Innovating with Electric Cooperatives

By Sarah Kellogg An inspiring, forward-thinking businessman, Mike Couick works to distribute affordable electricity to rural homes. “I don’t believe it’s a sustainable business plan to try to sell electricity that a member can’t afford,” Couick says. “The bottom line is their satisfaction and well-being.” Couick is the CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of South…

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How the Government Shutdown Effects Rural Energy Efficiency Programs

While many rural electric cooperatives are waiting eagerly for the government to get back to work, others are moving forward on energy efficiency. While some rural electric cooperatives are large and have the ability to provide valuable services to their customers, others are smaller, cash-strapped, and face administrative and financial challenges on a daily basis.…

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Powering with Change

On-bill financing helps low-income co-op members retrofit their homes By Matt Grimley The Great Depression was a time of dust bowls and poverty, but at least cities had electricity. The rural areas had it rough. Citing high development costs and low profit possibilities, utilities often denied electric service to farms, hollers and other far-off places.…

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