The Cooperative Difference

Powering Life and Community ~ that's the Cooperative Difference.

The Cooperative Difference

Cooperatives come in many forms—credit unions, food co-ops, housing co-ops, and more—but they all have one thing in common: people join together to meet a shared need. In a cooperative, the people who use the service also own and control the business.

Seven Cooperative Principles

Around the world—and right here at DEMCO—cooperatives are guided by seven core principles:

1) Voluntary and Open Membership
2)  Democratic Member Control
3)  Member Economic Participation
4)  Autonomy and Independence
5)  Education, Training, and Information
6)  Cooperation Among Cooperatives
7)  Concern for Community

DEMCO, A Local Member-Owned Cooperative 

Our story began in 1938 when local communities came together to bring light and power where there was none. They didn’t have access to electricity like in big cities, but they had the tenacity to build something different - a member-owned cooperative to power local homes, schools, and businesses. 

As a not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative, we deliver electricity to homes and businesses across our service area, and we’re owned by the people we serve. As a not-for-profit business, our goal isn’t to make money for shareholders—we don’t have any. Instead, we operate solely for the benefit of our members.

Our cooperative is governed by a board of directors elected by—and from within—our membership. These board members are your neighbors. They help make decisions that prioritize reliability, affordability, and service, ensuring DEMCO stays rooted in the best interests of the community.

Back then and still today, DEMCO is more than just an electric company – we are your neighbors, your family, and your friends. 

  1. The Seven 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.
    Handshake

  2. Democratic Member Control

    Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The 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.
    Elections

  3. Members’ Economic Participation

    Members contribute equitably to and democratically control the capital of their cooperative. 
    Coin

  4. Autonomy and Independence

    Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. Democratic control and cooperative autonomy must be maintained when entering into any agreements with external sources.
    Puzzle Piece

  5. 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 cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
    Training

  6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives

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

  7. Concern for Community

    While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.
    Trust