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For Immediate Release
Aug 21, 2023
Starting this summer, any utility with an ongoing Efficiency Services Group partnership can join Pioneer Utility Resources, a utility-led cooperative.
Members can:
- Get member credits for work done with ESG.
- Vote on Pioneer member business.
- Be nominated to serve on Pioneer’s Board of Directors.
“Pioneer and ESG share office space, communications support, solutions and energy experts,” said Pioneer CEO Michael Shepard. “These efficiencies make both companies — and the utilities we serve together — stronger. But one difference remained: ESG was a separate, for-profit business, not part of Pioneer’s co-op ecosystem. Until now.”
Utilities using ESG’s monthly efficiency program administration are eligible to join the co-op.
Already a Pioneer member?
“For existing co-op members, this is great news. Your eligible spending with ESG now counts toward your annual co-op member credits,” said Efficiency Services Group Chief Operating Officer Miranda Boutelle. “If you’re not a member yet, I hope you’ll join to access member benefits!”
“With this new opportunity, we can get money back for our communications, energy efficiency projects, and other vital program services,” Northern Wasco County PUD Energy Management Supervisor Travis Hardy said when he heard the news. “It’s a win-win situation for Northern Wasco County PUD and our customer-owners! We are here to diligently serve the public, and this news just makes that goal much easier to reach.”
As a cooperative, the work Pioneer does for members is not taxable. At the end of each year, money left after covering business costs — margins — is set aside for co-op members.
“Pioneer’s board has consistently chosen to send checks returning all of these margins to our members in a system we call co-op member credits,” Shepard said. “How much money you receive is based on our margins and the work we do together each year.”
The expansion of co-op membership eligibility can impact a utility budget. Pioneer members are getting checks totaling $274,819 in co-op member credits in August, with portions based on eligible 2022 spending. Historically, Pioneer has returned almost 6% of members’ annual investment. For example, a utility spending $50,000 with ESG would receive $3,000 in member credits the next year.
Since Pioneer was founded by utilities in 1956, the co-op has returned $3.6 million to members.
How to Qualify for Membership
This year marks a decade since ESG partnered with Pioneer. The company offers a variety of energy efficiency support for utilities, including energy and electric vehicle rebate forms and processing, direct install programs with snapshot audits, customer care kits, a commercial refrigeration program and utility staff training.
Utilities that use ESG’s efficiency program administration or any of Pioneer’s recurring communication solutions are eligible to join Pioneer. If a utility does not use a qualifying service, signing up for an ongoing solution such as a magazine, Pioneer Social or Pioneer Studio makes that utility eligible to receive member credits for all the programs it manages through ESG (customer care kits, staff training, direct install, etc.).
Apply to Join Pioneer by Nov. 1
Eligible utilities can apply for co-op membership at pioneer.coop/join. A one-time $10 membership fee is charged once an application is approved.
In order to receive co-op member credits for 2023 projects, utilities must apply to join the cooperative by Nov. 1, 2023. Pioneer’s Board of Directors votes on member applications later that month.
“We hope you’re as excited as we are to invite ESG partners to join Pioneer,” Boutelle said. “We can’t wait to see how this new opportunity makes life better for our members.”
About Pioneer Utility Resources
Pioneer is a not-for-profit communications cooperative based in Hillsboro, Oregon. Formed in 1956, it provides agency-style communications services to consumer-owned utilities and affiliated organizations in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Marquee products and services include 11 consumer magazine brands reaching more than 1.3 million U.S. utility households. The cooperative also provides broadband marketing, social media engagement, responsive website design and hosting, podcast production and custom communications services. Pioneer is built to share members’ stories.
Pioneer owns Efficiency Services Group, which specializes in support and installation services for utility energy efficiency efforts, and NewsData, which publishes industry-leading, independent newsletters covering the utility sector in California and the Pacific Northwest. Pioneer is also the largest shareholder in General Pacific, a Fairview, Oregon-based electric supply company. Learn more at pioneer.coop.