Effective April 1, 2026, Cuivre River Electric Cooperative (CREC) will implement a slight adjustment (2.36%) to residential electric rates.
This change is primarily driven by necessary investments made by our generation and transmission partners, AECI and CEPC. To meet the rising regional demand for power, they are investing in new “peaking” natural gas plants and expanding the infrastructure required to deliver electricity to cooperatives like CREC. Additionally, rising costs for fuel transportation and essential plant maintenance continue to impact our suppliers.
It is important to note that this rate adjustment is not tied to any potential new industrial developments. This increase would happen regardless of whether or not the cooperative serves a data center.
Power supply costs account for nearly 70% of CREC’s total expenses. As a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative, we only adjust rates to cover the actual costs of providing safe and reliable service.
“We understand the impact of any rate increase and are committed to keeping costs as low as possible,” says CREC President/CEO Doug Tracy. “These adjustments are about the reliable delivery of electricity to our members, not about generating profit.”
Even with this adjustment, CREC remains highly competitive. At 10.70¢ per kWh, our rates continue to stay below the Missouri average and remain among the lowest in the nation according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
