Before you make natural gas and electric decisions for your school district, consider MISEC for your energy needs!

During these tough economic times, the last thing you need is fluctuating energy prices. Here is where the Michigan School Energy Cooperative (MISEC) can help. The MISEC goal is to provide competitive long-term energy pricing (as compared to prevailing utility rates) and assure budget stability for its members.

MISEC is the largest school energy cooperative in the country and is operated by an independent board that includes superintendents and school business officials elected by its member districts. MISEC is administered by Middle Cities. MISEC aggregates the energy needs of the state's individual school districts and provides a reliable supply of natural gas and electricity at the lowest possible cost.

MISEC Provides Real Purchasing Power for Schools
On another topic, it’s that time of year again. Chances are very good that your district has received the annual DTE/Consumers Energy “Return to Full Service” letter or even possibly the annual visit from a DTE/Consumers representative wanting to tell you what they can do for you. The reality is there is no better time than now to stay with or begin to participate in the MISEC Electric Choice Program. This program brings much needed budget certainty and stability back to your energy costs.

New Energy Legislation: By now you’ve most likely heard about the new legislation limiting Choice customers or offering schools a discount? MISEC was an active participant in the legislative process and is fully aware of all aspects of this legislation and recommends you take no action at this time.

The two main points of the new legislation that you should be aware of are:

• For the first time, a cap has been placed on the number of customers allowed to participate in the Electric Choice program. Those districts currently in the MISEC program will be grandfathered in the program FOREVER and will not be “forced” back to utility service should the “cap” be reached. However, leaving MISEC and returning back to the utility, could possibly result in your inability to return to MISEC once the cap is reached. Thus exposing you to the ever increasing utility rates that will be associated with the passage of this legislation. There is still plenty of room under this cap to take advantage of MISEC, however this will not last long as more and more utility customers realize the impact this legislation will have on utility prices.
• A separate “school” rate shall be designed for all public and private K-12 schools, Colleges and Universities. Whereas some confusion currently surrounds when this new rate will take effect, be assured, it will apply to not only the utility tariff rates but also to the Electric Choice rates as well.

There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the impact of this legislation, but most experts agree that one thing is certain, utility rates will increase. You can avoid much of these utility increases and have much more control and certainty regarding your future electric rates than ever before by being a participating member of MISEC.

MISEC remains strong and continues to provide all the benefits you’ve come to expect:

• Price certainty for the energy supply;
• Cost avoidance based on forecasted tariff increases; and
• The ability to manage generation supply risk in the future.

The bottom line - MISEC was designed for schools, by schools. If you have any questions, please contact Jan Rogers. Jan can be reached at: 888.345.0440 x26.