All of us as energy consumers have been experiencing the ever increasing cost in all forms of energy.  According to the United States Department of Energy (DOE), the national average price for a gallon of gasoline in 2004 was $1.85.  As of the day this article is being written, the DOE national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.60 representing a 95% cost increase in less than 4 years.  Due to market principles and other conditions, the prices in all forms of energy trend together.  This means that the costs in all forms of energy are increasing significantly.  In fact, the spot market price for Illinois Basin Coal has increased from $36 per ton in February of this year to today's spot market price of $57 per ton. 

As your Cooperative is experiencing the rising costs in all forms of energy, your Cooperative is looking into the future to see what can be done now to avoid additional, unreasonable cost increases in the future.  There is one very important and potentially economically hazardous issue that is currently brewing in Washington D.C.  The issue I'm referring to is the nine proposed bills that are currently pending before the U.S. Congress regarding federal climate change legislation.  These nine different bills vary considerably in how they approach a low-carbon or carbon-constrained economy and how much it will cost all of us as energy consumers. Now is the time to express your opinions and voice your concerns to legislative leaders about this very important issue.

Your Cooperative is an advocate and strongly supports energy efficiency and conservation.  In addition, your Cooperative's wholesale power supplier has joined the National Renewable Energy Cooperative in an effort to implement more renewable energy supply at a reasonable cost.  Given these positions, the fact remains that the nation's demand for electricity will exceed what renewables, efficiency and conservation can provide. 

Your Cooperative recognizes that the energy industry is changing but we believe that Congress must recognize that the issues surrounding global climate change cannot be solved overnight and will require new technologies, time and a great deal of money.  In fact, many experts predict that it may be some eight to ten years before the needed technology is readily available to achieve some of the efforts proposed in legislation.  In addition, some experts are predicting that energy costs could double over the next ten years due to the global climate change legislation alone.  We are asking members of Congress to work closely with the energy industry and the consuming public to create legislation that is based upon a realistic approach, economic realism and balances the need for a cleaner environment with what consumers can afford.  Make no mistake about it, a cleaner environment comes with a significant price tag and this cost will be paid for by all of us as energy consumers.

Your Cooperative has made it very easy for you as a Cooperative member and owner to contact members of congress regarding this very important issue and voice your concerns with the pending legislation.  Visit your Co-ops website at www.seiec.com and click on the link to www.ourenergy.coop and complete the letter that is available.  If you do not have internet access available to you, you can stop by the office and fill out a card and we will email it to the proper congressman.  We will also make these cards available at your Cooperative's Annual Meeting on August 5, 2008.

Your Cooperative will continue to seek a balanced approach to this very complex issue and will be looking out for you, as Cooperative members and owners.

See you next month and as always,

                                                      "We'll keep the light on for you."