Affordability is more than a goal at my Aulander-based electric co-op, Roanoke Cooperative — it’s a necessity. Roughly 40% of our member-owners qualify as low- or moderate-income, and we serve a region of the state that has experienced declining population growth over the past decade. These realities sharpen our sense of mission and reinforce why managing costs must remain a shared priority.

At Roanoke Cooperative and other co-ops across the state, we’re deploying behind-the-meter tools that empower member-owners to reduce usage and lower bills, like energy efficiency financing programs, smart thermostats, and load control devices. More than 20,000 smart thermostats and nearly 2,000 water heater controls have been deployed in co-op member homes, helping members save through demand response participation by lowering system-wide peak costs without requiring behavior changes.

These efforts not only help manage household energy costs but also reduce wholesale power expenses during peak demand, like chilly evenings when heating systems kick on.

We’re deploying behind-the-meter tools that empower member-owners to reduce usage and lower bills.

At the same time, co-ops are working together to control costs on the front-end of the system, from saving on basic materials through TEMA, our materials supply co-op, to investing in distributed energy resources such as community solar, battery storage and microgrids. These technologies help manage reliability and cost at scale, especially during extreme weather or high-cost energy periods.
Some cooperatives have also made bold investments in broadband infrastructure, or partnered to support it, as a critical enabler of affordability and participation in the modern economy. This connectivity supports both digital inclusion and access to tools that can help member-owners lower energy usage.

Electric co-ops’ economic development work is equally critical to sustaining long-term affordability, ensuring that investments in community resilience go hand-in-hand with our roles as energy providers. Since 2015, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have contributed to over 100 economic development projects across the state. resulting in more than $1 billion in new capital investments and 6,000 new jobs.

Like Roanoke Cooperative in the northeastern part of the state, where member-owners face disproportionately high energy burdens and declining population growth, many cooperatives are doubling down on economic development and community investments to reverse historic trends. These realities sharpen our sense of mission and reinforce why managing costs must remain a shared priority across the cooperative network.

Through all of this, we remain focused on our cooperative values — driven by service, guided by input from those we serve, and committed to doing what’s right for our communities.