Vision
At our electric cooperative, strategic planning serves as a cornerstone of our commitment to delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions to our members and communities. With a clear vision, we can aim to anticipate and adapt to the evolving needs of our stakeholders while staying true to our cooperative principles.
Through strategic planning we completed in the Fall of 2023, we assessed current market dynamics, technological advancements, regulatory landscapes, and changing member expectations to begin charting a strategic course for future growth and success.
Our vision encompasses innovative approaches to system reliability, rate stability, succession planning and energy generation, distribution, technology and exceptional member service. By engaging our frontline employees, leaders, and board partners in the strategic planning process, we align what we see as challenges and opportunities to our cooperative value. Together, we are empowered to navigate challenges to achieve our shared vision of a sustainable cooperative and future for generations to come. Below is an overview our of Strategic Plan for 2024, more information to follow.
Transparency
The EECA Board of Directors has set the bar for Cooperative ethics and transparency. We believe in transparency and accountability to our members and the communities we serve. Transparently sharing our ethics policy ensures that all stakeholders understand our commitment to ethical conduct and the standards by which we operate. The purpose of a business ethics policy is to establish clear guidelines and standards for ethical conduct within an organization. By outlining principles of integrity, honesty, fairness, and accountability, such a policy ensures that all employees and board members understand the expectations for their behavior and decision-making processes.
Similarly, disclosing conflict of interest statements reinforces our dedication to fair and unbiased decision-making, safeguarding the interests of our consumer-members and the communities we serve.
To view our EECA Policy 220 Business Ethics visit here. To view all board policies, visit here.
Conflicts of Interest
Each year the Cooperative obtains a written statement from each Board Member and member of the management team that lists all potential conflicts of interest. Here are the written statements for 2023/2024:
EECA Managment & Board Conflicts of Interest 2023-2024
Political Activities
EECA will never endorse any candidate or party either by statement of endorsement or monetary contributions.
Individual directors, officers, management staff, and employees are encouraged to be politically active and advocate for the betterment of the cooperative and membership, but they shall not use their position with EECA to endorse either political candidates or parties, philosophical, or social concepts.
Directors, officers, management staff, and employees, who are candidates for government office, or current office holders, will be expected to resign from their position if their political activities interfere with their normal execution of job duties.
All directors, officers, management staff, and employees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the positions of their elected officials as to pending legislation affecting EECA and our consumer-membership.
Boad members and employees often contribute to the America’s Electric Cooperative Political Action Committee (PAC). Founded in 1966, America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC is the federal PAC of the nation’s electric co-ops. Also known as the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA’s) PAC, supports political candidates who will speak for and protect the interests of electric co-ops and their consumer-members. Backed by over 35,000 individuals making an average contribution of $65 per year, the PAC is truly grassroots.
For more information on who is eligible and how to join America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC, please check out the links below or email the PAC team, pacteam@nreca.coop.
https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/pac/Pages/default.aspx
EECA Power Supply
EECA is one of seven proud owners of Southern Illinois Power Cooperative (SIPC). Located south of Marion, Illinois, along beautiful Lake of Egypt. SIPC is responsible for our wholesale electric power supply and their system transmission. At SIPC electric generation is made on site as well as purchased and managed through a diverse portfolio. To learn more about our power supply portfolio, please visit: https://www.sipower.org/power-supply/
Board Elections
Our Board of Directors serve rotating, three-year terms. EECA seats a board of nine (9) directors from our membership and from within our service territory. Each year at our annual meeting (mid-July), the membership elects three (3) member-owners to represent them on the board. Board meetings are typically the last Tuesday of each month, (unless alternatively scheduled) at the Cooperative headquarters, located at 1732 Finney Road beginning at 8:30 a.m. Consumer-members interested in running for a board seat must complete and return a petition to be included on the ballot to the Cooperative 60 days prior to the annual meeting.
For more detailed board information, board meetings, director petitions and director responsibilities, visit here. You can also find seated directors, board agendas and prior meeting minutes.
Financials
By sharing our financial audits and information openly, we uphold our commitment to honesty and integrity in all aspects of our operations. Transparency can build trust among our consumer-members but also fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment within our cooperative community.
Through clear and accessible financial reporting, we ensure that our stakeholders have the necessary information to understand our financial health, make informed decisions, and hold us accountable for our actions.
Transparency reflects our core values of cooperation and service, driving us to operate in a manner that prioritizes the best interests of our members and the sustainable growth of our cooperative. Below are the prior 5 years of financial audits from Kerber Eck & Braeckel, LLP (KEB).
A 990 is a form used by tax-exempt organizations in the United States, including non-profit organizations and cooperatives, to report financial information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Specifically, it is called Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. This form provides detailed information about the organization’s finances, governance, and activities. It includes sections for reporting revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, compensation of key individuals, and other relevant financial details. The purpose of the Form 990 is to ensure transparency and accountability for tax-exempt organizations, allowing the public and regulatory agencies to assess their financial health and compliance with tax laws. To learn how to read a Form 990 visit here or from the interactive link: IRS Form 990 Explained – America’s Electric Cooperatives
Below are the prior 5 years of EECA filed Form 990s:
