A MESSAGE FROM YOUR BOARD PRESIDENT A MESSAGE FROM YOUR BOARD PRESIDENT

Fiber internet is coming to all underserved members!

Fiber internet is coming to all underserved members!

In 2021, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative completed a partnership project with Cincinnati Bell, now known as altafiber, to bring fiber access to over 2,000 member locations where high speed internet was not available. The project also provided fiber service to the cooperative’s substations and switching equipment. The project was a huge success, bringing greater operational flexibility to enhance reliability while improving the quality of life for members.

In 2021, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative completed a partnership project with Cincinnati Bell, now known as altafiber, to bring fiber access to over 2,000 member locations where high speed internet was not available. The project also provided fiber service to the cooperative’s substations and switching equipment. The project was a huge success, bringing greater operational flexibility to enhance reliability while improving the quality of life for members.

We still have members who do not have adequate and reliable access to high speed internet, which is a quality of life issue.

We still have members who do not have adequate and reliable access to high speed internet, which is a quality of life issue.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative and altafiber have continued to work together to extend access to rural areas. altafiber has informed the cooperative it will make the investment to extend fiber access to the remaining 2,800 cooperative members who are underserved. That’s terrific news for our members and the local community.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative and altafiber have continued to work together to extend access to rural areas. altafiber has informed the cooperative it will make the investment to extend fiber access to the remaining 2,800 cooperative members who are underserved. That’s terrific news for our members and the local community.

The expanded partnership will bring high-speed broadband fiber Internet access to an additional 5,000 addresses in Butler, Preble, Hamilton, and Montgomery counties beginning in the first half of 2023. In addition to Butler Rural Electric Cooperative services, altafiber will build fiber to 2,200 addresses in these counties that are not served by Butler Rural Electric Cooperative.

The expanded partnership will bring high-speed broadband fiber Internet access to an additional 5,000 addresses in Butler, Preble, Hamilton, and Montgomery counties beginning in the first half of 2023. In addition to Butler Rural Electric Cooperative services, altafiber will build fiber to 2,200 addresses in these counties that are not served by Butler Rural Electric Cooperative.

This announcement means Phase II of our effort to have high speed internet extended to all members will be completed at no cost to the cooperative and our members. That’s a $3.9 million value delivered to members!

This announcement means Phase II of our effort to have high speed internet extended to all members will be completed at no cost to the cooperative and our members. That’s a $3.9 million value delivered to members!

deliver access to reliable connectivity to all members. Additional information about the next phase of our partnership will be on our website, butlerrural.coop, and in Ohio Cooperative Living once it becomes available.

deliver access to reliable connectivity to all members. Additional information about the next phase of our partnership will be on our website, butlerrural.coop, and in Ohio Cooperative Living once it becomes available.

David

PRESIDENT,

No distribution rate increase in 2022

No distribution rate increase in 2022

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative did not have a distribution rate increase in 2022. The cooperative has not increased distribution rates since 2017. That’s five years of stability and value.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative did not have a distribution rate increase in 2022. The cooperative has not increased distribution rates since 2017. That’s five years of stability and value.

Board members and employees work hard to provide the best value we can for the modern conveniences of electricity. Compared to price increases of common expenses like education, medical care, and groceries, electricity remains a good value.

Board members and employees work hard to provide the best value we can for the modern conveniences of electricity. Compared to price increases of common expenses like education, medical care, and groceries, electricity remains a good value.

Rates are always a major concern for the members and the board. The board works with the management team to ensure rates are fair and reasonable while also maintaining the financial strength of the cooperative.

Rates are always a major concern for the members and the board. The board works with the management team to ensure rates are fair and reasonable while also maintaining the financial strength of the cooperative.

Almost $2 million in capital credits retired to members

Almost $2 million in capital credits retired to members

Unlike investor-owned utilities that maximize profits to pay shareholders, your not-for-profit cooperative provides electricity at cost. You receive capital credits because you’re an owner of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. Capital credits represent this ownership and are one of the most unique and rewarding benefits of being a co-op member.

Unlike investor-owned utilities that maximize profits to pay shareholders, your not-for-profit cooperative provides electricity at cost. You receive capital credits because you’re an owner of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. Capital credits represent this ownership and are one of the most unique and rewarding benefits of being a co-op member.

We are thrilled to build on this innovative partnership and

We are thrilled to build on this innovative partnership and

At the end of each year, we subtract our operating expenses from the amount of money collected from members paying their electric bills. The money left is called margins. Your margins are based on the amount you paid for electric service and are deposited into your capital credits account at the end of the year. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative uses allocated margins to build and maintain our electric infrastructure by purchasing materials and equipment like poles and wires. These funds serve a vital function and allow the cooperative to operate economically and effectively while investing in the infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of our members.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s board of trustees evaluates the financial stability of the co-op each year to determine if we can retire capital credits. When the co-op retires capital credits, we withdraw margins from your capital credits account and send them to you as a check or as a credit on your bill. The capital credits amount you receive is based on the amount you paid for electric service during the years of capital credits retirement.

In October, members who received electricity from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative in 2005, 2006, and/or 2021 may have received a capital credits check or a credit on their electric bill.

Thank you for your investment in Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. Your support allows the co-op to continue to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electric service.

2022 will be remembered as a year of challenges met. From beginning the year with a power outage affecting thousands of members, to delivering fiber internet access to all members without increasing rates, your cooperative met these challenges successfully.