Illinois electric cooperative chooses Hoosier Energy as new power supplier

Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative has selected Hoosier Energy as its future power supplier. The Hoosier Energy Board of Directors on December 10 approved the Fairfield, Illinois-based distribution system as the generation and transmission cooperative’s 18th member.

Wayne-White Electric Cooperative’s membership is subject to approval of the Rural Utilities Service and due diligence considerations by both the power supply and distribution cooperatives. Under terms of the resolution approved Monday and following execution of contracts, Hoosier Energy is scheduled to begin supplying power and other services on January 1, 2011.

“Hoosier Energy and members believe strongly in the principle of cooperation among cooperatives and welcome this opportunity to be a partner with a business that shares our cooperative values,” said Hoosier Energy President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Smith. “Working with Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative provides us with additional opportunities to achieve economies of scale and provide greater value for all our members.”

“Our Board of Directors strongly supported seeking membership in Hoosier Energy,” said Wayne-White Electric Cooperative President and CEO Daryl Donjon. “The number one priority of our strategic planning process over the past year was to establish a long term, stable power supply relationship. We believe Hoosier Energy is strong and well positioned for the future.”

Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative serves about 13,800 members in 11 southeastern Illinois counties with 58 employees. The co-op’s service territory is located across the Wabash River from Hoosier Energy member WIN Energy REMC.

The cooperative has peak electricity demand of about 65 megawatts, primarily residential and agricultural load. Its largest industrial load is a 10-megawatt coal mining operation. Through 2010, the co-op will continue to purchase wholesale power from Constellation Energy, an energy marketing firm.

Under terms of the approved agreement, Wayne-White Cooperative will retain ownership of its distribution substations and transmission lines.

Based in Bloomington, Indiana, Hoosier Energy supplies power and other services to 17 central and southern Indiana electric cooperatives. The generation and transmission co-op operates two coal-fired baseload generating stations, two natural gas-fired peaking stations and a landfill methane renewable energy facility. Hoosier Energy’s power delivery system includes more than 275 substations and delivery points, 15 primary substations and 1,450 miles of transmission lines.