Along Those Lines

With help from NRECA Broadband, co-ops providing internet service are boosting the quality of life in their communities. Federal funding is critical to that mission but comes with its own set of challenges. On this episode of Along Those Lines, we'll talk to NRECA's Erin Dobozy on how NRECA Broadband helps co-ops access these funding programs, and we'll hear about broadband success stories and policy priorities from Beacon Broadband's Val Early and Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications' Jeff Blagg.

Drier and hotter weather conditions are creating longer wildfire seasons in many parts of the country, and even regions not typically at risk of wildfires are vulnerable. In this episode, learn how electric co-ops are dealing with this growing threat and how a bill in Congress, the Fix Our Forests Act, could help with mitigation efforts. Hear from NRECA's Erin Kelly and Hannah Hardin as well as West Oregon Electric Cooperative's Billi Kohler.

Cybersecurity incidents involving the systems and data of third-party vendors are on the rise for utilities in the U.S. It's a worrying trend that has directly impacted electric co-ops, and industry cyber professionals are working hard to counteract it. In this episode, NRECA's Carter Manucy discusses what co-ops are doing to enhance security and mitigate this threat, and Blue Ridge Energy's Tanner Greer discusses how his co-op dealt with a third-party cyber incident in 2023.

Earlier this month, Mike Partin was elected president of NRECA at the PowerXchange conference in Atlanta. Partin has been CEO of Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative in central Tennessee since 2015. He joined the co-op in 1998 and has represented Tennessee on the NRECA board of directors since 2019. Hear from Partin about his thoughts on leadership, what the future looks like for electric cooperatives and what specific things he'll focus on during his two-year tenure as president.

NRECA's annual gathering of members is a critical touchpoint for co-ops and a place to exchange ideas and stay connected. 2025 PowerXchange and TechAdvantage come amid a period of unprecedented disruption—soaring demand from data centers and other load drivers, shrinking supply caused by misguided federal and state policies, and increasing changes in co-op leadership and work culture. Hear from NRECA's Erin Pressley about how this year's events will help attendees confront today's challenges.

Electric co-ops in the Southeast grappled with unprecedented damage from back-to-back hurricanes this fall, with Helene and Milton making landfall just a couple of weeks apart. This month, we hear from the CEOs of two of the many electric cooperatives impacted by these storms to talk about their preparation, response and recovery: Matt Stanley of Laurens Electric Cooperative in South Carolina and David Lambert of Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative in Florida.

Artificial intelligence, with its remarkable ability to digest and analyze enormous amounts of data, has nearly limitless positive applications for utilities. But it could be used just as effectively as a malicious tool by hackers and scammers. Co-ops are moving cautiously with AI, finding ways to safely implement new, enhanced systems while marginalizing tools that could increase cyber risk. Learn more from NRECA's Carter Manucy as well as Dairyland Power Cooperative's Nate Melby and Vlad Tsoy.