By Anne Prince                                                                    

The energy industry is undergoing significant change driven by technology and the transition to more sustainable forms of energy. Innovation is essential in addressing these challenges and ensuring a continuous, reliable, and affordable power supply. 

Electric co-ops are no strangers to adapting to the needs of the local communities we serve. Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative (AVECC) has always leaned into change as we explore new ways to meet your energy needs.

Advanced Technologies

By using advanced equipment like drones that inspect our local grid, sensors that provide real-time data on the condition of power lines, and satellite imagery used to monitor vegetation growth, we can pinpoint potential problems before they even occur and ultimately improve service for all.

Investing in smarter technologies also can enhance the monitoring and control of electricity flow so we can respond swiftly to changing needs. Smart electric meters remotely collect data on how electricity is being used. This helps in promptly prioritizing and dispatching crews during an outage, reducing restoration time during weather-related disruptions. Even before adverse weather is here, advanced analytics from our systems, combined with data on weather patterns and other information, allows us to be proactive in taking preventative measures to shore up our system.

Preparing for Increased Energy Use

            Today, we depend on electricity more than ever before. From vehicles to farming equipment to home heating options, more products and appliances that we depend on run on electricity. 

Interest in electric vehicles (EVs) is growing.  AVECC is available to help our members make informed decisions about EVs, including electric charging options and capacity requirements for the home.

Automakers are transitioning many or all new vehicles to electric-only models in the next 10 years.  AVECC, like all electric providers, must plan now to have the necessary infrastructure in place to meet future EV charging needs––without jeopardizing the ability to provide reliable power. 

Additionally, we are exploring innovative technologies to help address the increasing demand for electricity. 

Innovative Efficiency Solutions

 Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative is driven by a commitment to community and member satisfaction. As consumers become more proactive in managing their energy use, we are providing new ways to help our members lower their use and save money. 

Free energy audits for a home or business can help you take advantage of actionable energy-saving advice as well as efficiency services offered by the co-op.

Cooperation Among Cooperatives 

You may not realize it, but AVECC is part of a larger network of 900 electric co-ops nationwide. While we are locally owned by you, the members of the co-op, we also have the advantage of working with co-ops across the country to share ideas and leverage the innovations our colleagues might have tried out first. As cooperatives, we’re collaborators instead of competitors––it’s a unique aspect of our business model, and we’re stronger because of it. 

Our energy future will look different than it has in the past, but AVECC is prepared to adapt for the members we serve. Our mission and commitment to you remain steady––to provide reliable power at a cost local families and businesses can afford. 

Anne Prince writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.
###