Electric cooperatives strategically plan for long-term reliability
June 2026
ODEC employee performs routine maintenance at ODEC’s Wildcat Point Generation Facility. Electric cooperatives support grid upgrades that keep power flowing reliably. (ODEC photo)
by Jack McCarthy, Contributing Writer
Anyone who has ever planned a long family road trip knows the intensive preparation travel requires.
Routes are mapped out in advance. Travel times are checked. Gas prices are compared and pit stops determined. Maybe the departure time is shifted to avoid rush hour, or an alternate route is chosen in case traffic builds. The goal is simple: get where you’re going safely, affordably and without unnecessary surprises.
Electric cooperatives take similar measures of strategic, long-term planning each day to ensure reliable electricity for members.
The power grid, much like the nation’s intricate roadway system, usually works quietly in the background. Electricity flows where it’s needed, when it’s needed. But during peak times — such as hot summer afternoons or cold winter mornings — the system is under heavier pressure. Those are the grid’s rush hours, and keeping electricity moving during them takes careful preparation long before demand shows up.
PRE-TRIP PLANNING
Families don’t plan trips for the easiest part of the drive. They plan for the long stretches, the busy interchanges and the unexpected slowdowns.
Electric cooperatives do the same when planning for reliability.
Instead of designing systems around average days, cooperatives plan for the hardest ones, when electricity is needed most. Because electric cooperatives don’t answer to shareholders seeking returns on their investments, they focus on the people they serve in their forecasting. They forecast how much electricity communities will need and the necessary infrastructure required to support the grid days, months and even years into the future. They study use patterns, weather trends, environmental policy and economic growth.
Additionally, electric cooperatives strategically invest in grid upgrades to ensure the reliable flow of power throughout the system — all the way from generation facilities to homes and meters. Each investment is made with members’ best interests in mind. What’s best for members is at the heart of every decision electric cooperatives make.
That long-term view is essential, especially as electricity use continues to grow. New businesses, expanding communities and increasingly plugged-in lifestyles all add traffic to this proverbial roadway.
According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s latest Long-Term Reliability Assessment, the demand for electricity is expected to rise roughly 62 gigawatts by 2034-35 within PJM Interconnection, which coordinates power generation and movement across 13 states, including Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. That represents a significant increase in traffic on the grid’s busiest routes.
Meeting that growth requires careful planning, strong partnerships and a diverse mix of energy resources to keep the grid stable and dependable.
NAVIGATING THE ROUTE
No road trip works without smooth connections between interstate and local roads — and the power grid is no different.
High-voltage transmission lines are like the interstate system of the electric grid. They move large amounts of electricity efficiently over long distances, carrying power from generation sources to where it’s needed. From there, local distribution lines — much like neighborhood roads — carry electricity the final miles to homes and businesses.
Transmission plays a critical role in reliability, especially during peak demand. It allows power from various sources to flow across the grid, creating pathways to move electricity when one area is under stress. PJM supports the flow of electricity across our region and helps manages traffic along transmission lines.
But like highways, transmission lines can become congested. When that happens, the system can’t always move the lowest-cost electricity to where demand is highest. During peak times, that can mean relying on more expensive generation to keep the lights on. Long-term transmission planning helps reduce those bottlenecks and keeps power moving more efficiently.
MANAGING COSTS
Smart travelers don’t just think about shaving time off their ETA; they also think about cost. They fuel up when prices are lower, choose efficient routes and avoid unnecessary detours.
Electric cooperatives, often in partnership with generation partners like ODEC, use similar forward-looking strategies to manage these costs.
Some people may have experienced this same concept when using ridesharing apps. During a storm, a major event or rush hour — electricity prices increase as demand grows.
Long-term planning includes tools to manage fluctuating fuel prices, such as securing future fuel supplies and making investments that help keep costs predictable for members. Instead of generating power or buying fuel at whatever the PJM market price happens to be that day, electric cooperatives often lock in prices in advance for a portion of the electricity they expect to need in the future. Called a “hedging strategy,” this approach helps shield members from surge pricing during periods of extreme demand, such as heat waves or cold snaps.
This strategy has grown even more important as reserve margins — the cushion of extra power generation that protects against power shortages — tighten due to power plants retiring faster than new ones can be built.
These efforts may not be visible on a monthly bill, but they play a critical role in protecting members from sudden price swings and supply shortages — especially during peak demand. Reliability, affordability and responsibility are not separate goals. Like any good trip plan, they must be balanced together.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Most members never see this planning in action — and that’s exactly how it should be.
When electricity is available during the hottest days and coldest nights, it reflects years of preparation, coordination and foresight. Just like a well-planned road trip, success often looks uneventful from the passenger seat.
Electric cooperatives have taken a long-term view for generations. As demand grows and the road ahead becomes busier, a steady, member-focused approach remains one of the strongest tools for keeping the lights on.