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Cooperative Principles

Cooperative Principles

All cooperative businesses adhere to these seven guiding principles.

Voluntary and Open Membership

  • Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.

Democratic Member Control

  • Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.  

    • ​2019 Annual Meeting Report

    • 2018 Annual Meeting Report

    • 2017 Annual Meeting Report

    • 2016 Annual Meeting Report

    • 2015 Annual Meeting Report

    • 2014 Annual Meeting Report

    • 2013 Annual Meeting Report

    • 2012 Annual Meeting Report

Members' Economic Participation

  • Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership.

  • Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

    • ​Capital Credit Retirement

Autonomy and Independence

  • Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

Education, Training, and Information

  • Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

    • ​​WEC News

    • Cooperative Action Network

Cooperation Among Cooperatives

  • Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.

    • ​NRECA

    • WECA

    • Touchstone Energy

    • Rope Program

Concern for Community

  • While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.

    • ACE Foundation - 2019 Press Release

 

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©2023 Clark Electric Cooperative, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

  • WELCOME
    • CEO Welcome Message
    • Contact Us - CEC
    • About Us
    • About Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
    • Anniversary Book - 75th
    • Annual Meeting
    • Articles & Bylaws
    • Board Of Directors
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Cooperative Principles
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Mission Statements
    • Nondiscrimination Statement
    • Staff
  • BILLING & RATE INFORMATION
    • Budget Billing
    • Energy Solutions
    • Capital Credits
      • Capital Credits - Unclaimed
    • Energy Assistance
    • Payment Options
      • Auto Pay
      • Paystations
    • SmartHub Q&A
    • Rates
    • Rebates/Incentives
  • OPERATIONS
    • Diggers Hotline
    • Duel Fuel/Electric Heat
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Lighting Efficiency
    • Load Management Program
    • Membership Responsiblity
      • Who's Responsible Guidelines
    • Renewable Energy
      • Distributed Generation
      • Evergreen Program
    • New Service Construction
      • New Commercial Service
      • New Residential Service
    • Safety First/Farm Rewiring Program
    • Stray Voltage
    • Vegetation Management
    • Wiremans Information
  • COMMUNITY
    • High-Voltage Demonstrations
    • How A Cooperative Works
    • Kids Energy Zone
    • Revolving Loan Fund
    • Scholarships
    • Solar Garden
    • Value Of Electricity
    • WEC News
    • Youth Leadership Program
  • OUTAGES
    • Blinking Lights
    • Report An Outage
    • Outage Restoral
    • Outage Tips
    • Safety
      • Safety - Generator
      • Safety - Harvest Season
      • Safety - Storms
      • Safety - Power Line
  • APPLIANCE & SATELLITE
    • About Us
    • Contact Us - CEAS
    • Employment Opportunity
    • VIASAT Internet
    • First Call - Emergency Monitoring
    • Water Heaters
    • Heating/Cooling
      • Geothermal
      • Arcoaire Split System Air Conditioners & Heat Pumps
      • Steffes - ETS
      • Daikin
      • Mitsubishi
      • Thermolec Boiler
      • Plenum Heater