Electric Cooperatives

Locally owned and operated, Kentucky’s 26 electric cooperatives create jobs, fuel growth, and power the lives and economies of communities across Kentucky and America.

A co-op doesn’t just serve a community, it’s part of the community.

The people who work at your local co-op also call your community home. When you call for customer service, it’s likely someone who lives in your community will respond to your request. Because your local co-op personally knows the people their services affect and sees them every day, they take it seriously.

Your local co-op is led by consumers like you who understand and listen to the community. Consumer-members of each local co-op elect their own board of directors. Across Kentucky and across the country, local cooperatives work together to develop new technologies and infrastructure, learn from each other, and keep the grid secure.

All 26 electric cooperatives in Kentucky are members of both the Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA):

- 24 distribution cooperatives deliver electricity directly to member-consumers.
- Two “generation and transmission” cooperatives (G&Ts) supply power to the distribution co-ops.
- Collectively, the electric cooperatives of Kentucky power the lives of 1.5 million people in 117 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.
- Click here for a map and detailed listing of Kentucky’s electric cooperatives

Economic Development

With competitive electric rates, a robust power grid, a dedicated workforce and an attractive quality of life, Kentucky co-op territory is open for business.

Kentucky’s electric cooperatives are home to a wide variety of businesses. Co-ops work with employers to find the best fit for their operations, utilizing tax incentives and maximizing Kentucky’s central location and superior transportation.

East Kentucky Power Cooperative

Big Rivers Electric

Tennessee Valley Authority

Seven Cooperative Principles

Cooperatives around the world operate according to the same set of core principles and values, adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance. Cooperatives trace the roots of these principles to the first modern cooperative founded in Rochdale, England in 1844. These principles are a key reason that America’s electric cooperatives operate differently from other electric utilities, putting the needs of their members first.

Voluntary and Open Membership

Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

Members’ Economic Participation

Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership.

Autonomy and Independence

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

Education, Training, and
Information

Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

Concern for Community

While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.