October is National Co-op Month, a time to celebrate what makes cooperatives unique and the important role they play in the communities they serve. At Tri-County EMC, it’s also an opportunity to recognize the people at the heart of everything we do—you, our members. This year, as we celebrate National Co-op Month and look ahead to our Annual Meeting, our theme, “Powering What Matters,” reflects the purpose behind our cooperative. We provide the electricity that powers your homes, farms, businesses and schools, but being your electric cooperative means much more than delivering electricity. It means powering the people, places and possibilities that matter most to our communities.
When you hear the word cooperative, what comes to mind? We hope you think of Tri-County EMC.
Cooperatives come in many shapes and sizes, but they all share one important principle: they exist to serve their members. Credit unions help members save and borrow money. Producer cooperatives help farmers bring their products to market. Retail cooperatives serve their shoppers or member businesses. And electric cooperatives like Tri-County EMC provide reliable electricity while working to improve the quality of life in the communities they serve.
Unlike businesses that answer to outside investors or shareholders, cooperatives are owned by the people they serve. That means our priorities are shaped by the needs of our members and the communities we call home. That’s the cooperative difference—and it has been part of Tri-County EMC since the beginning.
Our story began in 1940 when local neighbors came together to bring electricity to rural areas that other utilities would not serve. More than 85 years later, much has changed, but our purpose remains the same. We are still here to provide safe, reliable electricity and make decisions with our members’ best interests in mind.
Today, Powering What Matters takes many forms. It means keeping the lights on and restoring power safely after a storm. It means helping members better understand and manage their energy use. It means supporting local students and teachers, investing in our communities and embracing technology that helps us serve you more efficiently.
You can also see the cooperative difference in the people behind your power—the lineworkers working through difficult conditions to restore service, member services answering your questions, the employees volunteering throughout our communities and the board members, who are fellow members and neighbors, helping guide the cooperative’s future.
Most importantly, you can see it in the voice our members have in their cooperative. That voice is especially important as we prepare for Tri-County EMC’s Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting is more than a cooperative tradition. It’s an opportunity for members to participate in the cooperative they own, cast their vote and be part of shaping its future. It’s one of the many ways the cooperative business model keeps members at the center of what we do.
For generations, Tri-County EMC has been more than an electric provider. We are your neighbor, your local energy partner and your cooperative. And as the needs of our communities continue to change, one thing will remain constant: our commitment to Powering What Matters—today, tomorrow and for generations to come.