The Co-op Difference

(Disclaimer: I work for an electric co-op.)


October is National Cooperative Month and there are a lot of resources you can access to learn more about co-ops and the cooperative difference. Start on this Web site: http://www.go.coop/

Did you know that co-ops benefit their members and their communities? Unlike investor owned businesses co-ops are owned by the members the serve. Cabot cheese, REI, ACE Hardware, your credit union, farmers co-ops, and your local rural electric cooperative are just a few of the co-ops that exist solely to serve their member-owners. Co-ops are owned democratically and return surplus revenues to members!

Members of electric cooperatives express higher than average levels of customer satisfaction and it’s no wonder. For one thing, co-ops put consumers first because the consumers are the owners. In addition, co-ops are locally owned and operated. When members call the co-op, they are talking with their neighbors. And both of these aspects combine to make co-ops more responsive since members are the owners and they are accountable to their own neighbors and communities. Want to learn more: http://nreca.coop/AboutUs/CooperativeDifference.htm