Y'all need to do a little homework into electric co-ops. (I wouldn't
know anythng about 'em if I hadn't been on the board of my marina's
tenant association, btw--the same marina that was overcharging its
tenants for electricity)...they aren't a group of individuals, they're a
buying group formed to bring power into rural areas that aren't
profitable for the big guys--from whom they buy power. They aren't
wholesalers or retailers, just one type of the major utilities'
customer. However, although co-ops are member owned, they're managed
just like any other utility...the difference being that both profits and
expenses are shared by the members. Co-ops buy power from the major
power companies...they also bear the cost of running the lines and
maintaining 'em. Just as members get back any money that wasn't needed
for expenses, they can also be assessed additional amounts if necessary.
Co-ops are not subsidized...nor are they allowed to be resellers--which
is what the marina tried to be. They're a break-even way for a
population to buy power for less than it would cost the major utilities
to supply it--which would be MUCH higher in rural areas than in cities
because of the lower ratio of customers to square miles...IF a major
utility would even run the lines. Most won't because the return on the
investment would be a negative...which is the reason why electric
co-ops exist in the first place.

At least all that's the way it used to work...but since deregulation, I
could be all wet.

Peggie
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Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html