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I’d like to wish all of our members a very Happy New Year! I hope that everyone was able to enjoy their holiday season, surrounded by those they love. An important lesson I have learned over the past year is to never take times like those for granted, as they are never guaranteed. Some of you may remember I received a heart transplant in the fall of 2023. I returned to work full-time in the spring and was hopeful that 2024 would prove to be less challenging. 
 

Unfortunately, in October, I experienced a severe case of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, which caused me to become almost completely paralyzed. After receiving intensive treatment in the hospital, I was moved to a rehabilitation center where I have made great progress. While my recovery will take time, I am committed to doing all that I can to regain my strength so I can return to the Co-op and continue to do the work that matters most to me — serving you, our members.
 

During my time in the hospital, Chief Operating Officer Dwayne Street oversaw day-to-day operations. He was helped by our amazing team of 180 employees who work hard to keep your lights on 365 days a year. As we enter the second month of 2025, I want to take a look back at what our employee team accomplished in 2024. 
 

I’m incredibly proud to announce that last year was another year of record reliability for our Co-op. DEC members experienced fewer outages last year and when outages did occur, power was restored faster. Our engineers and line workers will continue to find innovative ways to keep your lights on. From utilizing advanced technology that can automatically restore power, to building new substations and aggressive tree trimming, we’ll continue to provide the most reliable power possible to those we are proud to serve. Our team also helped restore power to co-op members in North Carolina after the devastating flooding in the fall. Our employees are committed to answering other Co-ops' calls for help – assisting our neighbors during difficult times is part of what makes the cooperative community special. 
 

DEC was excited to return $10 million to members in November in what are called capital credits. Because we are a not-for-profit utility, any profits are returned to those we power. Members who were served by DEC in 2012 and 2013 received a billing credit or check in the mail. While our neighboring utilities are raising electricity rates, DEC’s rates are once again the lowest in Delaware. DEC members save more than $500 per year on energy costs when compared with the rates charged by neighboring utilities and our goal is to keep rates stable in 2025, ensuring that our local farmers, small businesses, and all DEC members are paying a fair price for the service we provide. 
 

I’m honored to lead our employee family who has achieved so much over the past year, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish in 2025. 
 

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