Pay or View Your Bill ONLINE!

The Cooperative Principles

  1. 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 or religious discrimination.
  2. Democratic Member Control: Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as 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.
  3. Members Economic Participation: Members contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. They usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
  4. Autonomy and Independence: Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
  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.
  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.
  7. Concern for Community: While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.

Site Tools:

Printer Friendly Version Access the Printer Friendly Version of this page

Email a Friend Email this page to a Friend along with any message

Download Adobe Reader You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view all pdfs. If you do not have it, download it here

News and Information

WIRE Scholarship  03.15.2010

Applications for the WIRE Jenny Ballard Opportunity Scholarship for women are being accepted. The $2,500 one-time scholarship is based on financial need and personal goals. Application deadline is June 1, 2010.
Click here for the full story.

Apply for HVAC Upgrade  03.01.2010

Members of Lynches River Electric Cooperative who own a manufactured home can apply for a HVAC system upgrade beginning March 1.
Click here for the full story.

Don't Get Shocked by Winter Bills  01.29.2010

Colder than normal temperatures caused peak power demand record for electric cooperatives in South Carolina. That increased demand will mean higher than normal electric bills for consumers.
Click here for the full story.