National Co-Op Month

Happy National Co-Op Month OPALCO!

October is National Cooperative Month – a time for cooperatives in the United States to celebrate their accomplishments and contributions to our country and our communities.

Co-ops are businesses that are directly accountable to their member-owners – they are structured to guarantee that the business serves only the best interests of its members by being owned, operated and governed by the people who use their services or buy their goods.

In the United States, almost 900 electric co-ops serve around 37 million consumers, owning and maintaining utility infrastructure reaching over 75% of the country’s landmass.

OPALCO is owned by its members – not by outside investors – and operates on a non-profit basis. Any profits remaining after expenses are ultimately returned to individual members based on electricity usage.

OPALCO employs 45 co-op members, many of whom make significant investments of time and energy to groups and organizations in San Juan County. OPALCO is governed by a Board of Directors – elected from within the membership – to set rates and policies and to direct management.

OPALCO makes significant investments each year to improve system reliability and supply affordable electric energy. Services such as energy conservation, load management, renewable energy, and low-income assistance (Project PAL) have been created to better serve all OPALCO members.

While upgrading its communications system, OPALCO was asked by many members to utilize the excess capacity of the system to build out a broadband network. At that time, service was inadequately provided in the county, so OPALCO took the initiative, developed a business plan which was approved by the directors, and created a division of OPALCO called Island Network, which now offers high speed intranet transport services to public entities and wholesale providers on San Juan Island, with plans to develop to other islands in the near future.

Although many changes are occurring in the electric utility industry, the member-owners of OPALCO can always be sure of two things: OPALCO has their best interest at heart and will do everything possible to improve the quality of life in San Juan County.

OPALCO
Member Owned & Operated