Co-ops Manage Electricity Costs
The cost of electricity is top of mind for millions of Americans. Sometimes, external factors that we have little control over — including weather, international relations and global markets, to name a few — can have an outsized impact on energy supply and demand. That, of course, influences the cost of electricity.
Our Commitment to Affordable, Reliable Energy
There are many things you can do as an individual household or business to manage your monthly energy bill. But you should also know that your Touchstone Energy® Cooperative proactively looks for ways to secure a strong, stable power grid and provide value. It's central to our commitment to delivering not for profit, reliable energy to our member-owners and the places we call home. Here's how we live that out:
Infrastructure Investments
As an electric cooperative, we are guided by the best interests of our member-owners. Investing in infrastructure is critical to helping the communities we serve thrive far into the future. Securing additional power generation and installing transmission lines to deliver electricity requires significant upfront investment, but it pays off in the long run in the form of a more stable power supply. That, in turn, helps your co-op manage costs in times when external factors impact supply or demand.
Patronage Capital Credit Distributions
Because your Touchstone Energy Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned organization, we don't pass on net margins to private investors. Each year, the democratically elected board of directors evaluates finances for the electric co-op and determines an appropriate level of capital credits to allocate and potential return to member owners.. These funds may be reinvested into the electric system to support reliability and future needs or retired and returned to members over time as financial conditions allow.
Electric Cooperative Decision-Making
As a member-owner of your local Touchstone Energy Cooperative, you play a role in the cooperatives governance through the election board members who help secure affordable, reliable power for the communities we serve. Board members are democratically elected and are committed to acting in the best interest of their fellow member-owners.
