The value of electric cooperatively owned utilities (ECUs) has grown significantly over the past several years.
Coopers’ share of U.S. electric utilities grew from 3% to 21% between 2007 and 2013.
These gains are not just due to increased competition in the marketplace, but also due to the growth of the number of cooperatives operating in the U.M.E. and the increase in the number that are available for business.
This article examines the economic impact of EUs and the growth in the numbers of cooperatively-owned utility cooperatives.
It also looks at the number and types of cooperative businesses that operate in the region, including the number in the Northeast, the Northeast Coast, and the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
Key points:Cooperatives can be highly profitable, especially when they are owned by people with common interests.
A cooperative that operates in a small town, such as a grocery store, is typically not profitable.
They tend to have lower average prices.