Rural Electric Cooperative Values

Rural electric cooperatives are memberowned, not-for-profit utilities responsible for providing 12% of the nation’s electricity. They own and maintain 42% of the country’s distribution lines spanning 2.5 million miles.

Rural electric cooperatives are committed to providing member-owners in rural communities including, but not limited to, farming communities, emerging suburban areas and other sparsely populated communities across the country with a sound, reliable and affordable source of electricity that would otherwise be very costly from a stand-alone, forprofit entity.

Cooperatives encourage members to directly engage with management, the board of trustees and elected representatives to offer input on maintaining reliable and affordable electric service while staying aligned with their legislative goals.

Legislators are continually evaluating ways to regulate how electricity is generated and delivered, directly affecting how much it costs to keep the lights on. It is important for co-op members to make their voices heard and to let our elected officials know their priorities.

Understanding Cooperative Values

Reliability: Having electricity available at all times is a huge priority for cooperatives. As demand has grown, it has been imperative to diversify the fuels used to produce electricity. Streamlining production and optimizing efficiency have contributed to maintaining reliability.

Affordability: Making financially sound decisions and investments is vital for cooperatives. This can be accomplished by encouraging common sense energy policies from lawmakers. Providing reliable, environmentally-friendly electricity while keeping electric bills affordable is a common goal.

Environmental Responsibility: A rise in demand for electricity has also seen an increase in cooperatives’ responsibility for the environmental impact that results from generating electricity. Using new, more efficient technology and renewable forms of energy have been a step in the right direction for the entire grid.

Cooperative Difference: Rural cooperatives play a significant role in strengthening their communities. Leadership in rural economic growth and development with the vision to construct a stronger co-op and community is taken very seriously.

NORA’s Mission Statement

NORA’s mission statement is to provide courteous and reliable service to all users at the lowest rates consistent with sound financial management

The enchanted CEO

By Charise Swanson