Cybersecurity can feel like an amorphous threat—big, complex and hard to pin down. In this episode of Power Plays, experts from Kit Carson, Rappahannock and Associated share practical guidance for electric cooperatives such as how to prepare before an incident, who needs to be involved, what scenarios to plan for and how to build confidence across the organization.

Midyear is the right time for a reality check — fromstrengthening the grid to managing the impacts of inflation, global uncertaintyand evolving regulations, electric cooperatives are actively adapting to a hostof challenges. This episode of Power Plays examines six emerging issuesthat will influence discussions and strategic decisions throughout 2026.

From autonomous drones to smart grid sensors, startups are bringing new tools to rural electric co-ops to strengthen reliability, boost resilience and control costs. In this episode of Power Plays, hear the standout innovations from NRECA’s Startup Alley competition, including ideas from HomeBoost and Pitch Aeronautics.

When a massive new data center load shows up in a local community, who benefits? Who pays? And what safeguards matter most? This episode of Power Plays breaks down the real tradeoffs — rates, reliability, water, noise and emissions — and the “yes-if” strategy one co-op is using to protect members and capture the economic upside. 

America’s new grid constraint is not gas supply, but the turbines that convert it to power—largely sold out until the early 2030s. On this episode of Power Plays, gas turbine expert Tom Freeman explores workarounds like aeroderivatives, adapted from jet engines.

Electric co-ops are grappling with rising costs, but members are in no mood for rate hikes. Load growth can help, but it’s not without risks. In this episode of the Power Plays podcast, S&P Global’s David Bodek and CoBank credit leader Rob Galena take a hard look at the landscape and map out co-op financial flexibility.

Relevance, tech awareness and closer ties to changing communities — those are some of the key qualities to seek out in co-op board member recruits. In this episode of Power Plays, Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs, the hosts of Build Better Boards podcast, advise co-ops to polish their recruitment strategy and clearly frame their value proposition to attract volunteers.

Battery storage is the Swiss Army knife of the grid—it can balance demand and supply and support ancillary services. As the electric industry looks for any and all supply solutions, batteries are an important resource in the grid toolbox. This episode of Power Plays brings together battery deployment insights from a manufacturer, battery storage researcher, G&T executive and large developer. 

America’s electric cooperatives are executing a stunning balancing act protecting existing customers, maintaining reliability and serving a surge of large loads driven by data centers. Hear how they are pulling it off in this Power Plays episode. Leaders from Umatilla Electric, Rappahannock Electric, Tri-State Generation & Transmission and NextEra Energy Resources share their candid stories of innovation, risk management and community impact.

Powerline workers’ safety extends far beyond electrocution and falls. In this episode of Power Plays, safety experts Johnie Hendrix and Chad Johnson talk through the importance of supporting crews so they are emotionally and mentally healthy and prepared, on and off the line.