'Co-op' spoken here

How do you define yourself? Are you a co-op member or customer? We don't view those we serve, be they residential, commercial or industrial consumers, as merely "customers." A cooperative business is owned by those it serves. MCEC's consumers — that is, its members — are also its owners.

It's more than a word. As a cooperative member, you are an integral part of the cooperative. Collectively, members are the co-op. Individually, one member's financial contribution may seem slight, but together, co-op members make a real difference in their community.

When you pay for electric service from the co-op, you help yourself and your neighbors. The revenue that you and fellow co-op members provide is our only equity and helps us serve a growing number of members while implementing the latest technology to provide the best possible service. Because co-ops are a non-profit organization, members receive refunds when there is revenue over and above expenses. These refunds are called Capital Credits and are determined by a member's yearly payments for electricity.

As a not-for-profit utility, Mid-Carolina later returns these Capital Credits to the member-owners who originally paid them in their electric bills.

Capital Credits are a benefit of membership in a member-owned utility.

Being a part of the cooperative is easy. You receive service, you pay for service. But, if you wish, you can become more involved.

Visit us whenever you wish. Another way, almost as easy and even more rewarding, is to attend your cooperative's annual meeting of members. There, you can vote in the board of trustees' elections and help select the local leadership that guides the co-op. The board sets rates and policies and hires the professional management that runs the cooperative day to day. Board members are, like you, members of the cooperative. They want to know their fellow members' needs and welcome your comments.

In fact, you, the members, are us, the cooperative. We always listen to you and do our best to serve your needs. We'd love to hear from you.

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• About MCEC
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• Touchstone Energy
• Economic Development