12 ORGS · 341 ACTIVITIES ← all strategies ·
approach →

Member-Owned Cooperative Model

methodology: member_owned_cooperative_model

By structuring as a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative, financial benefits and decision-making are returned to members, because shared ownership aligns institutional incentives with member well-being rather than external profit motives. This strategy centers on the governance and financial alignment inherent in cooperative structures, where members are both customers and owners. Surpluses are reinvested as capital credits, better rates, or community initiatives, fostering trust, long-term engagement, and localized economic resilience. While some organizations extend this model into education, incentives, or digital access, the core mechanism—ownership-driven alignment—distinguishes it from merely operational or programmatic approaches.

12
orgs running it
341
activities of those orgs
12
activity groups touched
who runs it

organizations running this strategy · 12

what it looks like in practice

activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above. These are what the strategy looks like on the ground.

  • Avian Protection Program SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Participates in a voluntary federal program to track power-related avian injuries and fatalities, implements raptor protection on all new construction, retrofits older poles with protection, uses nesting deterrents, and relocates active nests from poles to safe areas.
  • Co-op Connections Program SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Offers members discounts on various categories including health, wellness, travel, entertainment, and local deals, while providing free marketing for participating retailers to over 50,000 members.
  • Electricity Distribution SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Provides electricity to over 60,000 services through approximately 4,100 miles of energized distribution lines, serving more than 59,000 meters across a service area of over 5,700 square miles, making it the largest electric cooperative in Arizona.
  • Electricity Distribution SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Provides electricity to over 60,000 services through approximately 4,100 miles of energized distribution lines, serving more than 59,000 meters across a 5,700 square mile service area in Arizona.
  • Energy Audits SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Offers free energy audits to its members to help them manage their energy consumption.
  • Energy Audits SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Offers free energy audits to members to help them manage their energy consumption.
  • Energy Portfolio Diversification SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Reduces reliance on coal for energy production, decreasing it from over 80% in 2016 to 26% in 2024, while increasing hydropower, natural gas, and solar power in its energy mix.
  • Energy Portfolio Diversification SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Reduced energy production from coal from over 80% in 2016 to 25.1% in 2018 and 26% in 2024, while increasing hydropower from 5.2% to 6.2-6.3%, natural gas from 3% to over 40.7-43%, and solar power to over 7-12% of its energy mix, including a second large solar field with battery backup.
  • Marketing Support for Local Businesses SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Provides free marketing for participating retailers and service providers to over 50,000 members through bill inserts, newsletters, and Currents magazine.
  • Member Account Management via Mobile App SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Offers a mobile application for members to pay bills, manage accounts, and receive real-time notifications.
  • Member Discount Program (Co-op Connections) SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Offers discounts on health and wellness, travel and entertainment, safety and security, local deals, national discounts, and insurance through the Co-op Connections program.
  • Member Equity Allocation and Retirement SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Allocates annual surplus revenues to member accounts as Membership Equity, which is retired approximately 25 years later via checks or bill credits, including processing claims for deceased members' estates.
  • Membership Equity Retirement SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Allocates annual surplus revenues to member accounts as Membership Equity, which is retired approximately 25 years after it is earned via checks or bill credits. This includes processing claims for deceased members' equity.
  • Mobile Account Management SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Provides a mobile application for members to pay bills, manage accounts, and receive real-time notifications.
  • Raptor Protection Program SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Participates in a federal program to track and prevent avian injuries and fatalities, changing construction standards to include raptor protection on new structures, retrofitting older poles, and relocating active nests.
  • Scholarship Program SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Awards thirty $3,000 scholarships annually to graduating high school seniors within its service area.
  • Scholarship Program SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Awards thirty $3,000 scholarships annually to graduating high school seniors in the cooperative's service area.
  • Solar for Schools Project SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC
    direct service
    Installs solar shade structures at all area schools, allowing the schools to retain the produced electricity.