Tennessee's Electric Cooperative Case Study

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES: GOING BEYOND THE WIRES It’s Tuesday October 31st; today is Halloween and there will be so many houses decorated and lit up. Mrs. Tori dropped Cindy off at her best friend Amanda’s house so they could go trick-or-treating in the evening. Mrs. Tori is a member of Tennessee’s Electric Co-ops. “When I get older, I want to be a member and buy a co-op, like my mom,” said Cindy. Amanda didn’t know anything about Tennessee’s Electric Co-ops, so she didn’t seem interested. That evening Cindy and Amanda went doodling around the neighborhood gazing at the houses. That was one of their favorite things about Halloween besides the Candy. Cindy spotted the scariest house with the most light-up decorations, lights and monsters everywhere. “Did you know that, Tennessee’s Electric Cooperatives provide power to more than 1.1 million homes, farms, and businesses across rural and suburban Tennessee,” questioned Cindy? “You know I don’t know any of that stuff Cindy. So, Tennessee’s Electric Cooperatives are providing power to this
house so they could have all these lights and decorations?” replied Amanda in amazement. "Exactly", Cindy exclaimed! They kept walking down the street trick-or-treating door to door. While taking a big bite of her Hershey's bar Cindy said, "Halloween must've sucked back in the 1930s, there was no power in rural Tennessee. Homeowners and farmers came together to create Co-ops that would bring power to their homes. Which is why we all have power in our homes now. Amanda remarked," you're right I wouldn’t want to go trick- or- treating in the dark with no lights or pretty light up decorations. It was getting late and it started to sprinkle. Amanda and Cindy decided to head back home. On their way home they passed a whole street of houses that were decorated and had lights everywhere. The whole street looked spooky. " The primary goal for co-ops is to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy to our neighbors, the very people who own the co-op," Cindy spoke. " Most of our neighbors own a co-op. They all have their lights working perfectly, and you can tell its reliable and affordable; they've had them on all night through the sprinkles", Amanda commented.

They continued until they finally made it to Amanda's house. It was only nine o-clock so they decided to watch a movie as they ate their Halloween candies. " How about this one it is called, Electric Cooperatives: Going Beyond The Wires, I heard it's a great movie and it's very informative, "begged Cindy. Amanda agreed and hit play. In the movie the speaker informed that from "1935-1948, Tennesseans formed 23 electric cooperatives to bring electricity to rural areas". " Today Tennessee's 23 electric cooperatives provide energy for 2.5 million Tennesseans across 71 percent of Tennessee's landmass. " Tennessee's electric co-ops provide so much energy that's amazing," Amanda wowed. "Shhh, just listen," Cindy hushed. Thirty minutes into the movie have passed.
Amanda was amazed by all the things she was learning about electric cooperatives and how much they have done for her home state. The cooperatives provided $94 million in payroll and benefits for Tennessee families. Cindy already knew most of these things since her mom owned a co-op and she knew she would be a future co-op owner as well. In 2013 electric co-ops secured more than $4 million in economic development loans. " I think it's so cool that our electric cooperatives are owned by the people that own it and not owned by the government," Amanda stated. It started to rain so hard the tv signal went away but the electricity didn't, the lights were still on. " You see Amanda this is the best Reliable, and affordable electricity ever," exclaimed Cindy! " You bet it is and you know what, when I'm older I'm going to buy a co-op as
well".