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.
