Get to know your electric co-op

Thirteen young couples from across Mississippi and two from Louisiana gathered recently in Louisville to learn how cooperatives can improve their livelihoods — and their lives.

The couples were participants in the 25th annual Mississippi Co-op Couples Conference, presented by the Mississippi Council of Cooperatives. The Electric Power Associations of Mississippi was among the sponsors of this worthwhile conference, designed to educate co-op members on the benefits of cooperative membership.

Participating couples learned that no matter what service their cooperative provides — from electric service to agricultural marketing to finance — every co-op operates under the same guiding principles. These are:
€ Voluntary and open membership;
€ Democratic member control;
€ Autonomy and independence;
€ Education, training and information;
€ Cooperation among cooperatives;
€ Concern for community.

Representatives of various types of cooperatives in Mississippi taught conference participants how their co-op functions and how it can meet their needs.

The couples will benefit a great deal from what they learned, and so too shall their respective co-ops. An active, supportive membership makes a co-op stronger and more effective in its mission of service — the reason for its existence in the first place.

Some people are surprised to learn that their electric power association is a cooperative, and that they are not only a customer but a part-owner of the co-op. It's a pleasant surprise, because they soon learn that electric power associations are among the most efficient utilities anywhere. Despite serving much lower numbers of residences and businesses per mile of power line than other types of utility, electric power associations offer competitive rates.

Not only that, but they offer unbeatable service, with local folks serving other local folks. Cooperatives are not motivated by profit, but by service to their owner/members. And their operation is ultimately controlled by owner/members through the election of directors to the co-op's board. The co-op's manager is answerable to the board, which sets policy for the organization.

Cooperatives serve almost 40 percent of all Americans including you, an electric power association member. Take a moment to find out more about your co-op's services and programs.

Cooperatives are always exploring new ways to serve their members.