Mission Statement
Kay Electric Cooperative (KEC) is committed to delivering safe, reliable, competitively priced services and energy to its member-owners, while being an outstanding community partner.
Service Territory
Kay Electric Cooperative serves more than 2,200 miles of line across portions of Kay, Noble, Grant, Garfield, and Osage counties.
KEC Stats
- Number of Meters – 5,857
- Miles of Line – 2,261
- Number of Employees – 48
Energy Mix
KEC is a member of Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC), a generation and transmission cooperative. WFEC’s generation portfolio includes a variety of sources. Learn more about their mix of technologies and fuel types.
About the Cooperative
KEC is an electric cooperative, owned by its members.
How Cooperatives Work
- Each consumer of the cooperative is a member, with 1 vote in the affairs of the cooperative.
- The cooperative is governed by a Board of Trustees, elected from the membership.
- An Annual Meeting is held to conduct the business of the cooperative.
- Bylaws, adopted by the members, set forth their rights and responsibilities and lay out the guidelines of the organization.
- Policies and procedures are implemented by the cooperatives’ professional staff.
- The Board establishes rates, based upon what it actually costs to provide dependable electric service, and to meet payment schedules on loans.
- Rates are designed so that revenues exceed expenses. This “margin” is allocated back to members of the cooperative in the form of capital credits.
- Members receive money back based on the amount of electricity they have used during the allocation period. This return of capital maintains the non-profit status of the cooperative.
Cooperative Principles
Adherence to the 7 cooperative principles is what makes cooperatives different. In addition to electric service, many electric co-ops are involved in community development and revitalization projects.
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (1 member, 1 vote), and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.
While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.
