Members want low cost

Reliable electricity may be taken for granted by consumers, but affordability certainly is not. The expectation of clean, affordable, reliable electricity begins with member-consumers and their expectations of their local distribution cooperatives.

Because we are member-governed and member-controlled, our members' focus on electricity prices drives our focus on costs. Half of Associated Electric Cooperative's mission is to provide its six transmission member-owners with reliable wholesale electricity. The other half is to deliver that electricity economically.

As the wholesale power generator for this three-tiered system of cooperatives, Associated Electric affects the costs of 51 distribution cooperatives in three states. The goal of our three-tiered system of cooperatives is to deliver reliable electricity to cooperative member-consumers at the lowest cost possible.

Member distribution cooperatives served by Associated Electric Cooperative and its six owner G&Ts overall continue to buy power at a lower cost than the average paid by nonmember distribution cooperatives in eight states surrounding the three-tiered system, according to the latest data from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.

Members don't just want low cost, they need low-cost electricity.

• 41 percent of member households have income of less than $50,000 a year.
• 16 percent have income of less than $25,000 a year.
• High-income households (more than $150,000) are 6 percent of households.
• Nearly two-thirds of surveyed members indicated they are age 55 or older.
  • 39 percent of members are age 65 or older, and many of those are on limited or fixed incomes.
  • 51 percent of senior-member households make less than $50,000 a year.
  • 22 percent of members age 65 and older reported income of less than $25,000.
• The highest wage earners are found in households age 35 to 54.
• The youngest age group, ages 18 to 34, is 6 percent of membership. In this age group, 4 out of 10 earned less than $50,000.
• Two-thirds of AECI system households include only one or two individuals.
• Conversely, one-third of households hold three or more members.
• 44 percent of surveyed members are employed; 40 percent is retired or on a pension; and 3 percent is unemployed.

Source: 2016 Member Satisfaction Survey