Dear Members of United Power:
The Federal government’s recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”) included, among its many provisions, certain new standards which electric cooperatives such as ours must consider regarding demand response practices and electric vehicle charging programs. The newly amended Federal statute, 16 U.S.C. §2621, requires any electric utility (including a cooperative) that – like United Power -- has total sales of electric energy exceeding 500 million kilowatt hours (500,000 MWh -- excluding wholesale sales) to “consider” any such standards, and to make a “determination” regarding those standards after notice of, and conducting a hearing. As such, this is to notify you that United Power will consider and make a determination concerning the standards, and will conduct a hearing as set forth below. You as a Member may participate in, request, and shall obtain the consideration and determination, if any, as required by law. You are also on notice that the statute holds that United Power may in fact determine – after a hearing – that “it is not appropriate to implement any such standard…” described in the law. 16 U.S.C. ⸹2621(a). The relevant statutory sections are attached.
More information is available in the attached legal notice.