Sunflower Electric Power Corporation News

WIRES Welcomes Sunflower Electric Power Corp. As New Member

02/06/12

WASHINGTON, DC – WIRES is pleased to announce that Sunflower Electric Power Corporation has become a full member of the organization, continuing and expanding the representative nature of WIRES’ membership.

Sunflower is a Hays, Kansas-based generation and transmission cooperative. The consumerowned,not-for-profit corporation is owned by six rural electric distribution cooperatives that, along with its sister company Mid-Kansas Electric Company, LLC, serve in 55 central and western Kansas counties. Wholesale power is delivered across a high-voltage transmission network consisting of 76 substations and approximately 2,300 miles of 69-kV, 115-kV, and 345-kV line. Formed in 1957, Sunflower is a member of the Southwest Power Pool, an Associate member of WIRES.

"Sunflower is a prominent cooperatively-owned G&T in mid-America," commented Jim Hoecker, WIRES' Counsel and former FERC Chairman. "Sunflower's membership in WIRES shows that all segments of the power business can join together in promoting better policies and practical approaches to improving electric infrastructure. It bears repeating that an upgraded and expanded transmission network will provide benefits to a wide variety of transmission customers and that the benefits of well-planned transmission expansions and upgrades will exceed costs, especially over the life of these critical assets."

WIRES (Working group for Investment in Reliable and Economic electric Systems) is a non-profit trade association of transmission providers, customers, and equipment and service companies formed to promote investment in electric transmission and progressive State and Federal policies that advance energy markets, economic efficiency, and consumer and environmental benefits through development of electric power infrastructure. For more information, visit www.wiresgroup.com or contact Jim Hoecker at 202-378-2316.

WIRES Welcomes Sunflower Electric Power Corp. As New Member

02/06/12

Sunflower is a Hays, Kansas-based generation and transmission cooperative. The consumerowned,not-for-profit corporation is owned by six rural electric distribution cooperatives that,along with its sister company Mid-Kansas Electric Company, LLC, serve in 55 central andwestern Kansas counties. Wholesale power is delivered across a high-voltage transmissionnetwork consisting of 76 substations and approximately 2,300 miles of 69-kV, 115-kV, and 345-kV line. Formed in 1957, Sunflower is a member of the Southwest Power Pool, an Associatemember of WIRES.

"Sunflower is a prominent cooperatively-owned G&T in mid-America," commented JimHoecker, WIRES' Counsel and former FERC Chairman. "Sunflower's membership in WIRESshows that all segments of the power business can join together in promoting better policies andpractical approaches to improving electric infrastructure. It bears repeating that an upgraded andexpanded transmission network will provide benefits to a wide variety of transmission customersand that the benefits of well-planned transmission expansions and upgrades will exceed costs,especially over the life of these critical assets."

“Sunflower looks forward to working with the WIRES membership to promote a robusttransmission system, which will enable us to continue our cooperative mission of providing ourmembers with reliable energy at the lowest possible cost,” said Stuart Lowry, Sunflower’spresident and CEO.

WIRES (Working group for Investment in Reliable and Economic electric Systems) is a non-profit trade association of transmission providers, customers, and equipment and service companies formed to promote investment in electric transmission and progressive State and Federal policies that advance energy markets, economic efficiency, and consumer and environmental benefits through development of electric power infrastructure. For more information, visit www.wiresgroup.com or contact Jim Hoecker at 202-378-2316.

NRECA Marks Launch of the International Year of Cooperatives

01/13/12

Arlington, VA; October 31, 2011 —Today, on the final day of National Cooperative Month, electric cooperatives joined other cooperative enterprises in marking the launch of a year-long celebration of the cooperative business model.

The United Nations has designated 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives, the theme of which is “Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World.”

“Co-ops have a more than 200 year history. In the United States, the first known co-op dates back to an insurance cooperative formed by Benjamin Franklin. And co-ops continue today to provide a tremendous service to people throughout the world. Cooperatives are a model of self-reliance and an example of people working together to improve their quality of life,” said National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Glenn English, who is a member of the National Cooperative Business Association Hall of Fame.

The nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit consumer-owned electric cooperatives provide power to more than 42 million people in 47 states.

The International Year of Cooperatives coincides with the 50th anniversary of NRECA International Programs, a partnership among America’s electric co-ops dedicated to bringing power and economic development to rural villages all over the world. Since its creation in 1962, NRECA International Programs has assisted with electrification efforts that have improved the quality of life for more than 100 million people in more than 40 nations.

For more information on the International Year of Cooperatives, visit http://www.2012.coop/.