Mission, Values & Goals

Mission

East River Electric Power Cooperative exists to enhance the value of its members.

Values

As a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative, East River Electric, its employees and its directors pledge to act according to the core values of: Integrity: to be honest, follow through, and live up to the Touchstone Energy promise. Accountability: to be responsible for delivering superior service and do what we say we will do on a daily basis. Innovation: to find new solutions for old or new challenges. Commitment to Community: to understand the needs of our community and its development. It's about doing what's good for our neighborhood and our cooperative.

Further, we pledge to uphold the seven cooperative principles:

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, political or religious discrimination. Democratic member control: Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who activily 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. Member 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 and all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative and possibly 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 agreement with other organizations, including governements, or raise capital from extental 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 structure.

7. Concern for community: While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their community through policies accepted by their members.

Goals

1. Provide leadership and direction on public policy affecting East River and its members.
   


2. Promote and pursue unified efforts to achieve a common voice by offering effective communications and education in support of member efforts to inform consumers and the public.
   


3. Assure the delivery and security of reliable and reasonably priced power supply while promoting conservation, efficiency, renewable resources, and environmental stewardship.
   
   
4. Expand the use of cooperative/federated services and programs.