On the evening of June 26, REC hosted a live Telephone Town Hall, giving thousands of members the opportunity to hear directly from REC President and CEO John Hewa and Chris Shipe, REC’s Board Chairman.
The event, known as Power Hour, automatically dialed 50,000 member-owners and invited them to join the call live to learn about important Cooperative updates and ask questions in real time.
During the call, Hewa and Shipe shared updates on key issues affecting members, including grid reliability, energy affordability and the Cooperative’s response to recent extreme weather events.
They emphasized how REC is leveraging technology like drone inspections and satellite monitoring to strengthen infrastructure and reduce outages. Hewa also outlined strategies to keep residential power costs below $7 per day, including returning capital credits, securing grant funding and generating revenue through REC’s affiliates. He also addressed the growing presence of data centers and explained how REC’s subsidiary, Hyperscale Energy Services, helps manage their energy demands without placing the financial burden on residential members.
The second half of the call was dedicated to member questions on topics such as electric rates, undergrounding power lines, outage management, solar energy and broadband expansion. Additionally, both Hewa and Shipe encouraged members to participate in the upcoming board elections and emphasized REC’s commitment to transparency, accountability and engagement as the Cooperative adapts to a rapidly changing energy landscape.
“Power Hour gives us a unique opportunity to connect with members where they are and keep them informed about what’s happening in their Cooperative,” said Casey Hollins, Managing Director – Communications and Public Relations. “We appreciate every member who took the time to join the call and be part of the conversation.”
Members who were unable to participate in the live call can listen to the recording by watching the video below.
