Feb 23, 2021

Wheatland Electric addresses bill impacts during unprecedented energy crisis

Posted Feb 23, 2021 3:49 PM
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo

Wheatland Electric Cooperative

Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc. would like to prepare members for an upcoming higher electricity bill due to the unprecedented, region-wide energy crisis the week of February 13-18.

February’s history-making temperatures led to history-making conditions across the electric grid. Due to a shortage of natural gas, high electricity demand, and transmission overload coupled with low wind energy production, for the first time in its 80-year history, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) had to direct rolling short-term electricity interruptions across its 14-state area.

The combination of lower supply and higher demand resulted in record high electric and natural gas prices. While Wheatland Electric does not yet know all the costs associated with this extreme weather event, we recognize our members are concerned about receiving an electric bill that is higher than usual.

Wheatland Electric is looking at ways to mitigate the impact these increased gas prices will have on your future electric bills. We apologize for the potential hardship this will cause. Wheatland Electric will work diligently with our members during these unprecedented times to limit the financial impact.

This is a continually evolving situation and we will learn more in the coming days and weeks. Wheatland Electric will continue to keep you updated. Please follow us on social media and continue to check our website for updates, www.weci.net.

Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc., a member-owned distribution cooperative headquartered in Scott City, was established in 1948 as a distribution and power cooperative, in the state of Kansas. Today, Wheatland Electric serves more than 33,000 electric meters in 14 Kansas counties and 3 Colorado counties and maintains over 4,000 miles of distribution power lines across western, south-central Kansas and eastern Colorado.