There are 40 distribution cooperatives in Missouri which provide electricity to individual homes, farms and businesses. Some of these co-ops are quite large while others may serve just one county. Missouri’s smallest electric cooperative has just over 2,000 member-owners while our largest has more than 40,000 members. Regardless of size, each operate in a similar fashion. Each member-owner has one vote at an annual membership meeting at which bylaws are approved and board members are elected. The board members, each a member of the cooperative, set policy for the co-op to direct day to day operations. For a printable map, click here.
Missouri’s electric distribution co-ops buy wholesale power from Associated Electric Cooperative, based in Springfield, Mo. Like the local electric cooperatives, Associated operates on a not-for-profit basis and is owned by those who use the services it provides – in this case, Missouri’s distribution and transmission cooperatives.