Focused On You:
The Cooperative Difference
October is National Co-op Month, the time of year when cooperatives across the country celebrate the many ways co-ops are unique and, more importantly, the members they serve.
As WCEC’s GM/CEO Gary Raybon discusses in his monthly message, cooperatives around the world operate according to the same set of core principles and values. These principles, adopted by the International Cooperative Alliance, trace back to the first modern cooperative founded in Rochdale, England in 1844. They are the reason that America’s electric cooperatives operate differently from other electric utilities, putting the needs of their members first.
Raybon touches on the first three of these principles. The remaining four are equally important.
Autonomy and Independence
Autonomy and Independence means that the co-op operates in an autonomous way that is solely directed and guided by its members, reflecting the values and needs of our local community. This means the co-op is not influenced by leaders or shareholders several states away. Instead, we are led by the local members we serve.
Education and Training
Enhancing the knowledge of not only our employees and board members, but that of our members and the public, enables everyone to contribute to the development of the co-op.
By investing in continuous learning for employees and board members, WCEC is making a commitment not just to individual professional and personal growth, but to the future of the co-op and the high quality of service our members expect and deserve. It’s a win-win situation.
WCEC also strives to inform our members and the public about the mission and operations of the co-op, the latest in energy efficiency and conservation, and, most importantly, electrical safety. As a member, this magazine is the best way to receive information from WCEC. Each month features articles ranging from cooperative programs to the future of the power grid to DIY energy-saving tips. Other avenues to get up-to-date information include WCEC’s website and social media.
At MyWCEC.coop, members and the public can learn how to prepare for extended outages, how electricity works, why it can be dangerous, and how to stay safe around electrical equipment. There is also a Kids Corner with activities, videos, and worksheets to help teach children about electrical safety. On a more personal level, WCEC offers electrical demonstrations and presentations on many of these topics to schools, businesses, and community groups.
Perhaps the most exciting of WCEC’s educational offerings is the Government-in-Action Youth Tour which will be returning in 2023!
Youth Tour is a weeklong, all-expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capital held each year in June. WCEC has historically sponsored students to attend the educational yet fun-filled trip. Due to COVID-19 precautions, we have not participated in the last three years opting instead to award scholarships to select graduating seniors. Last year’s winners, Braden Amestoy and Kendall Beal, were awarded $3,050 each.
“We are excited to be sending delegates to D.C. again next year,” Raybon says. “Having participated as a chaperone for the tour, I can say Youth Tour is one of the most educationally immersive and culturally eye-opening experiences a young person can have.”
Applications for the 2023 Youth Tour are now available at MyWCEC.coop/YouthTour.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Cooperation among cooperatives is the sixth principle and fosters the way that co-ops work together to address bigger challenges. While this principle applies to all types of cooperatives, it is especially relevant in the energy industry. In our case, we put this principle in action after major storms and disasters that cause widespread power outages. When this happens, we call on nearby co-ops to come to our aid and assist with restoration efforts—and we of course extend the same help to them when they need us.
In addition, because we are part of the national electric co-op network, we can connect and collaborate with other electric co-ops to tackle industry-related challenges, like cybersecurity and an everchanging energy landscape.
Concern for Community
The final principle, Concern for Community, is essential to who we are as cooperatives. We serve our community not only by being an essential service but by helping to power our local economy. Whether through economic development, volunteerism, or donations to local causes, we invest in this community because it’s our home too.
WCEC employees are encouraged to serve in community organizations and many do, including Rotary, Lions, Lady Lions, Knights of Columbus, and 100 Club. Some are volunteer firemen and most are involved in youth activities across our service territory. We believe in giving back to our communities.
And you, our members, do too! By rounding up your electric bills each month, WCEC members contribute more than $20,000 to local non-profit organizations each year. Operation Round-Up was started in 2003 and is a separate entity from WCEC. Funds are donated by WCEC members and distributed to 501(c)(3) organizations within the cooperative service area. Since 2003, over $300,000 has been given to local non-profits through Operation Round Up.
Another way WCEC is able to give back is the CoBank Sharing Success program. Sharing Success is a matching grant opportunity open to local nonprofit organizations. Aimed at supporting local communities and people, the grant is made possible by our board of directors, in partnership with CoBank—a national nonprofit cooperative bank owned by the rural American cooperatives it services.
Just this year, CoBank awarded $2,500 each to the Danevang, El Campo, Garwood, and Louise volunteer fire departments. WCEC matched the contributions bringing the total for each fire department to $5,000.
Living Up To Our Principles
WCEC was created to serve our members, and every three years we ask you to tell us how we are doing in living up to our principles.
This summer, WCEC commissioned Inside Information, Inc. of Smithville, Missouri to develop and conduct a member satisfaction survey. From a randomly selected sample of all residential members, 417 online surveys were completed. Of the 417 survey completions, 348 (83%) were completed online by members who received the survey via email. Postcards were sent to members in the random sample who did not have email addresses, and 69 members (17%) responded to the invitation.
Overall, 90% of members reported being somewhat or very satisfied with WCEC. The highest ratings were received in member services - 95% agree that WCEC has “friendly and courteous” and “knowledgeable and competent” employees.
Inside Information includes four standard survey questions to calculate WCEC’s American Customer Satisfaction Index score. This gives us an idea of how we rank against other cooperatives as well as investor-owned utilities across the nation.
We are proud to say that you, our members, reported that WCEC employees earned an ACSI score of 89. This is well above the national cooperative average of 73, the Touchstone cooperative average of 73, and investor-owned and municipal utility averages of 72.
In addition to the ACSI score, Inside Information has developed a cooperative-specific benchmarking score (CAPS) that measures attitudes about co-op service and performance. WCEC earned a score of 91 which ranks above the national cooperative average of 89.
“We are very pleased with the survey results this year,” states Raybon. “WCEC has faced some serious obstacles since our last survey including the COVID-19 pandemic which put a strain on our staff and supply chain as well as Winter Storm Uri which left devastating effects on the lives of Texans and our state-wide grid in its wake.
“Overall I feel like our team here at WCEC overcame these obstacles with great professionalism and, as always, doing what is best for our members every step of the way. The survey results are proof of that. We may be a little biased here, but all of us at WCEC feel like we serve the best membership around. All of you are just as dedicated to us as we are to you. Nothing is better than that. That is the true meaning of Cooperative Difference.”