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    Kansas Country Living Magazine
    Home » Articles » The 12 Characteristics of an Electric Cooperative
    CEO Viewpoint

    The 12 Characteristics of an Electric Cooperative

    Shaylee KoelzerBy Lee TafanelliDecember 1, 20223 Mins Read
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    Now, more than ever, we need electric cooperatives to ensure there remains a durable foundation for our rural communities. Owned and democratically controlled by the people they serve, electric co-ops take their commitment to their communities seriously, as the Seventh Cooperative Principle — Concern for Community — suggests.

    Beyond the Seven Cooperative Principles lie characteristics that truly set cooperatives apart from other business models. As we near the end of 2022, I want to take this time to reflect on what I consider the 12 characteristics that drive the true mission of electric cooperatives.

    1 Trustworthy
    What other business consistently communicates how its consumer-members can spend less money on their “product?” Electric co-ops have led the way in explaining the reason for fuel cost increases this winter and continue to communicate ways for members to save on their electric bills while offering a variety of payment options.

    2 Engaging
    Electric co-ops are engaged in their communities and invested in the people they serve by offering scholarships, youth education programs, organizing community events, and participating in economic development initiatives.

    3 Innovative
    Electric co-ops lead the electric utility industry in renewable energy and smart meter installation, allowing more efficient use of electricity, and have led the way in community solar programs.

    4 Resilient
    Electric co-ops demonstrate unmatched resilience during crises. Season-in and season-out, Mother Nature storms her way through co-op territory and co-ops respond by rewiring, rebuilding and redesigning to improve resiliency.

    5 Service focused
    Co-ops are value-driven rather than profit-driven organizations with a desire to serve and give to their communities. The purpose of a co-op’s existence is to satisfy consumer-members’ needs, ensuring consumer-members remain central to their mission. There are no profits to gain but rather excess margins are merely used to fulfill their mission.

    6 Problem-solvers
    It all began to bring light to the darkness of rural communities and has continued through the current day issue of supporting high-speed broadband access for rural communities.

    7 Reliable
    You can depend on your electric co-op to keep the lights on and the power flowing. Electric co-ops continue to outperform other utilities in satisfaction surveys year after year. They dominated the 2021 J.D. Power rankings, with 14 co-ops in the top 20 of the annual survey of residential electric customers.

    8 Introspective
    Co-ops routinely measure their performance to provide superior service and routinely conduct consumer-member surveys to seek feedback from those they serve.

    9 Transparent
    Electric co-ops share the good and not-so-good news with their consumer-members to ensure they can make informed decisions when voting for board representation, bylaws changes and rate adjustments.

    10 Competent
    Electric co-ops employ talented and responsible decision-makers who understand the complexities of the ever-changing utility industry.

    11 Collaborative
    Whether offering mutual aid to other electric co-ops in need or serving on a statewide cybersecurity task force, electric co-ops believe in joining forces for the greater good.

    12 Authentic
    Electric co-op employees and board members live in the communities they serve — they are your neighbors, friends and family. It doesn’t get more real than that.

    headshot of Lee Tafanelli
    Lee Tafanelli, CEO
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    Kansas Country Living is designed to educate Kansas electric cooperative consumer-members on topics that impact rural electrification.

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