This is an interesting time to step into this role. Many people across North Carolina — and across the country — are facing challenges related to the increased cost of living, which has impacted everything from gas to groceries to yes, the electricity powering our lives.

Running an electric utility takes significant investment, and co-ops are not immune to cost increases across wholesale, transmission and distribution operations. However, there’s a key difference between co-ops and other types of electric providers. Electric co-ops are not-for-profit, which means the electricity delivered to you is provided at the cost of doing business, never to make a profit for shareholders.

The state’s electric co-ops harness a collective strength, coordinating through the family of support organizations that is North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

To control costs, the state’s electric co-ops harness a collective strength, working together through the family of support organizations that is North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. Together, we chart a path for future generation needs, advocate for smart energy policies and leverage collective buying power on the materials needed to build and maintain distribution systems.

This structure lends itself to what we call the “cooperative difference.” The secret to our success on these big picture issues is the principle of Cooperation Among Cooperatives. It fosters open collaboration that gives us strength as a statewide network while also preserving another unique aspect of cooperatives: local decision making.

The fundamental concept of supporting the communities we serve was born out of necessity and has become all the more critical in a time when costs are rising. When it comes down to it, we’re all focused on one thing: providing affordable, reliable power to the communities we call home. This shared focus is what gives our network strength.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with your electric cooperative and others across the state to protect electric affordability and reliability through careful planning and thoughtful decision making.

I encourage you to be a part of the cooperative difference. Find ways to engage with your local electric co-op. Attend an annual meeting, whether it’s in-person or virtual. Keep reading about your co-op and our communities in Carolina Country magazine, follow your co-op on social media, and connect with home energy solutions provided by your co-op. And never hesitate to pick up the phone and reach out, knowing that the person on the other end of the line is there to serve you.