NOTE: Watch entire program as broadcast LIVE on Hoosierland TV by Clicking HERE and scroll to the -51:35 mark.
Friday FRANKFORT, Ind. – Tipmont REMC leaders outlined the cooperative’s current challenges and future plans during an appearance on WILO Radio’s Party Line program this week, touching on power supply constraints, local broadband expansion, energy costs, and community initiatives.
Tipmont REMC Vice Chair Lynn Beck and Communications Director Rob Ford joined WILO owner and General Manager Russ Kaspar and WILO Radio Operations Manager Melissa Miller to provide an update on the co‑op that supplies electricity to more than 31,000 meters across eight Indiana counties, including Clinton, Boone and Carroll.
Meeting Demand in a Tight Energy Market
Ford confirmed that Tipmont was among the utilities approached to supply power for a proposed regional data center, though the plan has not advanced. He cautioned that adding large new loads will test already strained U.S. generation capacity.
“Supply constraints coming from generators right now are really, really tight,” Ford said. “We’ve retired a lot of old generation plants, and new generation has been slow to come online. So a big project like that would be a real challenge.”
Tipmont, which exited its longtime wholesale power agreement with Wabash Valley Power Alliance in 2024, now buys electricity directly on the open energy market. The move, Ford said, allows cost flexibility through a new partnership with Florida‑based NextEra Energy.
“We can now hedge energy ahead of time,” Ford explained. “When our forecasters predicted a cold turn last fall, we pre‑bought power at a lower rate than if we’d waited until temperatures dropped. Those savings go directly back to our members.”
Cooperative Model Keeps Rates Stable
Both guests emphasized that Tipmont operates as a not‑for‑profit electric cooperative. That model, common in Indiana’s rural areas, means excess margins are held or returned to members as “capital credits” rather than distributed to shareholders.
“In our world it’s about taking care of the members first,” Beck said. “We’re owned by the people we serve, not outside investors.”
Rates have remained comparatively steady despite inflation. Ford noted that Tipmont’s average household cost for electricity is about $7 per day—roughly half the cumulative rate of inflation over the past decade.
Broadband Buildout Reaches Rural Homes
Beck said broadband deployment has been among the board’s major undertakings over the last several years, bringing high‑speed internet to underserved areas of rural Clinton and surrounding counties. About 80–85 percent of Tipmont’s members now have access to fiber service.
“You could compare broadband today to electricity in the 1930s,” Beck said. “Just like our founders came together to bring power to every home, we’re doing the same thing now with internet service.”
The buildout relied heavily on state and federal *Next Level Connections* grants, administered through Indiana’s broadband initiative. Much of the public funding, Beck noted, targeted the most remote zones where private providers had not invested.
Investing in Youth and Community
Ford also highlighted Tipmont’s long‑running community service programs. Through *Operation Round Up*, cooperative members round their monthly bills up to the next dollar, generating small donations that have cumulatively returned about $1.5 million to local nonprofits and the community.
Another initiative, the *Youth Tour* program, sends high‑school juniors from co‑op service areas on a week‑long leadership and civics experience in Washington, D.C.
“The trip really changes lives,” Ford said. “We’ve seen students come back inspired to serve, intern with their representatives, even enlist in the military.”
Efficiency, Education, and the Road Ahead
As winter demand rises, Ford urged members to schedule Tipmont’s free in‑home energy assessments, which identify leaks and insulation gaps. “Heating and cooling are the biggest energy users,” he said, recommending air sealing and LED lighting as simple, high‑return improvements.
Looking forward, both Beck and Ford pointed to continued planning for system resilience and growth. The cooperative conducts annual five‑ to ten‑year strategic reviews to anticipate regional development in Clinton, Carroll, and Tippecanoe counties.
Despite inflation and supply‑chain challenges for equipment such as transformers and line trucks, Tipmont leaders said the mission remains unchanged.
“We’re confident we can keep providing reliable service at a good value,” Beck said. “At the end of the day, it’s about neighbors serving neighbors — that’s what a cooperative is.”
View the entire PartyLine program for Friday, January 23 HERE. Tipmont REMC portion starts at the -51:35 mark in the scroll bar.
WILO Radio covers Clinton, Carroll, Boone and surrounding areas on WILO 96.9 FM, Boone 102.7 FM and WILO 1570 AM. The program was broadcast LIVE and Archived on HoosierlandTV.com.
