Hometown Connections

Request Consultation

News

Energy Southeast a Cooperative District Joins Hometown Connections to Promote Prepaid Energy

Hometown Connections and Energy Southeast, A Cooperative District (ESE) have signed a marketing agreement effective January 1, 2025. ESE issues tax-exempt municipal bonds to prepay for future energy that will be sold to utilities, resulting in monetary savings for the utility.

Hometown Connections will assist Energy Southeast with educating municipal utility providers about the advantages of prepaid energy.

Fred Clark, Jr., President and CEO of ESE, states that the goal of ESE is to advance the mission of publicly owned electric systems by providing lowcost, competitively priced wholesale electricity delivered through secure, reliable, long-term projects.

Prepaid Electricity: Prepay Bonds Generate Savings

 Energy Southeast has developed partnerships to save money on existing power supply for municipal utilities. These prepay projects:

  • Produce millions of dollars in energy cost savings each year
  • Fully utilize the utility’s tax-exempt status
  • Do not impact utility operations and require few administrative changes
  • Do not impact existing power supply arrangements
  • Maintain total flexibility in the utility’s future energy procurement
  • Simplify financing by using Energy Southeast as a conduit
  • Do not impact the utility’s credit metrics or borrowing limits

With a prepay project, Energy Southeast can save money on existing power supply contracts and future energy needs all without changing the utility’s financial profile.

“We’ll facilitate all administrative aspects of the transaction to ensure the utility’s project runs smoothly from start to completion,” Clark said.  “Utilities can count on Energy Southeast to help provide for the long-term financial stability and security of our public power communities.”

Hometown Connections President and CEO Marc Gerken praised Energy Southeast’s ability to help Public Power.  “Energy prepayments have been used by Public Power since the early 2000’s,” Gerken said.  “Hometown Connections is excited to help Energy Southeast increase its reach and help inform those public power utilities who have limited ability to undertake a prepayment endeavor.”

 

 

To learn more, please visit: www.energysoutheast.org

 

Utility Financial Solutions Offers Financial Assessments for Power Agencies and Associations

Financial Assessments for Members; Informed Decision Making for Power Agencies and Associations

The effective management of a member organization relies heavily on having a clear understanding of each members’ financial condition.  The financial stability of each member directly impacts the agency’s ability to make informed decisions, allow for fair cost sharing and mitigate potential risks associated with member financial instability.

For the agency to function effectively and maintain financial health, they need to know members capacity to contribute to shared projects and fulfill contractual obligations.  An agency’s credit rating is often tied to the collective financial strength of its members so understanding their financial status is crucial for project planning and securing favorable financing terms.

By understanding members’ financial challenges, an agency can potentially identify areas where additional support may be needed, bolstering the value the agency provides to its members.

Utility Financial Solutions, LLC works with Power Agencies and Associations across the country assessing members financial health using key financial metrics.  Each member is individually assessed; with key financial takeaways and recommendations for individual improvement to strengthen the collective members.  The agency receives a summary of each member, as well as a quick reference on key targets and policies.  For example, which members have a power costs adjustment, what are their debt coverage ratios, days cash on hand and age of their systems.  It is a comprehensive look at members and their financial stability.  This information is crucial for effective management for individual members and the agency as a whole as the industry is seeing unprecedented changes that will most likely cause financial pressure.

Contact:

Utility Financial Solutions, LCC

Dawn Lund, Vice-President

231-218-9664

dlund@ufsweb.com

Utility Financial Solutions Discusses Dependence on Electricity

Local Electricity Delivered Straight to Your Door

Written By: Jillian Jurczyk, Utility Financial Solutions

I’ve heard it said that individuals of the current generation could not fathom life 100 years ago. Today’s society is integrated with technological innovation in almost every facet of life. We depend on computers, cell phones, appliances, and various forms of transportation in our jobs and daily lives. If these conveniences fail us, we may face significant impositions.

Our modern lifestyles are dependent on electricity to keep us relevant and lively. We need it to charge our phones, bring life to our computers, cool down our houses on a hot summer day, or keep our beer cold in our stainless-steel refrigerators. It’s essential to how we interact, make a living, and perform the most basic functions. The interesting thing is that apart from the Navajo Nation, few in the United States have had to live their lives without it. For those of us who are not avid campers or adventurous travelers, the only time we are without electricity is when the power goes out; and when the power goes out, people are often displeased with the inconvenience. Read More about Utility Financial Solutions Discusses Dependence on Electricity »

Amperon Is Hometown’s Choice for Load Forecasting

Patrick Finney of Amperon

Hometown Connections President and CEO Marc Gerken says that the addition of Amperon to the Hometown Connections team of Partners will enhance the adoption of Amperon’s suite of analytics and forecasting solutions at the Joint Action and individual utility level.

“Amperon provides a suite of forecasting solutions that is accurate, versatile and adaptable, Gerken said.  “These are valuable attributes to utilities who are working to improve reliability, predictability and manage risks, which together lowers costs.”

Amperon provides a suite of analytics and forecasting solutions that deliver significant value to the Public Power ecosystem, including Joint Action Agencies and their members.

Follow this link to learn more about Amperon and the new marketing agreement with Hometown Connections.

https://www.amperon.co/newsroom/amperon-partners-with-hometown-connections-to-bring-better-forecasting-analytics-to-public-power-utilities

https://www.amperon.co/

 

 

Quakertown Pennsylvania & 27 other communities benefit from PowerSecure’s Distributed Generation

Quakertown, PennsylvaniaAMP is the nonprofit wholesale power supplier and services provider for 132 municipal Members in the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia; as well as the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, a joint action agency with 8 Delaware municipal members. Settled in 1801, Quakertown, PA, today boasts a population of about 9,200. Read More about Quakertown Pennsylvania & 27 other communities benefit from PowerSecure’s Distributed Generation »

  • Contact Hometown Connections