When you think of October, things like pumpkin patches, Halloween ghosts and goblins, and vibrant fall foliage probably come to mind. But October is notable for another reason—it’s National Co-op Month! This is the time of year when cooperatives across the country, including Rock Energy Cooperative, reflect on who we are and, more importantly, the members we serve.
Cooperatives are different than other types of businesses. They are conveners for the common good. Thirteen Rock County farmers made history in 1936 when they laid the groundwork for rural residents to get electricity and improve the quality of their lives. The history of the Rock County Electric Cooperative Association, now Rock Energy Cooperative, is filled with milestones, significant happenings, and thousands of smaller achievements that have taken place since its inception.
Today, Rock Energy Cooperative exists to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy to you, the members of the co-op. Equally important is our mission to enrich the lives of the members we serve. As a co-op, we are well-suited to meet the needs of the community because we are locally governed. Rock Energy's leadership team and employees live right here in the communities we serve. Our board of directors, who helps set long-term priorities for the co-op, live locally on co-op lines. These board members have been elected to the position by neighbors like you.
We know our members (you!) have a valuable perspective. That’s why we are continually seeking your input. Whether through community events, email, phone, or at the annual meeting, we want to hear from you.
Our close connection to the community ensures we get a first-hand perspective on local priorities, thereby enabling us to make more informed decisions on long-term investments, such as the West Riverside Energy Center in Beloit Township.
As a Rock Energy member, you can participate in the democratic process by electing fellow members to represent you on the board of directors. You also participate financially through our capital credits program. At the end of each year, any margins that exceed actual costs are allocated to members in the form of capital credits. Since the co-op was founded, about $31 million has been returned.
As a not-for-profit business, members know they can trust their co-op because it was created to deliver on the promise of providing safe, reliable, and affordable energy to members—not to generate money for shareholders. The focus on community values mixed with the cooperative business model makes co-ops stronger and sets us apart from traditional power companies. That’s the cooperative difference! And, as always, we encourage you to let us know if we can do anything to improve our service to you.