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What is an Electric Cooperative?

An electric cooperative is a member-owned and controlled utility that provides electricity and associated services at cost to its consumer-members.

Electric cooperatives were established by rural pioneers in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Cooperatives like Southwestern Electric brought electricity to rural areas that the investor-owned utilities wouldn’t or couldn’t serve, turning on the lights for thousands of farmers and rural Americans.

Rural electrification was made possible by the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) created by Executive Order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on May 11, 1935, and later by enactment of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 on May 20, 1936. REA made low-interest loans available to bring power lines to rural areas. The REA program took off, soon becoming so popular and successful that electric cooperatives became known as “REAs.”

Nearly seventy years later, electric cooperatives like Southwestern are the primary providers of electricity in rural areas of downstate Illinois. Cooperatives serve small businesses and industries, farms, residences, cabins and recreational homes.

Today, as was true seventy years ago, cooperatives are governed by a unique form of democracy. Consumer-members, who own the cooperative, guide it through the election of directors who represent their interests on the cooperative’s board of directors.

Local control through an elected board of directors ensures all members an equal voice in the operation of their electric cooperative. The one-member one-vote concept is not only a right of all cooperative members...it’s a responsibility.

CEO & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kerry Sloan, Chief Executive Officer
Alan G. Libbra, Alhambra, President
Richard M. Gusewelle, Edwardsville, Vice President
Ronald Schaufelberger, Greenville, Secretary
Barbara Tedrick, Vandalia, Treasurer
Carl Barth, Sorento
Jim Grapperhaus, Troy
Ann M. Schwarm, Loogootee
Ted Willman, Greenville
Randy Wolf, St. Elmo

Statement of Objectives

Southwestern Electric Cooperative exists to serve its consumer-members in the best manner possible. The cooperative will:

Strive to provide the best possible service to all persons within the cooperative’s service area.Provide energy at the lowest sustainable prices, consistent with the highest standards of service.

Provide dependable service, develop a stable financial structure, maintain a sound organization and train leadership on a long-range basis.

Promote the safe and efficient use of electricity, electrical appliances and equipment in the home and on the farm.
Work to stimulate and support initiatives that will promote economic development.

Constantly strive for higher standards of electric service.
Keep consumer-members informed about their cooperative’s operations, plans, problems and progress, illustrating how member participation influences cooperative policy.

Develop the democratic process as it applies to consumer-members, encouraging their participation in cooperative affairs.

Ascertain that no person shall—regardless of race, color, religion, sex or national origin—be barred from participating in the cooperative’s democratic process.
Develop understanding and support of cooperative objectives, plans and programs.

Provide leadership and cooperate with community and civic groups in fostering programs that contribute to the area’s development.

Work to improve the standard of living for all members.