Electric Cooperatives are:

• Private independent electric utility businesses.
• Incorporated under the laws of the states in which they operate.
• Owned by the consumers they serve.
• Governed by a board of directors elected from the membership which
   sets policies and procedures that are implemented by the cooperatives'
   professional staff.

There are over 870 electric distribution cooperatives and 60 generation and transmission cooperatives across America servicing over fifty percent (50%) of the land mass. They provide electric service to more that 36 million people in 46 states. That equates to 13 million homes, businesses, schools, churches, farms and other establishments in 2,500 of 3,128 counties in the U.S. - 11% of the nation's population. Owen Electric Cooperative is one of the nation's largest consumer-owned electric distribution cooperatives, serving approximately 151,000 Kentuckians on a network of more than 4,400 miles of power lines in the nine North-Central Kentucky counties of Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton and Scott. The Cooperative has offices in five counties: Owen, Kenton, Grant, Boone and Pendleton. Organized in 1936 as part of a nationwide movement to bring electricity to the unserved portion of the United States, Owen Electric is a nonprofit enterprise, owned and operated by and for the benefit of its 52,000 members.
 

Owen Electric's Power Supplier

The Cooperative's wholesale power is provided by East Kentucky Power Cooperative, which is owned by Owen Electric and seventeen other member cooperatives. Together they serve more than one million people in 89 Kentucky counties. East Kentucky Power owns and operates three coal-fired power plants and three combustion turbines which provide a total generating capacity of 1,677 MW. An additional 170 MW of hydro-peaking power is available under long-term contract. The Cooperative also has ties to all utilities operating in Kentucky. A readily available supply of coal from Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia is directly responsible for Kentucky having the 3rd lowest electric rates in the nation. Proximity to such an abundant fuel source, along with Owen Electric's service reliability and benchmark efficiency, have allowed the Cooperative to reduce rates by 16.1 percent since 1983.


LINKS
National Rural Electrical Cooperative Association
Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives
Electric Power Research Institute
East Kentucky Power Cooperative
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Northern Kentucky Tri-Ed
Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development

National Representation
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) represents the national interests of cooperative electric utilities. NRECA provides legislative, legal and regulatory services; and programs in insurance, management and employee education, training, consulting, public relations and advertising. NRECA and its member cooperatives also support energy and environmental research and administer a program of technical advice and assistance in developing countries around the world.

State Representation
The Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives (KAEC) represents Owen Electric and 26 other Kentucky electric cooperatives on a state level. By representing 1.5 million rural electric consumers, KAEC can provide legislative representation for electric cooperatives. KAEC also aids cooperatives in safety and loss prevention programs, communications and public relations services, assistance with annual membership meetings, youth programs, technical assistance, and legal services. KAEC also publishes the Kentucky Living Magazine.

Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives
Touchstone Energy represent more than 560 energy cooperatives serving more that 6.2 million households and businesses,
delivering power and energy solutions to more that 16 million customers in 38 states.

Are local, active members of their communities committed to serving commercial, industrial and residential customers with integrity, accountability, innovation and community involvement.

Represent electric cooperatives' unique characteristics in a changing marketplace where these values and differences matter more and more each day.

Are a nationwide network that brings added value to and benefit for all consumers while emphasizing the significance of each electric cooperative's local presence and ties to the community.

Cooperatives adhere to seven cooperative principles:
Voluntary and open membership without discrimination
Democratic member control
Member's economic participation
Cooperative autonomy and independence
Member education, training, and information to the general public
Cooperation among cooperatives
Concern for community

For additional questions e-mail or call Owen Electric Cooperative's
Customer Service and Marketing Department at 1-800-372-7612.