Undemocratic governance at Virginia’s electric cooperatives is a serious issue that has left co-op members across the state frustrated and ready for reform. Closed-door board meetings and unfair voting practices are two of the issues members hope to change in 2022.
Communities in Appalachia are starting to make progress reforming their electric co-ops to be more democratic and transparent in their governance.
The 2020 election season is over. But wait, there’s more! Next year in Virginia, you have the opportunity to run for your local electric co-op board.
Most rural folks rely on electric co-ops for their power, and as “member-owners,” they vote on board members who decide everything from rates to whether clean energy is part of their energy source.
Rappahannock Electric’s attempt to block members’ efforts to bring reform amendments to the ballot has sparked a legal dispute. All other Virginia electric co-ops have joined Rappahannock in opposing the members’ push for transparency.
Rural electric co-ops were set up as democratic institutions, but have increasingly become unresponsive to their customers, who are also owner-members. In Virginia, members of two co-ops are challenging the status quo.
