Each year, Central Electric budgets for operating expenses of the cooperative. Wholesale power costs account for approximately 59 percent of these expenses and significantly impact rates. These costs can be difficult to predict, and rather than doing frequent rate studies, Central Electric and other cooperatives use a wholesale power cost adjustment (WPCA) to stabilize actual costs of wholesale power.
Education Programs
Bright Ideas Grants
Central Electric is continually seeking ways to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. That's why each year through the Bright Ideas Program, the Co-op awards approximately $15,000 to teachers to help bring creative and innovative projects into their classroom. Co-sponsored by the N.C. Association of Electric Cooperatives, the grants are available to teachers in area schools for projects that traditional school money does not cover. All of North Carolina's 26 electric Cooperatives participate in the program.
Each year, more than 2,000 applications are accepted from teachers in a variety of disciplines including music, art, history, reading, science, career-planning and information technology. Since the Bright Ideas program began in 1994, North Carolina's electric cooperatives have awarded $13.6 million to teachers for 12,900 projects benefiting more than 2.7 million students.
The deadline for 2022 Bright Ideas grants has passed. Applications for 2023 grants will open up in April 2023.
to learn more, access the application or apply for a grant
Through the "Give Us An A” program, Central Electric encourages student excellence in the classroom. Students in area schools are invited to submit a copy of their most recent report card with a grade of at least one “A” during the grading period, along with a parent's name, address, phone number, and a picture of the student. Four times each school year, Central Electric will draw from the entries and award a $25 Visa gift card to four winners with at least one "A" and a $50 Visa gift card to one winner with all "A's." Students may be in any grade from kindergarten to college or technical school.
