This past summer reminded us all how extreme weather can impact our daily lives. The prolonged heat and humidity across Ohio and Indiana pushed air conditioners into overdrive and caused many families to see higher-than-usual electric bills. While none of us is immune to the effects of using more electricity during these stretches, as members of Paulding Putnam, you were shielded from the steep spikes in rates that many of your neighbors faced.

In June, electricity rates for AEP Ohio customers jumped more than 25% in a single increase. Thats because investor-owned utilities purchase electricity through an auction system, where high demand and limited supply drive costs skyward. In contrast, your cooperative operates on a different model. Because were member-owned and not-for-profit, our mission is to provide electricity at cost and keep those costs as low and stable as possible.

One of the ways we do that is through ownership in generation. Alongside Ohios other electric co-ops, we own Buckeye Power, which generates and transmits the electricity that powers our homes, farms, and businesses. From the Cardinal Power Plant to natural gas, solar, hydropower, and renewable energy from biogas, this diverse mix ensures reliable, 24/7 generation. That means when you flip the switch on the coldest January morning or the hottest July afternoon the lights come on. Unlike other regions of the country struggling with supply-and-demand problems, were planning ahead to keep you secure.

Beyond connecting homes and businesses, this investment strengthens our cooperative by providing another way to support our electric system for years to come. Its about mitigating risks whether from rising transmission costs, inflation, or outside market forces we cant control.

At the same time, we remain focused on affordability. In July 2025, a Paulding Putnam member using 1,000 kWh paid $170.97, compared to $202.80 for a neighbor served by AEP Ohio. Paulding Putnam members using 1,000 kWh in July paid 17 cents per kWh the same as last July while AEP Ohio customers paid 20 cents per kWh, an increase of 11% over last year. In a world where the cost of groceries, eggs housing, and fuel continues to rise, that difference matters.

Everything we do comes back to one word: reliability. Whether its electricity or internet, your cooperative is here to keep you connected at home, at work, in the classroom, and on the farm We know stability matters, we know risks need to be managed, and above all, we know you rely on us every single day.

Thats the cooperative difference, and its a responsibility we take seriously.

Of course, stability is about more than just power plants. It’s about making sure your co-op is positioned for the future.