Membership

COOPERATIVE MEMBERSHIP

As a member of Beartooth Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC), you will be entitled to vote on matters of importance to the Cooperative and to elect members to the Board of Trustees, as well as on proposed changes to the Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. Through your ability to elect board members who will represent you, you – the consumer – get to decide how the cooperative is run and what services it offers. 

TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP

BEC is a member-owned cooperative. As a member, you are entitled to one (1) vote at the Annual Membership Meeting or a Special Membership Meeting. BEC Bylaws provide that member elections are conducted. It is important for you to keep your membership current with changes that may occur. The following are guidelines for your information:

1. Single Membership - Your membership lists only your name and only you are eligible to vote.

2. Joint Membership - Your membership is joint if two people are listed on your account. Either person of a joint membership is eligible to vote, but not both people.

3. Organization - Your membership is listed in the corporation name, and the membership card should be kept current with active signers/voters for the account (e.g., busineses, organizations with officers, associations, churches, trusts, etc.).

Each membership is entitled to one (1) vote, whether it is a single, joint, or corporate membership; however, only the persons who have signed the membership card are eligible to vote the membership. If your signature is not on file with BEC, your vote will not be counted.

Membership Requirements

To become a member, an individual must:

1. Submit a written application for membership and electric service, and

2. The application for membership and electric service was approved by the Board of Trustees.

As a member, you should be interested, well informed, and active in Cooperative business. You should attend member meetings, vote in trustee elections, and speak up on legislative and other matters affecting your cooperative. The Cooperative also asks that you cooperate in granting right-of-way easements; paying your electric bill on time; keeping a path to your electric meter clear; and reporting power interruptions, damage to poles or lines, and any unusual or dangerous conditions.

BEC strives to keep members informed through bill messages, news releases, newspaper ads, Rural Montana magazine, and www.beartoothelectric.com. The Rural Montana Magazine is mailed each month to BEC members and is our primary means of member communication. It may contain a message from the Chief Executive Officer, discussions of strategic issues, business updates, electric safety messages, and issues of community interest. The BEC web site, www.beartoothelectric.com, is a valuable source of information. It is updated regularly and is a great resource for members. These tools are for your use and we welcome your suggestions for improvement.

Capital Credits

BEC is a cooperative and operates on a not-for-profit basis. As a member of this multi-million dollar organization, you are also part owner. Electricity is provided at cost. Each year that revenue exceeds cost of operations, the excess, called margin, is furnished by the customer with the expectation that one day it will be refunded. These excess margins are annually allocated back to the individual customers on the basis of patronage. These allocated margins are called capital credits.

Member/owners are notified each year when capital credits are assigned. The capital is retained by the Cooperative as working capital in order to maintain and improve our system until the Board of Trustees declares a refund. Should you leave our service area, please notify us of your new address so that we may locate you when a refund is declared. The Amended Bylaws completely explains the nonprofit operation system under which the Cooperative operates. Copies of the Bylaws are available at the BEC office and online under the About Us tab.

The Seven Principles that Distinguish Co-ops from Other Electric Suppliers

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

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.

2. Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

3. Member Economic Participation

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. The 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.

4. Autonomy and Independence

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.

5. Education, Training and Information

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.

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, regional, national and international structures.

7. Concern for Community

While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.

 

 

The Seven Principles that Distinguish Co-ops from Other Electric Suppliers

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

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.

2. Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

3. Member Economic Participation

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. The 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.

4. Autonomy and Independence

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.

5. Education, Training and Information

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.

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, regional, national and international structures.

7. Concern for Community

While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.

The Seven Principles that Distinguish Co-ops from Other Electric Suppliers

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

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.

2. Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

3. Member Economic Participation

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. The 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.

4. Autonomy and Independence

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.

5. Education, Training and Information

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.

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, regional, national and international structures.

7. Concern for Community

While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.