POWER LINES
In the know Communications efforts are a vital part of the cooperative difference. BY JEFF MCCALLISTER
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or customers of an investor-owned utility like AEP or Dayton Power and Light, communication with their electric company probably extends no further than paying their bill or finding out how long an outage might last. Certainly, these are important aspects of communication, but consumer-members of an electric cooperative find they have opportunities to engage on a deeper level. “Members who are engaged are the ones who will attend the annual meeting — for more than just the chance of getting a bill credit,” says Michael Wilson, director of communications at Logan County Electric Cooperative, based in Bellefontaine. “Without engaged and educated members, the cooperative business model could not exist.” Effective communications, then, is one of the most important services a cooperative can provide. “For outages, timely communication is key,” says Mark Owen, communications manager at Lancaster-based South Central Power Company. “Members want to know what’s happening with outage situations in near real time, and fortunately, today’s technology helps us do that.” Communicating with members on a regular basis, however, also allows them to understand the real value they receive from Good communications efforts help members understand the workings of the co-op and lead to increased satisfaction and participation in governance — such as at this pre-pandemic annual meeting.
4 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • NOVEMBER 2020
