It’s National Cooperative Month, an annual recognition of what makes co-ops different, and the difference co-ops make.
Cooperatives are local, independent and governed by a board of directors elected by their members. Electric cooperatives like Wake Electric provide the service of electricity, but our mission goes beyond that—to helping our members and communities thrive. Like all cooperative businesses, we are guided by seven principles:
- Voluntary and open membership
- Democratic member control
- Members’ economic participation
- Education, training and information
- Autonomy and independence
- Cooperation among cooperatives
- Concern for community
The principle of “concern for community” is woven deeply into programs like the Bright Ideas Education Grants program and Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships as well as our rural economic development work. In addition, we partner with local organizations by providing community grants to Meals on Wheels of Wake County, the Special Olympics of North Carolina and many other worthy programs through the WeCare Foundation funded by Operation Roundup.
As your local, non-profit, member-owned power provider, Wake Electric is working to strengthen the areas we serve while also building a brighter energy future for our members. We hope you will think of Wake Electric as more than your energy provider. Instead, we hope you think of us as a local business that supports this community and powers economic development and prosperity for the people.