When you hear the word cooperative, what comes to mind? As your local electric cooperative, we hope you think of Southeast Colorado Power Association (SECPA).
Cooperatives provide many different products and services, but they all share one important principle: they are led by the people they serve. That simple idea makes a meaningful difference. And utility cooperatives — like SECPA — provide essential services to the communities they serve.
Unlike many businesses that answer to outside investors or shareholders, cooperatives are built to serve their members. Their purpose goes beyond earning a profit. They exist to provide value, respond to local needs, and strengthen the communities they call home.
That’s what makes SECPA different — we are owned by the members we serve.
Our story began in 1937, when neighbors came together to bring electricity to rural areas that other utilities were unwilling or unable to serve. Much has changed since then, but our purpose remains the same: to provide reliable electricity while making decisions with the best interests of our members and communities in mind.
Being locally owned gives us the ability to focus on what matters most to the people we serve. That’s also why no two electric cooperatives are exactly alike. Every community has different needs, and each cooperative reflects the priorities of its members.
For some cooperatives, that means offering programs that help members save energy and money. For others, it may mean supporting economic development, investing in new technology, or creating opportunities for local students and future generations.
You can also see the cooperative difference in the everyday moments — the lineworkers restoring power after a storm, the employees answering your questions when you call, team members volunteering at community events and board members, who are fellow members and neighbors, helping guide decisions about the cooperative’s future.
At SECPA, we’re more than your electricity provider. We’re your neighbor, your local energy partner, and a cooperative that belongs to you. We’re committed to serving Southeast Colorado and helping our communities thrive for generations to come.
Whether it’s SECPA, your local credit union, or another cooperative business, cooperatives demonstrate the power of people working together for a common purpose.
Your membership is what makes our mission possible. It keeps us locally focused, member driven, and committed to serving the people and communities that matter most.
That is the cooperative difference.
By Mark Hall, CEO
