As the senate begins debate on its version of a climate change bill, the nation’s electric cooperatives are asking them to include guarantees that new legislation will not cause electric bills to skyrocket. Armed with more than 500,000 postcards sent in by electric cooperative members urging senators to protect rates, representatives of the nation’s member-owned electric cooperatives recently converged on Washington, D.C., to deliver that message personally.

“The truth is, electric hike estimates performed by different groups in D.C. are all over the board. We brought together the folks in charge of generating electricity every day in Missouri and their study shows our rates in Missouri will skyrocket without a guarantee,” says Barry Hart, CEO of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, who took part in the delivery of more than 50,000 postcards from Missouri. “The thousands of cards sent in by members to Senator Bond and Senator McCaskill show Missourians are concerned about the consequences of this debate.”

During meetings with Missouri’s senators, Hart and others in the Missouri delegation asked the senators to fight for language that will protect consumers if the bill becomes law. They also asked the senators to ensure legislation is fair and affordable for all Americans. “Without changes to guarantee electricity will remain affordable, all Missourians will have to ask their senators to vote NO!” Hart says.

Electric cooperatives are encouraging their members to continue contacting senators on this issue, asking them to work with the electric cooperatives to ensure electricity does not become a luxury only the wealthy can afford.

You can contact Missouri’s senators by calling or writing to:

Senator Kit Bond Bond, 274 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; (202) 224-5721. An online contact form is available at http://bond.senate.gov.

Senator Claire McCaskill, 717 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; (202) 224-6154. An online contact form is available at http://mccaskill.senate.gov.

For assistance in this effort, contact your local electric cooperative. You can also join a national dialogue at www.ourenergy.coop.