For more than 30 years, the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE) has been working to support candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who understand and advocate on behalf of the value of electric Cooperatives and their consumer-owners. Issues affecting electric Cooperatives and the price Co-op members pay for electricity come before our national and state legislators every week; and if electric Co-ops don't educate and explain how these issues can hurt or help our members, no one else will.
In 2005 , the State of Ohio was looking for additional revenue sources to eliminate a projected deficit and balance the budget for the biennium. Increasing the present kilowatt-hour (KWH) tax by 30 percent was one of Governor Taft's proposals. Co-op members already had received a 45 percent tax increase when the state changed from the gross receipts tax on electricity to the KWH tax. An additional 30 percent increase on our member-consumers was not acceptable.
With the help from many Cooperative members, our voice was heard, and the proposed increase in the KWH tax was dropped from the budget. Several of our elected officials commented this was the largest response to an issue they had ever received. Cooperative members, Trustees and employees working together, plus our good working relationship with our elected officials, are what make our electric Cooperatives a powerful political force.
We expect to have other legislative issues where your help will be needed. One way you can help is by joining ACRE. Co-op Owners for Political Action is a program that provides member-owners with a convenient way to participate in the political affairs of their Co-op. The participation of member-owners will help ensure that the voice of electric Cooperatives remains strong and effective in the political arena. More than 30,000 Cooperative employees and Trustees across the country are ACRE members. |
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