Touchstone Energy Cooperatives is a federation composed of more than 750 local, consumer-owned utility cooperatives in 46 of the 50 United States, serving more than 30 million members.
Among other things, they support training in strategy development and execution best practices. Touchstone gives member engagement resources, advertising, communications campaigns, employee educational opportunities, business development programs, and cooperative performance resources.
Source: Touchstone Energy website
Other organizations that WOEC is a member of:
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). In 1942, America’s electric cooperatives banded together and formed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The organization continues to represent electric co-op interests in Washington, D.C.
Source: NRECA website
WOEC is also a member of ORECA, Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association, which represents and promotes the interests of electric cooperatives and their members. Their goals:
- Protect the legislative and regulatory interests of electric cooperatives to maintain least cost reliable power.
- Protect local control for electric cooperatives’ governing boards.
- Oppose unnecessary regulation without demonstrated benefits.
- Maintain the ability of cooperatives to provide new member services.
- Support regional efforts to maintain the benefits to cooperatives of hydro-based power at least cost.
- Communicate with and educate elected officials on state and federal legislative and regulatory affairs impacting co-ops.
Source: ORECA website
PNGC: PNGC Power is a Portland-based electric generation and transmission cooperative owned by 15 Northwest electric distribution cooperative utilities with service territory in seven western states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming).
Our company creates value for its member systems by providing power supply and other management services. PNGC Power is a top aggregator of geographically diverse loads in the region and became the first electric cooperative in the country to receive a power marketing license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Benefits:
- More buying leverage
- Access to advanced technical capabilities
- Financial strength, backed by $964 million in assets of member-owners
- Risk management capability and increased control
- Ability to meet customers’ power needs in the new era of public power
Source: PNGC power website