Local Economic Development

Affordable, Reliable Power

South Plains Electric Cooperative is connected to both power grids in Texas—the Southwest Power Pool and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Access to both grids keeps your rates low and service reliability high.

SPEC’s wholesale power comes from two generation and transmission co-ops: Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Amarillo, and Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, headquartered in Waco.

The ASAI ratio demonstrates the percentage of time that power was available to members. South Plains Electric exceeded all of their peer groups with a 99.92% ratio. All the co-ops in the U.S. and Texas achieved a 99.86% ratio, and of similar size in the U.S. achieved a 99.97% ratio.*

South Plains Electric knows how to keep the lights on. Its distribution system is among the largest 3% in the U.S., and large, rural cooperatives often experience high SAIDI ratios. SAIDI numbers represent the total minutes that service was interrupted during a given year. SPEC’s SAIDI system value is 400 minutes, and is the lowest 72% in the U.S., the lowest 60% of similar size in the U.S., and among the lowest 30% in Texas.

Large commercial members benefit from South Plains Electric’s extremely competitive rates. SPEC is in the lowest 7% in the U.S., #4 lowest of similar size in the U.S., and among the lowest 3% in Texas.*

South Plains Electric is proud of how it compares to other cooperatives on overall electric rates. SPEC is in the lowest 22% in the U.S., the 10th lowest of similar size in the U.S., and among the lowest 23% in Texas.*

Helping West Texas Grow

South Plains Electric Cooperative is a vital part of the growth on the South Plains and Rolling Plains of Texas. Total utility plant investment is $387,144,000, ranking them in the top 9% in the U.S., #13 of similar size in the U.S., and #12 of
co-ops in Texas.*

Growth is a sign of health for South Plains Electric Cooperative. Most electric co-ops in the U.S. have an average growth expectation of around ½ of 1% annually. SPEC experienced 5.13% growth in 2021, making them the 22nd fastest-growing co-op in the U.S., #3 of similar size in the U.S., and #6 in Texas.*

South Plains Electric is serving the tremendous residential growth around Lubbock with extremely competitive residential rates. SPEC is in the lowest 18% in the U.S., #10 lowest of similar size in the U.S., and #15 lowest in Texas.*

South Plains Electric is among the largest 3% of distribution grids in the U.S., with over 10,000 miles of line. Even considering this, they rank in the 10th percentile in line loss in the U.S. and among the lowest 20% of similar size in the U.S.* Line loss is when electricity dissipates as it travels over power lines, similar to water evaporating.

South Plains Electric has 65,191 connected meters, ranking them among the largest 8% in the U.S., #32 largest of similar size in the U.S., and #11 largest in Texas.*

South Plains Electric has 6,600 square miles of service area and 10,133 miles of line. This is enough line to stretch from Los Angeles to New York City 3½ times! The Cooperative is among the largest 3% in the U.S., #5 of similar size in the U.S., and #5 in Texas.*

South Plains Electric keeps rates low by controlling operations and maintenance expenses. SPEC is among the lowest 8% in the U.S., #5 lowest of similar size in the U.S., and #7 lowest in Texas.*

Another way South Plains Electric keeps rates low is by controlling administrative and general expenses. SPEC is in the lowest 24% in the U.S., among the lowest 40% of similar size in the U.S., and among the lowest 33% in Texas.*

South Plains Electric operates efficiently with all controllable expenses making up only 15% of its total expenses. SPEC is among the 10% lowest in the U.S., 6th lowest of similar size in the U.S., and 10th lowest in Texas.*

Seventy-two cents of every dollar a member pays the Cooperative is used to purchase wholesale power. The Co-op operates the day-to-day business on the remaining $0.28. This places SPEC’s power costs per kWh among the lowest 60% nationally, #17 lowest of similar size in the U.S., and #32 lowest in Texas.*

South Plains Electric Cooperative, and all cooperatives, abide by The Seven Cooperative Principles: Voluntary and Open Membership, Democratic Member Control, Members’ Economic Participation, Autonomy and Independence, Education, Training and Information, Cooperation among Cooperatives and Concern for Community.

* Denotes data from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation Key Rate Trend Analysis for 2019. Comparisons are of South Plains Electric Cooperative to 816 electric distribution cooperatives in the U.S.; to 60 electric distribution cooperatives of similar size in the U.S.; and to 60 electric distribution cooperatives in Texas.