Anne Harvey from Pioneer.coop writes:
During a summer vacation to Alaska, I took the time to visit electric cooperatives near Anchorage. Why? Because I love connecting in person with the people and organizations in my cooperative family.
Even though I am an introvert by nature, when I’m with electric or telephone co-op teams I just can’t stop myself from discussing how we are supporting and engaging our diverse members.
After the trip Lisa Scheerer, one of my new Alaskan co-op friends — yes, in co-op world you move from colleague to friend status after one conversation — emailed:
“I hope this finds you well. I’m starting to write an article on National Co-op Month. I would love to mention your visit to us, your passion for co-ops and include a quote about why you love co-ops so much. Why? Because it’s compelling and I want readers to feel the same way I did when I met you.”
Of course I’d love to help! But how do you take decades’ worth of experience, emotions and co-op wisdom and condense it down to a few sentences? Five minutes after I agreed to write the comment for Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, I thought:
- What an honor and how exciting that my love of all things co-op helped me make a connection.
- Schedule some time first thing tomorrow to write so you beat the deadline.
- AVEC’s territory is unique (learn about it in this episode of the “Alaska Powerline” podcast). The utility serves 58 communities with all but one only accessible by plane or boat. What else can I remember? It has more power plants than all other Alaskan co-ops combined and serves the largest area of any electric co-op in the world.
- What ingenuity and innovative conversations must have taken place to provide them with electricity? And what a testament to the cooperative business model that this could be done.
- And the cost and supply chain headaches? Wow! Yet members are willing to pay around 50 cents per kilowatt hour. These members truly understand the value of electricity.
- The employee dedication! I know how hard it is for crews to repair lines in searing heat, but the bitter cold and snow drifts towering over your head? And relying on villagers to help with generation and operations?
- I was able to chat with AVEC CEO Bill Stamm and he mentioned how important visiting their communities and supporting their youth is to him and the AVEC team. That’s something you don’t hear often from other organizations with millions of dollars in assets.
- The utility is getting funding and grants for renewable energy efforts and exploring unique energy storage and heat recovery projects. What a bold and intelligent plan that really helps them do more with less!
- I just read the AVEC annual report, but I really need to subscribe to their Ruralite edition (quickly jump to their website and start exploring).
- What amazing stories from their members: “I remember back in the ’70s being part of a crew for a service line that was, oh, roughly 12 miles long, and when it provided electricity to a 60-watt lightbulb — that was the brightest thing I ever saw in my house,” former Stebbins Mayor Morris Nashoanak says with a chuckle.
How do I summarize all of this amazing work from AVEC and highlight the many merits of the co-op model?
Way too many thoughts, I know, but this “brain dump” gave me an outline of sorts. What did I ultimately submit?
“I have been involved in cooperative communications and engagement for decades, and it is difficult to summarize the many merits of this business model. I am drawn to the fact that it starts with a simple belief of a few community members that they can — and will — always accomplish more together. When I think about the founding members of AVEC, I’m awed by the conviction they must have had to build an electric system in a harsh climate with few people and truly unique challenges in every segment of operations and member service.
“The employees of AVEC aren’t daunted by the challenges, in fact they are energized and thoughtfully consider the local impact of each decision. Focusing on local needs by forming a board with local residents, keeping funds local when they return capital credits and supporting local students with scholarships are examples of why the co-op model is so strong in Alaska.
“It is clear that at AVEC, the C stands not only for cooperative but also community, and I know its diverse communities and cultures will thrive for decades to come.”
Go Co-op
I sent Lisa a picture of me standing next to my truck in Texas. I’m proud of my ‘GO CO-OP’ vanity license plate. But is it really vanity if you’re supporting the best business model in the world?
As you can tell, I’m a big fan of cooperation and the impact all of Pioneer’s members — lovingly nicknamed Utility Pioneers — make in the communities you serve.
https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/gocoop2023/
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