Your Membership Matters
You don’t often get to choose who provides your energy service. Homes across the road may be served differently, some by a stockholder-driven investor-owned utility company, and others by a city-owned municipal system.
We are a not-for-profit energy cooperative owned by you and your fellow members. The difference is that every home or business receiving energy from a cooperative (18 million in 47 states) owns a portion of the utility – you are both a member and consumer, not just a customer.
Across the nation, energy co-ops serve more than 42 million people. Cooperatives don't exist to make profits for shareholders – we exist to provide you with safe, reliable and affordable energy. Because cooperatives operate on a not-for-profit basis, they have no need to increase revenues above what it takes to run the business in a financially sound manner. Membership matters because energy co-ops care about improving the quality of life in the areas they serve. Membership matters because you have a vote in how your cooperative is governed. Members elect the board of directors from their friends and neighbors.
The bottom line: Membership matters because you matter to your cooperative.
Words We Live By
The Energy Cooperative’s mission is to provide safe and reliable energy to our members with highly responsive service, consistent with the Cooperative Principles.
Cooperatives are open to everyone who are able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership.
Cooperatives are controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Members have equal voting rights – one member, one vote.
Members contribute equally to the capital of their cooperative. Surpluses are allocated to the benefit of members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative.
Cooperatives are independent, self-help organizations controlled by their members.
Cooperatives provide education and training to their members and inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.