Strength in service

Every year during National Cooperative Month, I find myself reflecting on the remarkable journey of electric cooperatives in fulfilling their mission to serve their members. Over the past two decades, I’ve personally witnessed profound changes in the industry, but my cooperative journey didn’t begin the day I was hired.

It all started with my grandfather, who introduced me to the cooperative family. From 1960 to 1997, he served as a board member for Northwestern Electric Cooperative (NWEC). His contributions left a lasting mark on our local cooperative’s history, culminating in his election to the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives’ Hall of Fame in 1998. My grandfather not only served as a role model but also ignited my passion for serving our rural community.

In October 2001, I joined NWEC as an accounting supervisor, following a five-year stint as a financial advisor at Dean Witter. In 2003, I earned a promotion to manager of finance and accounting, and in 2007, the NWEC board of directors entrusted me with the role of CEO. This month marks my 22nd year with the cooperative, and I feel deeply privileged to have dedicated a significant portion of my life to serving the members of my hometown community.

Based in Woodward, Oklahoma, my electric cooperative was established in 1940, primarily catering to rural, residential and commercial consumer-members across seven counties in northwest Oklahoma. Collectively, our cooperative maintains about 5,000 miles of power lines and serves around 12,000 meters within these counties.

My responsibilities on the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives board parallel my role as NWEC’s CEO, as both positions entail making decisions that prioritize the well-being of our cooperative members. My duty is to attentively listen to our 60-member board and sustain our member-centric focus, with the overarching goal of investing in rural communities and enhancing the quality of life for all we serve.

Although each local distribution cooperative is autonomous, the fundamental mission remains constant: delivering safe, affordable and reliable power. Our statewide association plays a pivotal role in supporting all cooperatives as they pursue this mission, offering invaluable assistance and resources. As cooperatives navigate the evolving industry landscape, challenges persist, including the formidable task of maintaining a skilled workforce capable of addressing the economic and environmental complexities inherent in sustaining a robust, not-for-profit electric grid.

Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives confront the additional challenge of managing more infrastructure with less revenue per mile compared to other utilities in the state. Nevertheless, cooperatives persist in furnishing dependable power to our members, with some even taking on the commendable endeavor of providing reliable internet service to previously underserved regions, further advancing progress in rural communities.

Whether serving my cooperative or the statewide association, one of the most important things I have learned is this — we are stronger together. Initiatives like mutual aid projects, legislative advocacy events and our monthly meetings exemplify this unity. Cooperatives continue to evolve, learn and grow together, and I consider myself exceptionally fortunate to be a part of this dynamic industry, not just during National Cooperative Month but all year long.

Tyson Littau

Board President | Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives