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Special Board Meeting Called for ESC Adjustment Vote

Wednesday | December 14, 2022
All News

In November, we announced that the FreeState board of trustees is proposing an electric service charge adjustment. In December, we discussed the drivers that are increasing costs, and in this issue, we’re discussing the proposal the board will vote on during the January 16 special meeting.  

The trustees and staff know there is never a good time to adjust, but the current state of economics has dictated that an adjustment be made. Internally, we have modified budgets and adapted. We’ve curbed spending and looked at critical operations, but supply chain challenges, record inflation, and the volatility in the natural gas market have been outside of our control. They are driving the decision to adjust now.   

These factors have been the most significant when considering basic operating expenses. It just costs us more to do business and provide you with power.  

The cooperative has absorbed as many increasing costs as possible to take the burden off the member for the past five years. We've successfully delayed or diverted the cost-of-service studies or other costly changes, but we’ve come to a point where that is just a much more significant challenge. We need to be more proactive. We cannot control or predict what will happen with inflation, interest rates, and supply chain issues.  

The best way we know how to meet these challenges is to be nimble and more proactive than reactive, especially when costs are unpredictable. The trustees decided that the time to act is now. 

The trustees are proposing an incremental adjustment rather than one more significant adjustment later. We know it is not the best time, but we know a minor modification now will be easier than a larger lump sum adjustment for our members.  

In this issue, we have more information about our plan, the process, and how this impacts each of you. There will be a time for member comments, feedback, and input. We will be holding a special meeting on January 16 that will be in-person and online, allowing all members to participate in the process.  

This proposed $7 addition in 2023 and an additional $2 in 2024 will be implemented in February 2023 and February 2024. The cooperative is focused on equity and providing reliable power to our members, so these adjustments are necessary.  

We invite and encourage our members to reach out and provide feedback. Your voice is the cooperative difference at work.  

To make comments, please visit www.freestate.coop/adjustment, where you'll find an online form to provide input and other information about the proposed adjustment. Members can provide comments and feedback until January 9, and the trustees will vote on Monday, January 16. The board will review all feedback before the vote. 

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McLouth Office
507 N. Union
PO Box 70
McLouth, KS 66054

Topeka Office
1100 SW Auburn Rd. 
Topeka, KS 66615

Toll-Free:800-794-1989

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About Us

With 14,974 members and 20,551 service points FreeState Electric Cooperative is the largest rural electric cooperative in Eastern Kansas and the fifth largest rural electric cooperative in the state of Kansas. FreeState serves nine Kansas counties and provides distribution infrastructure to Fort Leavenworth. 

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©2023 FreeState Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Board of Trustees
    • Cooperative Leadership
    • Powering Fort Leavenworth
    • Cooperative Transparency
    • About Touchstone Energy
  • Contact Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Media Inquiries
    • Submit Feedback
    • New Construction
    • Ask Matt
    • What is my district?
  • Member Services
    • Apply for Service
    • Payment Options
      • Understanding Your Bill
      • Payment Assistance
      • Pay Cash
      • Pay Now!
    • Capital Credits
    • Your Service
      • Security Options
      • Tree-Trimming
      • High Bill Concern
    • Member Programs
      • Attic Report Card
      • Medical Necessity Notification
      • Time of Use
    • Charges and Fees
    • Member Guide
    • Rebates
  • Outage Center
    • Outage Map
    • Preparing For Planned Outages
    • Social Feeds
    • Storm Updates
  • Communications
    • Connect With Us!
    • Energy Solutions Articles
    • Kansas Country Living
    • The Signal
  • Community Development
    • Co-op's Vote
    • CoBank Sharing Success
    • Local Sponsorships
    • Operation Round-Up
    • Youth Programs
    • FreeState Business Directory
  • Safety
    • Agriculture Safety
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Generator Safety
    • Meter Access
    • Power Line Safety
    • Prepare for Winter Outages
    • Safety Checklist
    • Safety Demonstrations
    • Ten Tips To Avoid Scams
  • Co-op FAQ
  • SmartHub Mobile
    • Using SmartHub
  • Annual Meeting
    • Annual Report
    • Trustee Application
  • Crew at the Zoo
  • ESC Adjustment
  • Solar/EVs
    • All About EVs
    • Renewable Energy