THE COOPERATIVE NETWORK WORKS FOR YOU

As a co-op employee, you are part of something much larger – a nationwide network of nearly 900 co-ops in 48 states. Let’s take a closer look at what the cooperative network looks like.

Local

Distribution co-ops were built by and serve co-op members in their communities with electricity and other services. Local co-ops leverage each other by sharing information and resources with peers facing similar situations.

Regional

Generation & transmission (G&T) co-ops provide wholesale power to distribution co-ops through their own electric generation facilities or by purchasing power on behalf of the distribution members. This group also often provides distribution engineering and planning support, education and training programs, marketing information and economic development support.

State

Statewide associations are service organizations that engage in advocacy activities before state entities and agencies. These associations also provide other support to electric co-ops in their region or state, on topics such as communications, training and safety.

National

NRECA is the national trade association representing the interests of nearly 900 electric co-ops, providing a broad range of products and services in the areas of outreach and advocacy, workforce development, operational and business strategies and employee benefits.

Touchstone Energy® is the national brand of electric co-ops, providing tools and resources to help its member cooperatives and their employees better engage and serve their co-op members.

A number of additional strategic partners offer expertise in areas of interest to co-ops, like finance, insurance, technology and various products and services.

Learn more about these groups on cooperative.com

America’s Electric Cooperatives

From booming suburbs to remote rural communities, America’s electric cooperatives are energy providers and engines of economic development. Electric cooperatives play a vital role in transforming communities.

Cooperatives power 56% of the nation’s landmass.

Own and maintain 42% (2.7 million miles) of U.S. electric distribution lines that serve our communities.

Serve 42 million people across 2,500+ counties, including 92% of persistent poverty counties.

Power over 20 million businesses, homes, schools and farms in 48 states.

In 2019, America’s electric co-ops returned more than $1.3 billion in capital credits to their consumer-members.

832 distribution cooperatives are the foundation of the electric cooperative network. They were built by and serve co-op members in the community with the delivery of electricity and other services.

63 generation & transmission cooperatives provide wholesale power to distribution co-ops through their own electric generation facilities or by purchasing power on behalf of the distribution members.

Electric cooperatives are hubs of innovation

As co-ops meet tomorrow’s energy needs, they invest in the future of their communities.

Broadband: More than 200 co-ops are developing or planning to deploy broadband service to their members, giving them access to telehealth services, online learning, remote work and new possibilities for local businesses.

Smart Meters: Electric cooperatives lead the industry in smart meter deployment, with a 73% penetration rate of AMI meters, compared to 58% for the rest of the industry.

Energy Storage: Cooperatives have developed more than 50 energy storage projects, ranging from residential batteries to large utility-scale projects paired with renewable generation. Storage is an important element of microgrids, including on military installations.

Carbon Capture: Electric cooperatives are partners in more than $30 million in innovative carbon capture technology research projects.

The cooperative difference

Electric co-ops are local energy and technology partners. Consumer-owned and not for profit, they are shaped by the specific needs of the communities they serve. This local, member-driven structure is one reason why cooperatives enjoy the highest consumer-satisfaction scores within the electric industry, according to J.D. Power and Associates and the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

• Electric cooperatives are built by and belong to the communities they serve. They are led by members from the community and are uniquely suited to meet local needs.

• Co-ops earned the highest average score and had 5 of the top 7 satisfaction scores among all types of electric utilities in the J.D. Power and Associates 2020 Utility Customer Satisfaction Study.

• Electric cooperatives, on average, score higher than all other electric companies, according to the 2021 American Customer Satisfaction Index.

Source: NRECA

Electricity use and energy mix

Co-ops rely on a diverse energy mix to ensure a reliable, affordable and responsible electricity supply that meets the needs of their consumer-members. More than two-thirds of the electricity delivered by co-ops to members comes from low- or zero-carbon sources.

Co-ops generate 5% of total U.S. electricity and deliver 12%of all U.S. electricity

Source: NRECA research

Unlike the rest of the electric sector, electric co-ops sell the majority of their power to households rather than businesses. Keeping rates affordable is especially important for these consumer-members at the end of the line.

HELPING RURAL COMMUNITIES RESPOND TO COVID-19

Throughout the pandemic, co-ops worked tirelessly to support their communities by keeping the lights on and finding new ways to lend a hand. Since the start of the pandemic co-ops have:

• Provided COVID testing and hosted vaccination clinics in high-demand areas

• Donated masks and hand sanitizer

• Established free wifi hotspots for students and families working from home

• Donated laptops to schools

• Delivered meals in their communities

Co-ops are reducing emissions …

Cleaner air

Cooperatives are meeting member expectations by reducing emissions through a combination of emission-reduction measures at power plants and fuel switching to natural gas and renewables.

Co-ops have:

• Reduced carbon dioxide emissions 18% from 2005-2019.

• Reduced nitrogen oxide emissions 69% from 2005-2019.

• Reduced carbon dioxide emissions 18% from 2005-2019.

… and jump starting renewable energy growth

Source: EPA and EIA

Cumulative Co-op Renewable Capacity, Owned and Under Contract

• From 2010 to 2020, co-ops nearly tripled their renewable capacity from 3.9 gigawatts to more than 11.4 gigawatts.

• Co-ops added more new renewable capacity in 2020, nearly 1.6 GW, than in any previous year.

• Electric co-ops have deployed enough wind and solar capacity to serve nearly 2.7 million homes.

• Co-ops have announced more than 6.4 GW of new renewable capacity additions planned from 2021-2024.

• Co-ops purchase 10 GW of hydropower from federal power marketing administrations and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Most of us take reliable electric power for granted. But do you know what’s really involved in getting that power to you?

1. Power Plant: At a generating plant, water is heated to steam using fuels such as natural gas, coal and oil; the steam turns turbines that turn generators to produce electric energy. In some areas, nuclear power or water flowing through hydroelectric dams powers the turbines.

2. Step-Up Substation: Transformers at the generating plant increase the voltage up to 345,000 volts, so it can travel long distances over high-voltage transmission lines.

3. High-Voltage Transmission Lines: These lines carry the electric energy over long distances. Insulators on the towers prevent the power from flowing to the towers or the ground.

4. Transmission Substation: Transformers reduce the electric energy up to 69,000 volts, making it suitable for high-volume delivery over short distances.

5. Large Industrial User: Most industries need 2,400 to 4,160 volts to run heavy machinery. They usually have their own substation at the facility.

6. Local Distribution Substation: Local electric co-ops operate several of these substations to reduce electricity to 7,200-14,400 volts for distribution to their members.

7. Distribution Lines: Lines belonging to local electric co-ops carry electricity to transformers that reduce power levels to 120/240 or 120/208 volts for use in schools, farms, homes and small businesses.

www.electric.coop | @NRECANews