Electric cooperatives, their members, and EV owners really want the same things: affordable and reliable electricity. The concern for co-ops that most members are unaware of is balancing the increasing demand of the EV revolution and the limitations in the existing infrastructure in such a way to maintain affordable reliability. There is definitely a gap between the two.
Working for an electric co-op, Brent and Ben have access to reports, studies and presentations designed for industry personnel. Brent sat through a presentation by Rappahannock Electric Cooperative* showcasing their perception of the problem they face and what their system may look like in 2023. REC also forecasts what some of these changes might cost.
Of course for the (rural) EV Diaries crew, this raised even more considerations and questions. Join us for an overview of Rappahannock’s discovery and what implications it has on the consumption and overall requirement for the electric grid.
*Rappahannock Electric Cooperative lies in the northern and eastern part of Virginia serving 170,000+ members. Being a cooperative of that size, REC is influential in the co-op world because of not only their size, but by their proximity to industry organizations like the NRECA and policy makers like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the US Department of Energy. This has allowed them to become a proving ground for many programs, leading the way in innovation and understanding for other cooperatives, and shaping the approach to challenges in the industry. As such, REC releases many reports, studies, and presentations showing their results both independently and jointly with other organizations.
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