11/1/2015

Our members benefit from the cooperative difference

    There are stark differences between your electric power association and the two other major forms of electric utilities in America. I believe once you understand these differences, you will be grateful to be a member of an electric power association.
    In this country, most people get their electricity from one of three types of utilities: investor-owned, municipal-owned and member-owned.
   An investor-owned utility is a corporation owned by a large number of stockholders who may or may not be customers of the utility. They could live anywhere in the world, actually. The mission of an investor-owned utility is to generate profits for its stockholders.
    A municipal-owned utility, as the name implies, is owned by a city government, large or small. The city runs the utility with little or no input from consumers.
    The third type of utility is the not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative. In Mississippi, an electric cooperative is called an electric power association. Our customers are members; they join the electric power association when they apply for service.
    Twenty-five electric power associations distribute electricity to more than 766,800 members in Mississippi. Our lines serve an estimated 85 percent of the state’s landmass, reaching into nearly every county.
    Membership in an electric power association has its benefits, what we call the cooperative difference. Here are a few:
    • An electric power association is not only owned but governed by the members it serves. Members elect the co-op’s board of directors at an annual meeting open to all members. These directors are members themselves, local residents who pay the same rates as all other members. They are farmers, business owners, educators or from other backgrounds typical of rural Mississippians. In addition to the directors election, the electric power association annual meeting provides a forum for members and association management to meet and discuss co-op business. Unless you are major investor, that is not possible at an investor-owned utility.
    • Electric power associations serve their members at local offices. You can walk into your electric power association’s headquarters (and, in many cases, a branch office) and take care of business face to face with a person. These offices are staffed with local people who understand your service needs. They can answer your questions on any subject from billing to service options to energy-saving tips to help you save on monthly energy costs.
   • Electric power associations throughout the state (and nation) make up an emergency response network that springs into action when a natural disaster causes major, widespread power outages. We in Mississippi have benefitted from this mutual-aid arrangement many times, including the Hurricane Katrina emergency power restoration. Having the help of additional crews makes a huge difference in how quickly and safely we can rebuild power lines and restore service.
    • Electric power associations work together to reduce operating expenses by sharing the cost of insurance, workers compensation, regulatory compliance, safety instruction and other services.
    • Your electric power association also serves as your watchdog for state and federal legislation that could impact the cost, reliability and safety of your electric service. We monitor legislation and meet with lawmakers to make sure they understand how a bill could have unintended consequences on our members.
    Time after time, consumer surveys indicate that Americans served by an electric cooperative are the most satisfied with their electric service. Our work makes a difference in the well-being of the Mississippi communities we serve, and that makes us proud. We are the home folks, y’all.
    I hope you and your family enjoy a very happy Thanksgiving and Christmas together, and that you find many things to be grateful for this holiday season.

Click here to view entire news archive.