals how $30 million in underground line investments paid dividends during the crisis and why the co-op now views these catastrophic events as proof they can handle anything. Beyond the operational lessons, this episode explores how extreme adversity can forge organizational resilience and why thinking "outside the box" isn't just a business strategy – it's survival for modern electric cooperatives facing an increasingly unpredictable world.
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002: Winnebago to the Rescue: When Electric Utilities Get Creative During a Crisis
06/24/2025
002: Winnebago to the Rescue: When Electric Utilities Get Creative During a Crisis
What happens when a hurricane threatens to flood your electric utility's control center and you have just 12 hours to evacuate? For James Tannenberger and his team during Hurricane Rita in 2005, the answer was a 1997 Winnebago converted into a mobile backup operations center. In this episode, James shares the harrowing story of their 32-hour journey from Houston to Fort Worth – a drive that should have taken 3.5 hours – as 1.5 million people fled Hurricane Rita's path simultaneously. Armed with a mechanically-questionable RV that had previously served as the company's marketing vehicle, James and his colleague faced overheating engines, mysteriously engaging parking brakes, and the challenge of staying awake during stop-and-go traffic that barely reached 20 mph. Beyond the adventure story, this episode reveals the dedication and "expedition mindset" that drives electric utility workers during crisis situations. James discusses the culture of mutual support that allows utility employees to handle personal responsibilities during normal times while knowing they'll drop everything when the grid needs them.
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001: Beyond the Bunny Hop: SCI-REMC's Path to Improving Member Satisfaction
06/24/2025
001: Beyond the Bunny Hop: SCI-REMC's Path to Improving Member Satisfaction
When James Tanneberger became CEO of SCI-REMC, his co-op ranked 17th out of 18 electric cooperatives in Southern Indiana for member satisfaction, with a score of just 68 out of 100. Eight years later, that score has climbed to 74 and continues rising. In this episode, James shares the innovative strategies that transformed his co-op's relationship with its members, from deploying fiber-to-the-home technology that enables remote outage management to ditching expensive annual meetings in favor of connecting with members at county fairs complete with deep-fried Twinkies and "bunny hop" electrical safety demonstrations.
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000: Co-Op Heroes: Introduction
06/24/2025
000: Co-Op Heroes: Introduction
Welcome to the show! Hosts James Tanneberger and Pablo Fuentes give a quick overview of the show. We will share stories and interviews with utility operators, highlighting the trials and triumphs of the people who bring power to our homes and businesses.
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