November is one of my favorite months of the year. It’s the start of the holiday season, the temperature is dropping, and friends and family gather to celebrate together. Like many of you, I often take this time to think about what I’m grateful for in life.
My list includes many of the things that you’re likely grateful for—family, friends and community. But I’m also thankful for the cooperative model and the purpose that guides my job as CEO and general manager of Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative.
As a part of this co-op, I see purpose in action every single day. Unlike investor-owned utilities, our co-op doesn’t exist to make profits for distant shareholders. We exist to serve you—our members, our neighbors and our communities.
That purpose is what sets us apart. It’s why we were founded, and it’s what continues to drive every decision we make.
At its core, being a cooperative means being member-owned and locally controlled. That’s not just a tagline; it’s the heart of our business model.
Members have a voice in how our co-op operates. You elect board members who live right here in our service area and understand the unique challenges and opportunities our communities face. Decisions aren’t made in corporate boardrooms hundreds of miles away; they’re made here at home, by people who care about the same things you do.
This local accountability means we can stay focused on what matters most: delivering reliable, affordable electricity and providing real value to the people we serve.
We accomplish these goals by investing in essential infrastructure upgrades and technologies that strengthen our local grid and improve electric service. We work hard to manage costs and keep rates as low as possible—because we know how much rising prices affect families and small businesses in our area.
And when storms hit or outages occur, TVEC crews are ready to respond quickly because we live here too.
We’re also planning for the future. As electricity demand grows due to new technologies and economic development, electric co-ops work to ensure we continue to meet those needs with a balanced, reliable energy mix. We know our members care about affordability and dependability, and we’re committed to delivering both.
But our commitment doesn’t end at power lines.
Co-ops were built to meet community needs, and that purpose extends well beyond delivering electricity. Whether we’re supporting local schools, sponsoring youth programs or partnering with volunteer organizations, we’re always looking for ways to improve the quality of life in the places we serve. Community support isn’t an afterthought—it’s central to our mission.
That’s the power of the cooperative difference. That’s what it means to be powered by purpose.
Now I’d like to thank you, the member-owner. You’re not just a customer—you’re an owner, a stakeholder and a vital part of a larger effort to keep our community strong, connected and energized. We couldn’t do this without you.
Thank you for the trust you place in us, and thank you for being a part of TVEC. We’re proud to be your local electric cooperative.
