A Message from the General Manager

     I am so glad that you have taken time to visit our new web site. In re-designing the site, we have worked to make it fresh and user-friendly. I hope you find all of the information you are looking for, and that the new site is a helpful resource to you. Any feedback about the site is appreciated, and may be sent to webmaster@our.coop. Please take your time, look around, and visit back with us often.

     If you are a member of Claiborne Electric, I would just like to take a moment and thank you. We appreciate every member who lives along our lines and receives electricity from the Co-op. The cooperative business model is an ingenious system that many of our members don't fully understand, but they should, because they own and control the Co-op. Yes, that's right; each member of the Co-op has ownership in the company, and each member has shared democratic control of the Co-op.

     When you established an account with Claiborne Electric, you became a member and part-owner of the company. Because Claiborne Electric is owned by its members, every decision made by Co-op management is focused on what is best for the members. We never have to concern ourselves with making big profits to pay dividends to investors or shareholders, because there are none. We simply concern ourselves with the best interest of our members.   

     Every member also has shared democratic control of the Co-op. Members actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Members participate personally by attending the Co-op's business meeting held each April. Members also have the opportunity to elect a fellow Co-op member to serve a three-year term on Claiborne Electric’s Board of Directors. These Board members make managerial decisions and oversee the business of the Co-op. Claiborne Electric's service territory is divided into nine districts, with one director for each district. Each December, director elections are held at district meetings in three districts, and the elected director serves a three-year term. Directors are accountable to the membership.

     We want our members to understand and participate in the Co-op. Our purpose is to meet the needs of our members. If you have questions for me, please e-mail me at Mark@our.coop. I can also be reached in the Homer office at 318.927.3504, or in the Farmerville office at 318.368.3011. Again, thank you for your membership. We appreciate you.

Sincerely,

Mark A. Brown

General Manager & CEO

Claiborne Electric Cooperative