Cooperatives Advancing Renewable Energy

What is care?

DS&O Rural Electric Cooperative introduces Cooperatives Advancing Renewable Energy (CARE), an innovative "GREEN" power program that connects our cooperative members who want to produce renewable energy with other members who wnat to support the development of renewable energy.

CARE is a voluntary program.

Your level of participation is completely up to you. Through this program, you would pay a little extra on your monthly utility bill to support solar and wind power. These donations are collected by the cooperative and distributed once a year to the CARE producers-individual members that are generating solar and wind power. Excess renewable energy generated by CARE producers goes into the cooperative's electrical grid and is distributed to our members.

Why should you support CARE?

By supporting CARE, you are helping to build a base of local renewable energy. You are helping to diversify your cooperative's energy resources, as well as the local economy.

Do CARE producers use any of the power themselves?

Yes. A producer satisfies his own power needs first. Any excess power is exported to the cooperative's electrical grid.

How much do CARE producers receive for the electricity they generate?

The amount paid to producers depends on the total amount contributed by our CARE supporters and the total amount of power exported by all CARE producers. The greater the amount contributed by CARE supporters, the greater the amount that will be distributed among participating CARE producers. For example, if a CARE producer generated 3% of the total CARE energy exported during one year, and CARE supporters contributed $30,000 to the CARE fund during that year, then the CARE producers could receive an annual payment of $900.00. Producers also receive a monthly amount from the cooperative for the energy they export. The cooperative does not guarantee the amount of the payment producers will recieve through the CARE program.

When are CARE producers paid?

Producers are paid once a year, on or before April 21st (Earth Day).

What do I need to do if I want to become a CARE producer or supporter?

If you are interested in becoming a CARE producer or supporter, contact us at CARE@dsoelectric.com to learn more about qualifying power generation systems.

Click Here to download our CARE Brochure.

Click Here to download our Small Generator Interconnection Procedures.

Residential Wind Turbines

Many cooperative members are interested in owning renewable energy systems, particularly wind, for their homes, businesses, or farming operations. A common question asked is how much money can be saved in future electricity costs in comparison to the investment. This comprehensive Small Wind Cash Flow Model (Microsoft Excel) can help you analyze the economics of investing in a small wind turbine.

There are many variables that have an impact on the economic viability of a small wind machine. This model allows the user to input many of these variables including:

• project costs
• interest rates
• electricity generated
• retail electric rate
• project life
• grants and loans
• O&M costs
• electricity consumed
• utility's avoided cost of generation
• discount rate

Once you open the spreadsheet, click on the "instructions" tab at the bottom for input and term descriptions.

• Small Wind Cash Flow Model (Microsoft Excel)