Growing Up Co-op

December Manager's Article

I love the feeling of being able to walk into my favorite locally owned shop, restaurant or store knowing that the profit, product, and labor can make positive impacts on my community. The spirit of main street is embodied in these local businesses, just like it is in Lane-Scott Electric. Electric cooperatives are as local and community centered as they come. Founded as a way to bring electricity to rural communities of no interest to Investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives have been a cornerstone of community in rural America and beyond for decades.

Living on co-op lines is more than just knowing there are people out there working to bring you safe, reliable, and affordable electric service. Living on co-op lines is an investment in our community and its members. You see, Lane-Scott Electric is a not-for-profit business. When we make more money than we need to keep the lights on safely, affordably, and reliably, we return it back to our members in the form of capital credits. This means after all co-op expenses are paid, any additional money we earn goes back into our community, instead of going into a shareholder’s pocket.

And because we are owned by you, our members, we have a vested interest in making sure our community is prosperous. We do this by investing in our community through scholarships, youth programs, donations, sponsorships, food drives, the co-op connections program, and participation in community events. I hope you view Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative not just as your electric utility provider, but as a local business that brings pride and prosperity to our community.

The pandemic this past year, disrupted our community, sending home-grown small businesses, the heart of our rural communities into a tail wind of uncertainty and financial concern. Our school systems have been challenged, managing constant adaptations and distanced learning, while many parents juggled working from home and at-home school. Health care professionals worked tireless hours, and so many families have been forced to distance from their elderly and compromised loved ones. We must continue to work together, support each other and our local businesses, and be helpful to our community leaders, teachers, and officers as we move forward. Just as Cooperative Principle No.6 – Cooperative Among Cooperative – suggests, working together is the best strategy to empower us all.