What does it mean to be a member of a co-op, rather than a customer of a company? The difference starts with the purposes of the organizations. Investor-owned utilities have a responsibility to produce profit in order to provide dividends to their investors.

Electric cooperatives, conversely, have a responsibility to provide high-quality electric service at the lowest possible cost to you, because all of you collectively own the company and have given it that mission.

That means that instead of sending profits to investors, investment can be made in systems and infrastructure, leading to a more robust and resilient system and faster restoration times after weather events. It also means that being a good steward of co-op finances is essential. Any revenue after expenses and planning for growth is returned to you when it is prudent to do so.

Employees at the co-op understand that they work for you, and that they are a part of an organization that was built to serve the membership

Because co-ops are democratically controlled by the membership, each of you has an equal vote in the election of the Board of Directors, who must be members to qualify. The Board hires the CEO and oversees policy and planning; and is accountable to the membership.

Employees at the co-op understand that they work for you, and that they are a part of an organization that was built to serve the membership. It’s a culture that can be very different than the culture at for-profit companies. That’s why the CSRs that answer your calls go the extra mile to get you the answers you need and resolve any issues you may have. That’s why our line crew’s sense of urgency when there’s an outage is so strong. And that’s why our management and staff constantly strive for new ways to improve service and reduce costs.

Being concerned about the welfare of the community in general is also woven into the cooperative culture. Electric co-ops were formed by members to improve the quality of life for each other. In that spirit, Brunswick Electric has initiated and overseen a variety of economic development efforts. We’ve created grant programs that assist local non-profits and civic groups, and help our teachers do more in the classroom. And we offer educational scholarships that improve opportunities.

The cooperative difference is that because we are owned by those we serve, and we answer to each other, we can do more. Better electric service at the lowest possible cost. Customer service that truly cares about your needs. And community development that benefits us all. We hope you see how your membership makes a difference.