History of Electric Cooperatives – An American Story
What Exactly is an Electric Cooperative?
Co-ops were developed to fill a need not addressed by other kinds of businesses, such as single owner, partnership, and investor-owned.
One of every four Americans is a member of a cooperative. Even if you’re not a co-op member, you still depend on cooperative businesses for essential products and services.
Many articles in your daily newspaper may be labeled “Associated Press” or “AP”. These stories were written by individual reporters but distributed by a cooperative news organization. Some of the bigger cooperatives include Sunkist, Land O’ Lakes, Ocean Spray, Agway, and the list goes on. The largest co-op class in the nation is your credit union, serving more than 48.5 million members.
Mission Statement
Mission Statement: REA Energy Cooperative, Inc., a member-owned and consumer-driven electric cooperative, will provide quality electric service at a competitive price. Its board and management will work together, as a team, to improve the quality of rural life, now and in the future, by following cooperative principles, promoting economic development, and any other means that may benefit its consumer-members.
Vision Statement: REA Energy Cooperative, Inc. will strive to become a major player in the electric industry by focusing on providing quality, reliable electric service and products to satisfy the needs of our consumers and member-owners. REA Energy Cooperative, Inc. will strive to be successful by developing a positive image in the communities we serve, by remaining competitive with cooperation from other Cooperatives, by exploring the use of a subsidiary, and by adapting to changes in the business climate to benefit the consumer-members of the Cooperative