Western Cooperative Electric Association, Inc. was formed in May of 1945 to bring electricity to friends and neighbors in eight counties in Northwest Kansas: Ellis, Gove, Graham, Ness, Rooks, Rush, Trego, and Sheridan.
With the Aquila purchase in April 2007 we have added the five counties of Osborne, Russell, Barton, Lincoln, and Ellsworth.
Today Western serves 12,278 meters, maintains 3,973 miles of line, and employs 56 full-time employees. With headquarters located in WaKeeney, Kansas, and outposts in Olmitz, Plainville, and Ellsworth, Western Cooperative Electric provides agricultural, commercial and industrial consumers with reliable electrical power and excellent service.
Safety At Western
Western strives to achieve a level of safety for both its employees and the communities that surround us. That is why Western trains its employees and maintains high standards when it comes to safety. From monthly employee education and safety training sessions, to annual hearing tests, cholesterol and blood pressure tests, updates on blood-borne pathogens, hepatitis B vaccinations, to Drug and Alcohol Testing, to CPR and First Aid Training for employees, Western offers an array of opportunities for its employees to make sure that they can go home safely each and every night.
Western has once again received a “Certificate of Safety Accreditation” from the Rural Electric Safety Accreditation Program (RESAP) administered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) of Arlington, Virginia. This is Western’s sixth accreditation since the inception of the program.
This unique program began in 1967, and has developed over the years into a tool to assist electric utility management in its role and commitment to achieve and maintain high safety standards for the protection of its employees and the community served.
Accreditation is valid for three years. The accreditation process consists of:
- The applicant preparing an application that represents a collaborative record of the applicant electric system's safety policies and procedures over the past three calendar years;
- The appropriate RESAP area administrator coordinating an onsite field observation of the applicant’s system for the purpose of evaluating the physical aspects of the system; and,
- The applicant submitting the application and observation forms to the Rural Electric Safety Accreditation Committee for review.
Seven Cooperative Principles
Voluntary and Open Membership
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.
Members’ Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
Education, Training, and Information
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
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