RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE UTILITY

Image Courtesy: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association

a not-for-profit electric utility legally established to be owned by and operated for the benefit of those using its service (also called a “rural co-op”).

Pros

Each customer is a member and owner of the business.

Cons

Rural co-ops need to maintain infrastructure that covers a large area, with few customers.

Real Talk

Rural cooperatives could leverage their open spaces to generate energy for communities in more densely populated parts of the state, setting up an economic and environmental win-win.