Pioneer Utility Resources//Our Story//Shared Co-op Principles
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Shared Co-op Principles

In our community and around the world, member-owned cooperatives make a difference.

Cooperatives are created to fill community needs.

These needs could be anything from housing and electricity to health care, telecommunications, banking or insurance. Community-owned utilities formed Pioneer, originally named Ruralite Services, in 1956 to provide communication support.

Our shared cooperative principles guide Pioneer Utility Resources and keep us focused on our mission:
We serve so you can shine.

Here’s how Pioneer, a not-for-profit communications cooperative based in Hillsboro, Oregon, follows seven co-op principles to support our members:

1. Voluntary and open membership

We call our members Utility Pioneers. To join our co-op, a utility must be a not-for-profit entity and subscribe to at least one Pioneer service. Co-op membership isn’t required to work with us, but it has great benefits!

2. Democratic member control

Co-ops are democratically controlled, with each member having one vote. Members elect co-op leaders.

3. Members’ economic participation

Co-ops provide services “at cost” and remain not-for-profit. Money left over after expenses belongs to members. By 2025, Pioneer had returned $4.3 million in co-op member credits.

0
community-owned utilities, broadband providers and state associations have received
0
in co-op member credits since 1956.

4. Autonomy and independence

Co-ops put member needs first. Period.

5. Education, training and information

Co-ops keep utility members and employees up-to-date on issues to help them effectively manage the co-op and thrive. We do this on our award-winning blog, podcasts, case studies and eBooks. We also provide training at regional and national conferences to strengthen utility communicator storytelling skills.

6. Cooperation among cooperatives

Co-ops support each other. Mutual support helps cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies and deal more effectively with community needs. We team up with other cooperatives and industry groups and actively work to find ways to build stories together.

7. Concern for community

Co-ops exist to strengthen the communities we serve. For many co-ops this means involvement in service organizations and community efforts within a specific geographic area. At Pioneer, a co-op with members spread across the nation, YOU are our community. To build the stories of rural broadband providers and community-owned utilities nationwide, Pioneer supports several national industry-related non-profits, including:

Our storytellers join expeditions such as the Washington Youth Tour and NRECA International efforts to help tell our members’ stories.

Pioneer’s staff also steps up, often with matching co-op dollars, to send funds to utility employees impacted by loss after a natural disaster.