Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives operate alongside Electric Cooperatives around the world according to a core set of Principles. These Principles, along with the cooperative purpose of improving quality of life for their members, make Electric Cooperatives different from other electric utilities.
The seventh Principle of Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives is Concern for Community. According to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Concern for Community means that:
“While focusing on member needs, Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members (source).”
Barry Hart, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives says that Concern for Community equates to improving quality of life for Missourians.
“We know that when we brought electricity to rural Missouri quality of life improved, but there’s a lot of other issues that need to be addressed. Your Electric Cooperative is at the forefront of all those issues that are being addressed in the community.”
Improving quality of live can mean a number of things. It can mean offering programs for Missouri youth, helping to develop local economies through job creation, representing Member-Owner interests in the Missouri General Assembly, or encouraging employees to be active in local organizations like Kiwanis and Rotary.
According to Hart, “…any of those organizations or programs [in your community] that are making your community a better place to live, I guarantee you, your Electric Cooperative’s plugged in to what’s going on.”
Your Missouri Electric Cooperatives have your local community’s best interest at heart. Learn more about Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives by following Cooperative stories, photos, and videos on our Facebook ,
Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram accounts.
How to Join Your Missouri Electric Cooperative
If you’d like to become #aMemberOwner of one of Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives, contact the Missouri Electric Cooperative in your community. You can find a list of Missouri’s more than 30 Electric Cooperatives, including links to their websites, here.
Did you know?
Your Missouri Electric Cooperative is a 501(c)(12) nonprofit organization, which means that 85% or more of its annual income must be used for the sole purpose of meeting losses and expenses. You can read more about your Cooperative’s nonprofit status on the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association website.
