Oftentimes for any business, there are various components working together to provide the best full service possible for its customers. The same holds true for Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC). A not-for-profit, wholesale power supplier for 21 distribution cooperatives and Altus Air Force Base, located across Oklahoma and into parts of New Mexico, WFEC provides two major components - generation and transmission through the substation. Member cooperatives provide a third major component from the substation to the end-use consumer, with each playing a different role. 

Generation
WFEC maintains a well-balanced and diversified portfolio of generation resources reflecting a mix of technologies and fuel types. This diversity, including natural gas units, a coal plant, wind resources, solar energy and hydropower allocations, all helping reduce exposure to changing market conditions.

Electricity generation costs are on the rise, driven primarily by increased demand, higher fuel costs, extreme weather conditions and global events. 

Transmission through the substation 
WFEC owns more than 3,800 miles of transmission line, operated and maintained by WFEC personnel, plus owns and maintains more than 330 substations and switch stations, serving its member systems. 

WFEC continues to improve and expand its transmission system across some areas of the service territory to help with transmission congestion occurring when the capacity of power lines is insufficient to manage the amount of electricity being transmitted. Shortages of transmission capacity, particularly in electric grids, are becoming a growing concern. 

Distribution
Electricity distribution is the final stage of delivering power to consumers, taking it from substations to individual homes and businesses. 

Even though this system ensures a safe and efficient supply of electricity for everyday use, there are increasing costs associated in the modernization of energy infrastructure. WFEC has dealt with its share of these issues.
For additional information, please visit the WFEC website – www.wfec.com.