January 2025 | Scholarship Applications for 2025 Seniors

By Sean J. Vanslyke | sean@gosemo.com

The SEMO Electric Foundation Scholarship application is open for high school seniors planning to attend college or technical school in fall 2025. Applications are available through high school counselors or by emailing britney@gosemo.com. These scholarships are exclusively for students whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are SEMO Electric Cooperative member-owners.

In 2024, the SEMO Electric Foundation awarded scholarships to 102 local high school seniors, each valued at $550, celebrating their academic achievements. These scholarships are funded by SEMO Electric’s member-owners who participate in Operation Round-Up, a community program that rounds electric bills to the nearest dollar. Since 2008, this initiative has provided over $1 million in scholarships, helping local youth pursue their dreams. Thank you for making a difference—one penny at a time!

To support the continued reliability and quality of our services, the SEMO Electric Cooperative Board of Directors has approved new electric rates for 2025. For residential members using 1,400 kWh per month, the average increase will be $12.50 per month, or about 41 cents per day. Changes for General Service, Agricultural, and Commercial Accounts include a $0.10 per day increase in the Daily Fixed Charge, a $0.50 per kW increase in the Demand Charge, and a 7% increase per kWh. Visit gosemo.com/rates for more details.

As a not-for-profit cooperative, SEMO Electric exists to serve its member-owners, not generate profits. Rising costs for electricity generation, transmission, materials, and labor have made these adjustments necessary. Our goal remains to keep rates as affordable as possible while ensuring reliable services. Any margins are returned directly to you, our members. Maintaining reliable electricity and fiber services 24/7 requires significant investment in infrastructure—meters, poles, transformers, and substations—ready to serve you at any time. These fixed costs, along with billing and member care, remain constant regardless of energy usage. Critical resources like fuel, healthcare, payroll, insurance, and a fleet of vehicles allow us to deliver uninterrupted service when you need it most.

With the rise of streaming platforms as the preferred way to access television and entertainment, SEMO Electric has discontinued GoSEMO TV. This decision reflects the growing trend of cord-cutting, with members favoring customizable, cost-effective streaming services. By focusing on delivering reliable fiber-fast internet through GoSEMO Fiber, we ensure you have the speed and bandwidth needed for seamless streaming and other online experiences. If you’d like to learn more about streaming, we offer free streaming classes during the day and evening to fit your schedule. These classes have been a hit with members, offering tips and guidance to help you get the most out of streaming services. Call us today to reserve your spot!

Book of the Month: “Abraham Lincoln was perhaps the greatest president. Critics complained he was too impatient with his generals. The greater, unanswered question is how Lincoln would have governed during his second term. More specifically, would he have brought the nation together? Conjecture is a fool’s errand. What history does demonstrate is Abraham Lincoln’s superior character. No president was ever confronted with more turmoil than Lincoln. But he handled it.” Confronting The Presidents by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

Be smart. Act safe. Keep pushing forward!

Sean is the CEO/GM of SEMO Electric Cooperative and GoSEMO Fiber.