(Greensburg, IN) – Decatur County REMC (DCREMC) recently provided a brief year-end update for members while also addressing claims circulating about the cooperative’s fiber project.
“It’s important as a cooperative to ensure our members have clear, accurate information,” said Brett Abplanalp, CEO of Decatur County REMC. “That transparency is especially important when incorrect claims begin to create confusion.”
Decatur County REMC is nearing completion of its system-wide electric meter replacement project, which the electric cooperative says is aimed at improving reliability, safety, outage response, and long-term efficiency for members.
The cooperative has also reached a major milestone in its broadband expansion. Phase 1 of the fiber build is now complete, and all locations within that phase are open for service sign-ups.
DCREMC says 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, according to the co-op.
“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,” reads a statement from DCREMC.
According to the co-op, electric rates are not being used to fund fiber services, and that 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, according to DCREMC.
“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.”
Decatur County REMC is encouraging members with questions to contact the office, schedule a one-on-one conversation, or attend a member engagement event.
“Thank you for the trust you place in us,” Abplanalp added. “We remain committed to transparency and open communication.”
