Celebrating Co-op Month

October 1, 2024

As we welcome the crisp autumn air of October, we proudly celebrate this month as National Co-op Month. This annual celebration brings together not just electric cooperatives but more than 30,000 cooperatives across the U.S., each reflecting on the unique qualities that set cooperatives apart from other business models.

As your local power provider, we are committed to enhancing the quality of life for our members and ensuring that their needs are met through reliable and affordable power.

Beyond the electric business, our employees and directors are equally invested in our local community as you are. Why? Because we live here, too. That’s why we work hard to support local economic development projects, youth programs, scholarships, charitable giving initiatives, and additional programs that make our community a better place to call home.

As a cooperative, we are guided by seven principles embodying the cooperative values and spirit. These seven guiding principles are a framework to help all 26 co-ops navigate challenges and opportunities while remaining true to our purpose:

1. Open and Voluntary Membership: Co-op membership is open to anyone using the co-op’s services.
2. Democratic Member Control: Our members vote for the directors to lead their cooperative, allowing the Board Members to make decisions that will help shape the cooperative and ensure that our structure aligns with the community’s needs.
3. Members’ Economic Participation: Members contribute financially to the co-op by paying their bills, allowing us to continue to provide reliable electric service.
4. Autonomy and Independence: Co-ops operate independently, which ultimately benefits the members and allows them to be heard.
5. Education, Training, and Information: Co-ops prioritize continuous employee education and training, providing our employees with the knowledge and skills to contribute effectively and understand the value of co-ops.
6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives: Cooperatives benefit from collaborating with other cooperatives, making our business model unique and stronger. For example, cooperatives will work with other cooperatives to resolve outages and speak up in the halls of government, keeping their members in mind. This is the wonderful power of cooperation.
7. Concern for Community: All cooperatives work for the greater good of the local communities they serve. Co-ops have a big heart for giving back to local organizations, kids, industries, and communities to help them thrive and grow.

As we celebrate this month, we hope you will recognize the value and the many aspects that set cooperatives apart. Everything we do is to serve our members and empower our communities.