Central Electric Power Cooperative
For over 50 years, Central Electric has provided electric energy reliably and economically. Central Electric is part of an extensive network of Missouri electric cooperatives. These cooperatives form the third largest electric network in Missouri, serving a demographic area that covers 80% of Missouri. Central's power is purchased from Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI), which ranks as the nation's sixth lowest-cost bulk power supplier among electric cooperatives. . In addition, Central Electric operates a 72 MW coal-fired power plant in Chamois.
Central Electric Power Cooperative is an electric generation and transmission cooperative and is an independent, locally-owned business. Central is owned by and delivers power to eight distribution cooperatives covering a 22,000 square mile area in central Missouri
With a demand of over 681 megawatts and annual sales exceeding 2.9 billion kilowatt-hours, Central Electric is a major electric supplier to more than 162,000 residential, commercial and industrial members.
Central Electric has been awarded the 2004 Silver Switch Award by the National Food and Energy Council for its demonstrated commitment to education and electrical safety. Every year they are offering public awareness programs to educate about power and power saving methods.
Walnut shells are considered a renewable resource and therefore quality as green power. These shells were so finely ground that they worked well as a blend with the coal. Chamois plants were able to develop an efficient method to blend the walnut shell stock into the coal system. This enables them to produce 4,825 megawatt hours of green power. Shelled corn was also used in a test burn to prove its viability as a biomass fuel.
Centrals wholesale energy provider, Associated Electric Cooperative, is planning to spend about $800 million to further reduce missions of Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrous Oxides and Mercury. U.S. power plants contribute only 1% of the Mercury in the air, a large amount of money will be spent to reduce this 1% to some fraction of 1%.
Central Electric Power Cooperative exists to serve the needs of its member cooperatives by providing excellent electric generation and transmission systems and long-term rate stability in a competitive environment. Central will provide additional services needed to maintain and improve economic opportunities and the quality of life in central Missouri.
