This month's message from CEO/General Manager Michael Cremer in Your Co-op Connection in Rural Missouri.
November 2026
Members and employees make co-op special
Adapted from CEO’s remarks at 86th annual meeting held on Sept. 16, 2026
We’re often asked what makes a co-op different. The answer is easy. It’s you. As members, you make us different. I may be biased, but I think the co-op model just works better.
Instead of answering to investors, you are front of mind in every decision we make. You trust us to make good decisions that keep the co-op strong, and we don’t take that for granted.
Being not-for-profit makes us different. Our budget covers expenses and just enough margins to satisfy any obligations to lenders. There’s a lot of work that goes into it. We look at usage patterns, projected growth, operational needs and more, and we set a budget that covers all known needs but also allows for unpredictable things like severe storms. We strive to cover costs and anticipate growth and maintenance needs.
For example, we have looked at track machines for years, but the cost is steep ($375,000). We don’t shy away from buying used equipment if it’s reliable, and we finally found a used one that was in great shape. It has been a very good decision. It cost about $144,000 and we’ve already put nearly 100 hours on it. By making careful purchases, we can better serve members and keep costs down.
Any profits we make get returned to you. This year, the board of directors approved approximately $610,000 in patronage capital for members. It is a big decision and shows the important role the directors play in determining when to return funds and when to invest for our future.
When we look at capital credits, we consider things we can’t control like weather and storm damage. July storms cost over $460,000. That shows just how quickly things can change for us. When we have a good year with fewer storms, we can invest in grid improvements or better position ourselves for future wholesale power cost increases. Every little bit helps, and this stewardship has helped us avoid the double-digit rate increases you’ve seen at larger investor-owned utilities.
Every year, we set up a work plan for maintenance and improvements to keep our system reliable. We replace poles and equipment which helps prevent outages. Our vegetation management plan is annual, too. Cycling through our service area every seven years to keep rights-of-way clear is one of our largest expenses, but it is probably the most impactful thing we can do to prevent outages.
This is how we provide the service you expect. A big part of our job is looking beyond what you need today and planning for what the system will need years from now. Making the right investments today helps us avoid bigger problems and larger costs down the road.
Crawford Electric is also local. We live and work here, and we are active in the community. We offer grants to teachers through Energy in Today’s Classroom, participate in career fairs, summer programs and health and safety events, and work with first responders and community groups to educate people about electrical safety. We also send students to leadership programs that help develop the next generation of community leaders.
We help when life doesn’t go according to plan. Members facing catastrophic illnesses, injuries or emergencies can get assistance through our Operation Round Up program. Rounding up your bill a few cents each month really makes a difference for your fellow members when they need it the most.
The challenges we face have increased over the years and we are working hard to meet them without sacrificing service. Although the industry continues to change, there are two things that have remained the same: our commitment to you and the dedication of our employees. I’m blessed to work with this group of people. They believe in the co-op, and they truly care about our members. They share ideas for doing a job more safely or efficiently. They give us practical suggestions, prioritize needs, and give 100 percent every day. I’m proud of the work they do, and even more proud of who they are.
Of all the things that make this co-op special, the two which are most important are employees and you, our members. To our employees, I want to say thank you for all that you do. To our members, thank you for being invested in your co-op and for trusting us to serve you.