The seven cooperative principles are a shared foundation for cooperatives around the world. During National Co-op Month, REC celebrates how those principles shape who has a voice, where financial value goes and how the Cooperative responds to the needs of its members and communities.
Voluntary and open membership: Serving the community
Before an electric cooperative served this area, two determined Virginians shared a simple message: If rural families and businesses wanted electricity, they would have to make it happen themselves.
Ninety years later, that service remains central to REC's mission. The Cooperative provides safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity to more than 185,000 connections across a service territory that includes parts of 22 counties.
Membership with REC is open to anyone who lives or operates a business within its service territory. Whether serving a home, farm, business or public institution, REC provides members with access to the benefits and services the Cooperative offers.
Democratic member control: Giving members a voice
Your Cooperative is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors made up of REC member-owners. At this year's Annual Meeting in August, more than 16,500 member-owners participated in the election of three Board members, choosing the leaders responsible for setting the Cooperative's strategic direction and representing their interests.
Members' economic participation: Returning value to member-owners
As a member-owned, not-for-profit Cooperative, REC uses its margins to fund electric-system improvements and strengthen service. When the Cooperative's financial condition allows, a portion of those margins may be returned to eligible member-owners through Capital Credits.
In July 2026, REC returned $10 million in Capital Credits to member-owners through credits applied on their bill.
Capital Credit returns are not guaranteed each year, but they can provide a tangible benefit of cooperative ownership by returning financial value to eligible member-owners.
Autonomy and independence: Preserving member control
REC is an autonomous, member-controlled cooperative. When REC enters agreements with other organizations, including government agencies, lenders, contractors or business partners, those arrangements must preserve the Cooperative's independence and member control.
REC works to manage rising costs, strengthen the electric system and plan for long-term needs. The Cooperative also looks for grants and other sources of revenue that can help offset electric-system costs, including fiber and joint-use agreements and service provided through REC-affiliated businesses.
Education, training and information: Providing tools and information
Safety is the top priority at REC, and education is an important part of that commitment. The Cooperative works with state and local public safety organizations, including fire departments and first responders, to share electrical safety information with member-owners and the public.
REC also shares information on safety, energy efficiency, sustainability and ways members can better understand and manage their energy use. Through community events, MyREC SmartHub and other energy-saving resources, members have practical tools to make informed choices.
That information has been especially important as higher power costs affect electric bills. REC connects members with bill-management options, energy-use tools and assistance resources, while also explaining how power-supply costs, system investments and daily energy choices can affect what members pay.
Cooperation among cooperatives: Working together to strengthen service
Cooperatives work together locally, regionally and across the country. One of the most visible examples is mutual aid, through which crews from one cooperative help another restore power after major storms. REC has received that support during major outages and has sent crews to help other cooperatives recover from severe weather and major power outages.
Cooperation also strengthens everyday service. REC's power-supply relationship with Old Dominion Electric Cooperative supports long-term planning and access to a diverse portfolio of energy resources. Other partnerships help address supply chain challenges, expand rural broadband and share expertise that benefits member-owners.
REC's reliability work over the past year — from pole replacements and right-of-way maintenance to drone inspections and grid improvements — helped strengthen the system, while crews, contractors and support teams restored power after severe weather affected communities across the service territory.
Concern for community: Keeping the value close to home
REC's members live and work in the communities the Cooperative serves, and REC employees are active across the service territory and beyond. They volunteer with churches and schools, support fundraisers, coach youth sports, serve with fire and rescue organizations, and take part in projects that strengthen their communities.
That same commitment is reflected in REC's work. From reliability investments and member assistance to scholarships, Youth Tour, The Power of Change and partnerships that help expand high-speed internet access, REC works to support the long-term strength of its communities.
The Power of Change is one example of members helping members. More than 37,000 members participate by rounding up their monthly electric bills or making a recurring contribution. Together, those donations have provided more than $1.8 million to support nonprofits and community needs across REC's service territory.
The effort to expand rural broadband reflects the same cooperative spirit that brought electricity to rural communities in the 1930s and '40s: people working together to meet a need that might otherwise go unmet.
The seven cooperative principles connect REC's history to its work today. They guide how the Cooperative is governed, how it manages resources and how it serves its member-owners — keeping the value of the cooperative ownership rooted in the communities REC calls home.
