A good buddy of mine, Bob McCosh, spends his weekends screaming down a dragstrip going 200 mph. I asked him once what it takes to compete. He said dedication, a great team and a reliable car. If any of these are missing you won’t be taking home that checkered flag.
When Bob started racing with his dad 50 years ago, he knew racing was in his blood. He didn’t know chasing this dream would mean hundreds of nights working on his engine, traveling thousands of miles and spending countless dollars to keep his car on the track. Twice during his racing career, he had to step away because of rising costs. He never stopped believing and has earned many trophies.
While you won’t see your local electric cooperative on the racetrack during the weekend, they have the same dedication to keeping your lights on as my friend does with racing. It takes a lot of similar strategies to keep the power flowing.
The dedication of electric cooperatives started more than 80 years ago when our friends in the city were enjoying electrification — but we in rural areas were literally left in the dark. While many called it an unachievable task, those farmers knew there was a way. House to house, local farmers knocked on every door collecting $5 knowing there was hope for the future. It worked and the lights came on.
But that was just the first step. The next challenge was keeping the lights on. Co-ops were formed, and teams of linemen were hired to ensure when storms hit, transformers broke or an electric line shorted out, someone could fix the problem.
The last challenge for electric cooperatives is the hardest. While my friend Bob had no choice but to step away from racing due to costs, electric cooperative leaders know they don’t have that option for their member-owners. Electricity is the lifeblood of rural America. Your electric co-op must provide electricity as affordably and reliably as possible.
Today, electric cooperatives do everything to keep your rates low but sometimes the cost of that reliable electricity goes up. The great thing about being a member-owner of an electric co-op is knowing every cent you pay is going to keep your lights on. In fact, if any money is left at the end of the year, it is given back to you as a capital credit.
Just like Bob is doing everything to win a racing championship, your electric co-op is achieving the same level of success by providing you with reliable, affordable electricity.
Caleb Jones is the executive vice president and CEO of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives in Jefferson City. He is a member of Boone Electric Cooperative.