This month's message from CEO/General Manager Michael Cremer in Your Co-op Connection in Rural Missouri.
December 2025
Future-focused, value-driven
As the end of 2025 approaches, I find myself reflecting on my new role as CEO. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead a dedicated team that ensures safe, reliable and affordable electricity for our members. I am thankful for our board members who work diligently on our behalf and whose focus is on the future and stability of the co-op. Together, we are working to ensure the lights stay on for our children, grandchildren and future generations.
The story of rural electricity began in the 1930s when rural families banded together to bring electricity to their communities. They formed cooperatives and built the lines themselves when necessary, laying a foundation for the future. Today, we rely on that same spirit of community, cooperation and determination as we work to identify solutions to challenges facing the power industry.
Across the country, electric providers are dealing with aging infrastructure and increasing power consumption. New power plants are under construction to address these issues, but the costs of construction and equipment continue to increase. Fortunately, our generation partners had the foresight to begin construction well in advance to keep costs down. They continue to look to the future to ensure we have reliable, stable sources of power.
Cooperatives are different than other organizations. Our business model is built on putting people first. As a member-owned, not-for-profit co-op, we use revenue to keep the cooperative safe, reliable and affordable. Members share in ownership, and remaining revenue is credited to members (called capital credits) based on the amount of electricity they use. The board reviews our finances and determines when capital credits can be retired and returned to members. This year, directors are retiring credits from 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2024. Members with credits of at least $10 will receive a check in December. If your amount is less than $10, the credit will remain in your account until it reaches the minimum. This is one of the many ways you share ownership of the co-op.
I am grateful to our employees who dedicate themselves to our members every day. Our linemen head out at any hour to restore power and work until the job is done. Our employees volunteer in their communities, go the extra mile to help members and offer ideas to make us better. We appreciate our members who show patience and understanding when challenges arise and who take pride in being part of something bigger than any one of us.
Every decision we make comes back to one simple question: How will this benefit the members we serve?
On behalf of everyone at Crawford Electric, thank you for your continued trust and support. We hope your holidays are safe, happy and full of meaningful moments with the people who matter most.