This topic was featured in the August 2024 Kansas Country Living Centerspread.
There are aspects of our lives that become sort of a daily routine. A person gets ready for work, gets in their car and might drive to the coffee shop on the way to the office. At lunchtime, they might drive to the nearest fast-food location. Once they finally end the day at home, they may stream an episode or two of their favorite shows before bed.
As we all look for ways to save money, we begin to think about our daily routine and how much value it provides compared to the money spent. A morning latte costs about $6, a fast-food combo with a burger, fries and a drink is $10, and a Netflix subscription is about $16 each month. All these daily expenses total around $85 a week, or about $340 monthly. Even with a packed lunch, having a daily latte still costs about $120 a month. This got me thinking — is this the best value for the money?
The average monthly electric bill for residential members of Prairie Land Electric Cooperative is around $120, or about $4 per day. You could power your entire home every day for the price of a medium latte. I could brew my own coffee, cook my own meals, binge a series and run on a treadmill for less than the cost of that drink. Now to me, that’s real value.
Electricity provides benefits that we often take for granted. It goes well beyond short-term satisfaction by allowing us to charge devices, refrigerate food, and have hot water, all in a comfortable indoor climate. Besides the privilege it affords, electricity has also remained relatively cost-stable as compared to other common expenses.
As a member-owned cooperative, Prairie Land Electric does everything in our power to ensure electricity remains a great value for our members. It’s not always easy, as there are several factors that impact the price of electricity — some within our control but most beyond it.
The cost of electricity can fluctuate due to supply and demand, infrastructure investment, maintenance, and operational expenses. Weather patterns also contribute, affecting both demand and generation capabilities, with extreme conditions leading to heightened energy use or disruptions. Government policies, such as subsidies for renewable energy or taxes and regulations on emissions, shape electricity costs as well. As our community continues to rely on electricity for nearly everything in our homes, schools, hospitals and businesses, we also need it to be reliable.
As a member-owned cooperative, we consider the impact of costs on our members by striving to keep the rates reasonable while prioritizing safe and reliable service.
You can be assured, Prairie Land Electric Cooperative always keeps you at the forefront of our minds and works each day to ensure electricity remains the best value for your money, as our mission is to improve the quality of life for our members and support our communities by providing safe, reliable energy services and education.