Celebrating National Cooperative Month
October is National Cooperative Month — a time to recognize and celebrate the unique role cooperatives play in communities across our state and nation. For Edgecombe-Martin County EMC, this month is an opportunity to highlight what sets us apart from other utilities and to thank you, our members, for allowing us to serve you.
As a cooperative, we operate under a different business model than investor-owned utilities. We don’t have shareholders who live elsewhere or investors expecting profits. Instead, we are owned by the very people we serve — you, our members. This structure ensures that every decision we make is guided by what is best for our members and our communities, not outside interests. Our focus remains on providing safe, reliable, affordable electricity while also working to improve the quality of life in our service area
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The cooperative difference is rooted in the Seven Cooperative Principles: Voluntary and Open Membership; Democratic Member Control; Members’ Economic Participation; Autonomy and Independence; Education, Training and Information; Cooperation Among Cooperatives; and Concern for Community. These principles have guided electric cooperatives for decades and continue to shape how we serve today. They also reflect the values we strive to uphold every day — honesty, fairness, transparency, and service.
Membership in a cooperative comes with meaningful benefits. You are more than just a customer — you are an owner. That means you have a voice in how the cooperative is run, including the opportunity to elect directors to represent you, or even serve on the board yourself. It also means that when revenues exceed expenses, those margins are returned to you in the form of capital credits. This is a tangible reminder that your cooperative exists to serve you, not to generate profit.
Because we are a local organization, our connection to the community runs deep. Our employees live and work alongside you, and we are invested in the same schools, neighborhoods, and businesses that you are. That local connection drives us to go beyond simply delivering power. We are proud to support economic development initiatives that bring jobs and opportunity to our area, and we actively invest in programs like the Bright Ideas education grants and the NC Youth Tour, which give local students and teachers new opportunities to grow and succeed.
At the same time, we are part of a larger network of North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives. By working together, we are able to achieve more than we could alone — from strengthening our electric grid to expanding broadband access and exploring innovative energy solutions that will help power the future. These collaborations ensure that we can continue to provide the reliable service you depend on while keeping costs affordable and looking ahead to tomorrow’s needs.
As we celebrate National Cooperative Month, I want to thank you for the trust you place in Edgecombe-Martin County EMC. Your membership is at the heart of everything we do, and we are honored to serve you — not just this month, but every day of the year.
Cooperatively Yours,
Winston Howell