Howard Electric Cooperative Profile

Farmers and rural residents organized the first rural electric cooperatives in the 1930s as a means to receive electric power. In those days, private power companies found providing electricity to such sparsely populated areas just too expensive. With the help of the Rural Electrification Act, signed by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, cooperative leaders borrowed funds from the Rural Electrification Administration to finance the construction of power lines and the purchase of electric power for rural people.

Howard Electric Cooperative was incorporated in 1936 to serve member-consumers in Howard County. Today Howard Electric also serves consumers in southeastern Chariton County, southern Randolph County and northwestern Boone County. Howard Electric is one of 41 distribution cooperatives in Missouri.

As a cooperative, Howard Electric operates on a non-profit basis. All revenue above the cost of doing business (margins) is assigned to the members under a patronage refund plan called capital credits. The cooperative assigned capital credits annually and keeps a careful record of each member's investment in the co-op.

 

Board of Directors

Nine directors serve on the board of Howard Electric Cooperative. Three directors represent each of the three districts in Howard Electric's service area. Each director serves a three-year term and is elected by cooperative members at their annual meeting. The directors meet monthly to set policies and review all business activities concerning the finances and operations of the cooperative.

Mr. Dale Kirby President of the Board of Directors

 

Management

Richard Fowler General Manager

 

Richard has been with Howard Electric since 1990 and provides strong leadership for the cooperative. Richard has previously worked in other Missouri cooperatives and has built a reputation for quality management and a cooperative atmosphere at Howard Electric.

Annual Meeting

Each summer Howard Electric holds its annual meeting for its members. During the annual meeting, the co-op manager and directors will give reports on the cooperative's financial position, its accomplishments and the future outlook. At this yearly meeting you elect your directors and vote on any policies or bylaws that are brought before the membership. Because the cooperative must have a quorum of members to conduct business, it is vitally important that you attend. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions of your board and manager.

You will have a fun time listening to professional entertainers, picking up free registration gifts and having a chance to win the many door prizes we give away.

Watch for the details of your annual meeting on the back page of Rural Missouri.

Rural Missouri

Howard Electric Cooperative keeps up updated on its activities monthly with the Rural Missouri. The Rural Missouri is a statewide newspaper published by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.

Howard Electric contributes local news on the back page of this paper. The Rural Missouri includes state and national happenings as well as features on local cooperative members and energy conservation.

Where Your Electricity Comes From

As a distribution cooperative, Howard Electric does not have its own power generation capacity. Along with the other Missouri rural electric cooperatives, Howard Electric buys its power from Associated Electric Cooperative of Springfield, Missouri.

Associated Electric, formed in 1961, generates and coordinates the power supply for all of Missouri's rural electric cooperatives. Coal-fired plants in two Missouri locations provide most of the needed power. Associated Electric owns and operates the Thomas Hill Energy Center near Moberly, Missouri. The three generating units at Thomas Hill produce a combined capacity of 1,153 megawatts. Associated's other operation at New Madrid in Missouri's bootheel includes two generating units with a combined capacity of 1,200 megawatts.

Electricity is also brought into the statewide system from several hydroelectric projects throughout southwest Missouri with the cooperation of the Southwestern Power Administration. Associated Electric also negotiates power interchange arrangements with private power companies to buy or sell electricity as required. Associated Electric interconnects with more than a dozen power companies in the Midwest. Additional power generation is being provided by new gas fired base load generation facilities. These efficient, environmentally friendly facilities provide an additional 1,069 megawatts of power for additional generation and peaking capabilities.

Additional units are being planned. Electric power is transmitted through six transmission cooperatives that, in turn, reduce the high-voltage power to levels that can be used by local distribution cooperatives. Central Electric Power Cooperative in Jefferson City, Missouri, transmits power to Howard Electric and 7 other mid-Missouri cooperatives. Like Howard Electric, Associated Electric and Central Electric are cooperatives and operate as non-profit businesses.