Member-Owned, Service-Driven: How Your Cooperative Works for You
“We’re here to serve you.” We’ve all heard this phrase countless times. These words may sound generic, but to us, they mean everything.
Petit Jean Electric Cooperative was created to serve our community. Back in the day, neighbors banded together and formed our co-op for the common good. In our case, it was the only way the community could bring electricity to the area where there was none. In doing so, we helped the community thrive. That mission-focused heritage is the golden thread that is woven throughout our history.
We still continue to power the community. While our focus has remained steady on providing reliable energy to our members, today’s energy landscape and consumer expectations are far different than they were decades ago. That’s why we’re adapting, to keep pace with changing technology, evolving needs and new expectations.
Our fundamental commitment to serving our members comes from our unique member-owned business model. Unlike investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives are run by and for the members we serve. This means that your neighbors, family and friends are the ones making decisions that directly impact your community. As a member, you have a voice through your vote at the annual meeting, ensuring that your concerns and priorities are heard.
Furthermore, Petit Jean Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit electric utility. Any margins generated by the cooperative are returned to you, the members, in the form of capital credits. These credits represent your share of the cooperative's equity and are a tangible benefit of being a member-owner. This member-focused model fosters a sense of community and ensures that our focus remains squarely on providing reliable, reasonably priced and responsible power to those we serve.
We also serve as your trusted energy adviser. This means we want to help you save energy (and money) and provide information (in Arkansas Living magazine, in local newspapers, on local radio stations and on Petit Jean Electric’s website, etc.) on a broad range of energy topics. We also provide to any member a free energy audit with an energy expert to identify ways you can save energy at home. Understanding how your home uses energy can help determine the best ways to modify energy use and keep more money in your wallet.
Service is deeply ingrained into who we are. We continue to evolve with the times, and in return, we’ve found additional ways — like Petit Jean Fiber — to serve you and provide more options for you to power your life.
We’re member-owned and service-driven. And we’re here whenever you need us. Connect with us online, in person, through the SmartHub app or via our social media channels. However you choose to connect, please let us know how we can serve you better.
