Touchstone Energy*
Touchstone Energy: Building on Co-ops Strengths
Touchstone Energy - the national brand of electric cooperatives - provides the resources of a national network that help educate and demonstrate the cooperative difference. This network takes advantage of economics of scale in products and services enhancing their unique relationships with their local member-owners.
More than 600 Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 40 states deliver energy and energy solutions to more than 16 million customers every day. Touchstone Energy communicates the distinctiveness of co-ops to business and residential customers, large and small, across the country.
Four values are the foundation of every Touchstone Energy co-op's service to its members. It's how Touchstone Energy cooperatives put their slogan - "the power of human connections" - into action and earn the trust of millions of people, every day.
Innovation
Touchstone Energy cooperatives offer new solutions and state-of-the-art technology to meet members' needs.
- Online energy audits, the Touchstone Energy Home Program and other energy information programs help residential and business consumers save money.
- Touchstone Energy helps cooperatives and business customers get leading-edge information and forge stronger working relationships through conferences, publications and advisory councils.
Accountability
Since consumers own co-ops, together, they chart the course for the business.
- Every member has an equal voice in running the enterprise. Unlike an investor-owned utility, in which the investor with the most shares has the most clout, co-op business is conducted through a locally elected board of directors and an annual meeting where policy is proposed and voted on by members, each having one vote.
- Electric cooperatives are small enough to listen and close enough to notice the needs of a single customer.
- Each co-op employee is committeed to meeting higher standards of customer satisfaction. Touchstone Energy's ongoing training helps them achieve that goal.
Integrity
The co-op business model always puts the customer first.
Not-for-profit electric cooperatives deliver energy to their members at the cost of service. In contrast, investor-owned utilities typically distribute their profits to investors across the national or even the world - not necessarily to those they serve.
Commitment to Community
Electric cooperatives put time, money and expertise to work building the local economy and strengthening relationships with consumer-owners. Across the nation, Touchstone Energy cooperatives improve their customers' quality of life by:
- Taking a leadership role and investing in community and economic development projects.
- Educating students about safety and the environment.
- Generously donating time and energy for charities, volunteering in state parks and more!
*Courtesty of Touchstone Energy
