Electric Co-Op Generates Affordable Power
Published Mar 27, 2006
Since 1984, Golden Spread Electric Cooperative has been at the forefront of all things power-related in the High Ground region.
The co-op, which is a consumer-owned public utility, has 16 member systems and serves more than 185,000 retail customers. Its area of operation includes portions of the Oklahoma Panhandle and about 24 percent of the entire state of Texas.
Since coming into existence, the co-op has broadened its reach, creating affiliates in the wholesale generating sector. That growth, coupled with aggressive moves in areas such as energy conservation and new technology, has allowed Golden Spread’s member systems to keep prices reasonable and still expand their output, says Robert W. Bryant, president and general manager.
“We have a very large service area; it’s 500 miles from the northern end to the southern end,” Bryant says. “Being in a large cooperative works well for our smaller members. Individually, it’s very difficult for them to deal with generation or transmission issues. Collectively, we can provide a significant presence in the market.”
Even though Golden Spread isn’t as large as some of its counterparts, its size is sufficient enough to allow its members to use their resources much more economically, as well as benefit from a larger pool of talent, he adds.
“We’re able to make sure that an adequate power supply is available and that the transmission system is available to get it to them.”
Looking at the power supply and ways to augment it using new resources is a key focus of the co-op’s members, says Bill Harbin, chairman of GSEC and general manager of Lighthouse Electric Cooperative.
“We need to have a balanced mix of energy from coal, natural gas and renewable resources in order to stabilize the prices that we’ll charge our members,” Harbin says. “We’re constrained in our area as far as import capability for outside electric resources, so we have to rely on ourselves to either develop the resources for our needs or develop some transmission import capability.”
With that in mind, the co-op is working to diversify its resource mix, putting in some facilities that will rely on natural gas and alternative solid-fuel resources. Potential improvements to the transmission grid also are being examined.
“We’re looking for ways to increase the amount of coal generation to serve our loads,” adds Bryant. “Coal resources will be more economical and significantly less volatile. That will leave our natural gas resources free for other uses, like heating.”
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