Lighting the way forward

When electric cooperatives first formed, they weren’t just about bringing power to unlit homes, they were about solving a deeply personal challenge for rural communities. Imagine living just outside the glow of city lights, watching progress happen in the distance but being left in the dark — literally. Local people came together with one shared goal: to bring light where there was none. It’s this spirit of community that we continue to honor during National Co-op Month each October.

Cooperatives have always been about more than just providing a service; they’re about making life better for their members because the members are the co-op. This unique model, where the customers also own the business, has allowed co-ops to lead in areas like expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure and, most recently, bringing high-speed internet to underserved areas. Just like decades ago, we’re still coming together to solve big problems for our communities.

In the early 1900s, urban areas were beginning to enjoy the conveniences of electricity, but rural America was left behind. Power companies saw the spread-out population as too costly to serve, but that didn’t stop the rural go-getters who rolled up their sleeves and formed cooperatives. They believed in the power of community, and with the help of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), they built something bigger than electricity — they built opportunity.

The story of electric co-ops is a grassroots story, born from local people solving local challenges. It didn’t come from a top-down directive but from neighbors coming together, driven by a vision for a better life. Today, more than 900 electric cooperatives across the U.S. still operate with that same sense of community ownership and purpose.

Cooperatives aren’t just about providing power — they’re about empowerment. They create connections, not only through the electricity we rely on but through a shared commitment to the well-being of our communities. When you’re part of a co-op, you’re not just a customer — you’re a part-owner, a member with a voice and a stake in the shared success. That’s worth

By Chris Meyers

General Manager | Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives