October Recognized as National Co-op Month

Cooperatives bring benefits to members

MESSAGE FROM BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CEO

ACROSS THE WORLD, COOPERATIVES bring a variety of resources and services to consumers. In the agriculture, utilities, finance and more industries, these organizations play an important role in improving their communities. Not only do they provide critical services, but they also increase economic stability for their communities. Through better infrastructure, added educational support and employment opportunities, cooperatives strengthen communities.

In Africa, where more than 600 million people do not have electricity, the electric cooperative movement is booming. In 2018, BEC, along with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the World Bank, helped bring electricity to Totota, Liberia, using our BEC solar and energy storage technology. Today I am pleased to report that the Totota Electric Cooperative is thriving and so is their economy.

As a member of Bandera Electric Cooperative, you help provide the direction and prioritization of resources for the co-op. Based on feedback from the membership, we developed a plan to roll out of a fiber-optic network to improve the operational efficiency of the electric system, which helps reduce power costs and enhances our members’ quality of life by providing access to high-speed internet.

In three years, we have installed more than 1,300 miles of fiber, providing more than 50% of our membership with access to high-speed internet, including students in various school districts who didn’t have or couldn’t afford it before. We recognize that many still do not have the necessary access to work from home or attend school virtually, but we will get there. By 2023, we hope to have high-speed access for all BEC members who don’t have adequate access already.

BEC Fiber Broadband Technician Garrett Mitchell splices aerial fiber cable in the Comfort area.

Many other electric cooperatives across Texas and in the U.S. are following our lead in providing a fiber-based network for broadband access. Electric cooperatives are in the best position to do so because they have spent decades installing the necessary electric infrastructure that connects every house, farm and ranch.

Electric cooperatives continue to be leaders in developing and deploying the necessary technology and infrastructure, which improves electric system reliability and provides high-speed broadband access, resulting in an economic foundation for long-term sustainability in rural America.

Thank you for being a member of Bandera Electric Cooperative. We value your membership as we Reimagine Rural America.

Power on—broadband strong!

BEC Solar designed and shipped a container microgrid to Totota, Liberia, where Totota Electric Cooperative was formed.

Photo courtesy of NRECA