Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative > About > Co-op Values and Principles

Co-op Values and Principles

Electric cooperatives are private, independent electric utilities owned by the members they serve. Electric cooperatives are democratically governed businesses organized under the Cooperative or Rochdale Principles, anchoring them firmly in the communities they serve and ensuring that they are closely regulated by their member owners.

To give you a better understanding of the important role cooperatives provide to their communities, we have laid out information on the history of cooperatives, their principles, and our efforts in creating new co-ops.

Rural cooperatives in America self-govern and operate based on the Rochdale Principles, which are a general statement of how a cooperative operates (as opposed to traditional investor owned utility). The Rochdale Principles were first set out by the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers in Rochdale, England in 1844 and have formed the basis for the principles on which cooperatives around the world operate to this day.

Cooperative Principles

Voluntary and open membership

Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.

Democratic member control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

Member economic participation

Members contribute equally to, and democratically control the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. They usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any and all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, setting up reserves (at least part of which would be indivisible), benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative, and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

Autonomy and independence

Cooperatives are autonomous organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreement with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

Education, training, and information

Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative. They inform the general public — particularly young people and opinion leaders — about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

Cooperation among cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structure.