The Fast-Growing Demand for Electricity
Less than a century ago, when rural electric cooperatives first strung power lines from house to house and farm to farm, most members had but a handful of light bulbs to power. With time, they added water pumps, appliances and other electronics, but they couldn’t begin to imagine the number and variety of electrical devices in today’s homes, farms and garages.
Rich Mountain Electric Annual Meeting Update
During the business session of the Annual Meeting, held on Nov. 27, 2024, at the Cooperative’s headquarters in Mena, President/CEO Brad Castor reported that Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative members, voting by mail ballot, elected one director to the Cooperative’s Board. Mark Robbins certified that 6,595 ballots were mailed to the members on Nov. 4, 2024.
Need Assistance Paying Your Electric Bill?
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides help with paying heating costs in winter months to qualifying individuals and families.
State Sales Tax Exemption for Low-Income Families
Under the present Arkansas law, residential customers whose income is $12,000 or less per year are eligible to claim an exemption from sales tax on the first 500 kilowatt hours of electricity used each month.
EPA’s Power Plant Rule Wrong for Arkansas’ Future
By: Brad Castor, President/CEO
Keeping the lights on is job No. 1 for Arkansas’ 17 electric cooperatives, which provide reliable, affordable and responsible power to more than 1.2 million homes, farms and businesses across our state.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making our job more difficult.
Space Heaters Can Lead to Fires, Bigger Bills
By: Derrill Holly
During winter, for most of us, comfort at home means heat.
Space heaters get seasonal use, but they are responsible for 25,000 residential fires a year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which pegs the annual mortality rate at 300 a year. Burn injuries associated with surface contacts with room heaters send about 6,000 people to emergency rooms every year.
Sealed Bids for Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative Vehicles
Beginning December 2, 2024, Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative will accept sealed bids in our Mena Office. Anyone interested may bring in their sealed envelope, marked BID ENCLOSED, or mail it to P.O. Box 897, Mena, AR 71953. Please include a good contact phone number with the bid.
Cooperative’s Nominating Committee Meets
The Nominating Committee met at the Mena office Sept. 26 to name candidates for director position. This position will be filled by the mail balloting that will precede the 2024 Annual Meeting, to be held on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Committee members present were Farrell Cole of Holly Springs; David Donica of Hatfield; Phillip Hatley of Potter; R.H. Pinkerton of Umpire; Reginald Fryar of Cove; Stan House of Mena and Wendell Garner of Dierks.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: 2023 Patronage Capital
By: Brad Castor, President/CEO
Notice is hereby given members of Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative, Incorporated that, in accordance with the provisions of the bylaws of the cooperative, patronage capital for the year 2023 has been credited to the capital account of each member.
The Cooperative Difference
The retirement of capital credits is the tangible demonstration of your ownership in Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative (RMEC). As a member-owned cooperative, RMEC operates as a not-for-profit utility. This is accomplished through the retirement of capital credits.