At its Feb. 10 meeting, the Guthrie County REC board of directors approved the $18.1 million budget for 2026 that aligns the cooperative with its mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable electric power to our member-consumers.

The $1.6 million Construction Work Plan includes the purchase of overhead and underground transformers for new services, updates to the Bear Grove substation, new regulators and a new construction work plan study from Stanley Consultants.

The largest component of the cooperative’s budget each year is the cost of purchasing power from our power supplier, Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO). This year, that encompasses 66.96% of our budget or $12 million, which is up from $11.6 million last year and reflects rising market energy prices and higher demand across the region.

Stable rates from CIPCO are important to our cooperative because they provide cost predictability, support long-term financial planning and help minimize sudden impacts on our member-consumers’ monthly bills. When wholesale power costs remain steady, we can build accurate budgets, maintain healthy margins, invest in system improvements and avoid frequent retail rate adjustments – creating greater financial stability for both the co-op and its members.

The Guthrie County REC board of directors is composed of member-consumers just like you, dedicated to ensuring the cooperative operates as efficiently and responsibly as possible. Each year, the board carefully reviews financial performance and develops a budget designed to be fiscally sound and cost-effective.

Although unforeseen challenges can arise, we remain committed to managing them proactively and minimizing any potential impact on your monthly electric bill.