Touchstone Energy® Cooperative Inc. is a membership organization representing a network of locally owned cooperatives across 45 states. Touchstone Energy provides resources and leverages partnerships to help member cooperatives and their employees better engage and serve their member-owners. Being a member of a Touchstone Energy cooperative means you are served by a not-for-profit cooperative committed to the core values of integrity, commitment to community, accountability, and innovation and puts members first setting it apart from other utilities.
Strengthening the relationship between electric cooperatives and their member-owners is the driving objective of Touchstone Energy. Through an array of programs and services as well as a powerful national branding and advertising effort, Touchstone Energy cooperatives have access to the tools that enable them to deliver premier service and achieve top-notch satisfaction rankings that set them apart from traditional power companies.
Electric cooperative member-owners share more than electricity. They share values-community-friendly values. And Electric Co-ops are guided by shared principles that are the essence of the Cooperative business model.
As a not-for-profit business, each electric co-op earns the trust of its members, because it was created to deliver on the promise of providing safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to its members – not to generate money for shareholders.
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are accountable to every member-owner they serve. They are governed directly by their member-owners and the values shared by the community they serve. This is the essence of the Cooperative Difference.
About Us
Touchstone Energy® Cooperative Inc. is a membership organization representing a network of locally owned cooperatives across 45 states. Touchstone Energy provides resources and leverages partnerships to help member cooperatives and their employees better engage and serve their member-owners. Being a member of a Touchstone Energy cooperative means you are served by a not-for-profit cooperative committed to the core values of integrity, commitment to community, accountability, and innovation and puts members setting it apart from other utilities.
Membership has its benefits
Strengthening the relationship between electric cooperatives and their member-owners is the driving objective of Touchstone Energy. Through an array of programs and services as well as a powerful national branding and advertising effort, Touchstone Energy cooperatives have access to the tools that enable them to deliver premiere service and achieve top-notch satisfaction rankings that set them apart from traditional power companies.
Focused on Customer Satisfaction
The ACSI is the only national cross-industry measure of customer satisfaction in the United States. Touchstone Energy cooperatives are the highest rated cooperative energy utility group per the ACSI Utility Sector Reports showcasing our continued commitment to the cooperative difference in action.
Touchstone Energy® members have access to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®).
Strong Principles Run Through Every Co-op
Electric cooperative member-owners share more than electricity. They share values-community-friendly values. And Electric Co-ops are guided by shared principles that are the essence of the Cooperative business model.
As a not-for-profit business, each electric co-op earns the trust of its members, because it was created to deliver on the promise of providing safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to its members – not to generate money for shareholders.
The Power of Human Connections®
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are accountable to every member-owner they serve. They are governed directly by their member-owners and the values shared by the community they serve. This is the essence of the Cooperative Difference.
7 Cooperative Principles
1. Open and Voluntary Membership
1. Open and Voluntary Membership
Membership in a cooperative is open to all persons who can reasonably use its services and stand willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, regardless of race, religion, gender, or economic circumstances.
2. Democratic Member Control
2. Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Elected representatives (directors/trustees) are elected from among the membership and are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote); cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.
3. Members’ Economic Participation
3. Members’ Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the cooperative. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative; setting up reserves; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
4. Autonomy and Independence
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 as well as their unique identity.
5. Education, Training, and Information
5. Education, Training, and Information
Education and training for members, elected representatives (directors/trustees), CEOs, and employees help them effectively contribute to the development of their cooperatives. Communications about the nature and benefits of cooperatives, particularly with the general public and opinion leaders, helps boost cooperative understanding.
6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives
6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives
By working together through local, national, regional, and international structures, cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies, and deal more effectively with social and community needs.
7. Concern for Community
7. Concern for Community
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by the membership.
Our Values
INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY
Members first. Every day. That’s the power of membership. Not for-profit electric cooperatives deliver energy to members at the cost of service, this differs from investor-owned utilities that distribute profits to investors not necessarily to those it serves.
ACCOUNTABILITY
ACCOUNTABILITY
Electric co-ops belong to the members they serve. Decisions made benefit those in your community because co-op business is conducted through a locally elected board of directors who propose policies to be voted on by members.
INNOVATION
INNOVATION
Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives offer state-of-the-art technology to better serve members with cutting-edge programs. They help co-ops forge relationships with business members through educational events, web conferences and ongoing communications.
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
Touchstone Energy cooperatives work to improve the quality of life in their communities. They donate time, energy and resources to charities, schools and community events and take a leadership role in community development projects.
