Decatur County REMC hopes to correct 'inaccurate' claims

(GREENSBURG, Ind.) – Decatur County REMC says they are hoping to correct inaccurate claims regarding the cooperative's fiber project.

CEO Brett Abplanap provided a brief year-end update for the members as the co-op nears completion of its system-wide electric meter replacement project. 

Here are some items that the REMC stated as inaccurate:

• Recent claims suggesting the fiber project costs $55 million are incorrect. Based on the current, board-approved scope and after grant funding, the forecasted cost to Decatur County REMC is approximately $15 million.

  
  

• Claims that the cooperative is paying $75,000 per month solely to rent a lot for fiber storage are also inaccurate. That amount reflects the total cost of a contractor-managed operation, including materials, equipment, storage, security, yard space, and staffing. This arrangement was discussed in detail during a recent board meeting.

  
  

• Electric rates are not being used to fund fiber services. Members who do not take fiber service are not subsidizing the project. The fiber initiative moved forward after strong member interest and two feasibility studies confirmed it could be completed without placing a financial burden on electric members or the cooperative.

  
  

“The claims that the fiber project costs $55 million, that we are paying $75,000 to rent a lot, or that fiber is being charged through electric bills are simply not true,” Abplanalp said. “These statements misrepresent the facts and can mislead our members.”

Those claims are being made by Concerned Decatur County REMC Owners which is a group calling for changes to the cooperative's bylaws and increased transparency. You can learn more about them here.

Decatur County REMC encourages members with questions to contact the office, schedule a one-on-one conversation, or attend a member engagement event.