Vermont Electric Cooperative
Encyclopedia
The Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) is a consumer-owned electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Johnson, Vermont
.
In 2008 VEC served about 34,000 member-customers in 74 towns in northern Vermont, including Addison
, Caledonia
, Chittenden, Essex
, Franklin
, Grand Isle
, Lamoille, and Orleans
counties.
to serve residents in parts of rural Lamoille County who had been bypassed by investor-owned utilities. The Rural Electrification Act
financed most of the growth in the early years.
Early service was extended into Chittenden
and Franklin
counties. From the 1940s until the early 1960s, the territory it served expanded in northern Vermont through the construction of new lines and the acquisition of small private companies. In 1969, VEC expanded into southern Vermont by merging with Halifax Electric Cooperative. In 1970, VEC acquired the International Electric Company serving Derby Line
.
In 2004, VEC acquired Citizens Communications Company's Vermont Electric Division. This more than doubled the membership-base. In 2006 VEC sold its Southern District in Windham
and Windsor counties to Central Vermont Public Service(CVPS), reducing its membership by 2,770.
In 2008 VEC sought a 9.2% rate increase from the Vermont Public Service Board
. It estimates that the rise in rates from transmission rates from ISO New England
will increase its transmission costs by $1.5 million to $6 million total. About 30% of the increase is due to this increased transmission costs.
In 2009, VEC announced that it would purchase 50% of the 40 MG Sheffield
wind-generated electricity when it becomes available.
The cooperative installed smart meter
s at 80% of their households from 2007-2009. Savings using these have paid for the equipment upgrades.
District 1 includes the towns of Barton, Brighton, Brownington, Charleston, Holland, Morgan and Westmore. There are also towns in Caledonia. District 2 includes Coventry, Derby, and Newport city. The remaining towns in Orleans County are in District 5. District 4 includes Jay, Lowell, Newport town, Westfield and Troy. District 8 includes Albany, Barton, Craftsbury, Glover, Greensboro and towns in Lamoille and Caledonia counties.
The president is Tom Bailey. Directprs include Priscilla Matten (District 4), and Steve Wolfgram (District 8).
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
In 2008 VEC served about 34,000 member-customers in 74 towns in northern Vermont, including Addison
Addison County, Vermont
Addison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. In 2010, the population was 36,821. Its shire town is Middlebury.-Geography:...
, Caledonia
Caledonia County, Vermont
Caledonia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 31,227. Its shire town is St. Johnsbury.The county was given the Latin name for Scotland, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there....
, Chittenden, Essex
Essex County, Vermont
Essex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 6,306, making it the least-populous county in both Vermont and New England...
, Franklin
Franklin County, Vermont
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...
, Grand Isle
Grand Isle County, Vermont
Grand Isle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 6,970. Its shire town is North Hero.Grand Isle County is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Lamoille, and Orleans
Orleans County, Vermont
Orleans County is one of the four northernmost counties in the U.S. state of Vermont. It borders Canada. In 2010, the population was 27,231. Its county seat is Newport. As in the rest of New England, few governmental powers have been granted to the county...
counties.
History
VEC was founded in 1938 in Eden MillsEden, Vermont
Eden is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,152 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 64.3 square miles , of which 63.6 square miles is land and 0.7 square mile is water...
to serve residents in parts of rural Lamoille County who had been bypassed by investor-owned utilities. The Rural Electrification Act
Rural Electrification Act
The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 provided federal loans for the installation of electrical distribution systems to serve rural areas of the United States....
financed most of the growth in the early years.
Early service was extended into Chittenden
Chittenden County, Vermont
Chittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 156,545. Its shire town is Burlington. Chittenden is the most populous county in the state, with more than twice as many residents as Vermont's second-most populous county, Rutland.Chittenden County...
and Franklin
Franklin County, Vermont
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...
counties. From the 1940s until the early 1960s, the territory it served expanded in northern Vermont through the construction of new lines and the acquisition of small private companies. In 1969, VEC expanded into southern Vermont by merging with Halifax Electric Cooperative. In 1970, VEC acquired the International Electric Company serving Derby Line
Derby Line, Vermont
Derby Line is an incorporated village in the town of Derby in Orleans County, Vermont, United States, slightly north of the 45th parallel, the normal U.S.-Canadian boundary...
.
In 2004, VEC acquired Citizens Communications Company's Vermont Electric Division. This more than doubled the membership-base. In 2006 VEC sold its Southern District in Windham
Windham County, Vermont
Windham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 44,513. Its shire town is Newfane.-Geography:According to the U.S...
and Windsor counties to Central Vermont Public Service(CVPS), reducing its membership by 2,770.
In 2008 VEC sought a 9.2% rate increase from the Vermont Public Service Board
Vermont Public Service Board
The Vermont Public Service Board is the public utilities commission of the State of Vermont, with quasi-judicial licensing and regulatory responsibilities over electric utilities , natural gas companies, telecommunications companies, cable television systems and water companies...
. It estimates that the rise in rates from transmission rates from ISO New England
ISO New England
ISO New England Inc. is an independent, non-profit Regional Transmission Organization , serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont....
will increase its transmission costs by $1.5 million to $6 million total. About 30% of the increase is due to this increased transmission costs.
In 2009, VEC announced that it would purchase 50% of the 40 MG Sheffield
Sheffield, Vermont
Not to be confused with the city of Sheffield in the UK, or Sheffield, Massachusetts.Sheffield is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States...
wind-generated electricity when it becomes available.
The cooperative installed smart meter
Smart meter
A smart meter is usually an electrical meter that records consumption of electric energy in intervals of an hour or less and communicates that information at least daily back to the utility for monitoring and billing purposes. Smart meters enable two-way communication between the meter and the...
s at 80% of their households from 2007-2009. Savings using these have paid for the equipment upgrades.
Administration
A 13 member Board of Directors is elected by members. Seven seats are reserved for geographic districts. Five members are elected by the entire membership.District 1 includes the towns of Barton, Brighton, Brownington, Charleston, Holland, Morgan and Westmore. There are also towns in Caledonia. District 2 includes Coventry, Derby, and Newport city. The remaining towns in Orleans County are in District 5. District 4 includes Jay, Lowell, Newport town, Westfield and Troy. District 8 includes Albany, Barton, Craftsbury, Glover, Greensboro and towns in Lamoille and Caledonia counties.
The president is Tom Bailey. Directprs include Priscilla Matten (District 4), and Steve Wolfgram (District 8).