Rural Electric Coops

Our rural electric coop used to have a much more place-specific name, Fruit Belt Electric Coop, which is so descriptive of the large number of orchards that grace the hillsides of southwest Michigan.  It is one of 930 electric coops in the United States, most begun under the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt in order to bring electricity to rural areas.

Midwest Energy's main office is in the Cass County right next door to St. Joseph County and we visited it to pick up free fluorescent light bulbs and an application for "interruptible electric service."  Our new furnace has a heat pump making us eligible for a 50% reduction in the electric rate we pay if we agree that the Coop can interrupt our service at peak hours.  We figure it is worth a try!