Alex Vournas
General Manager

Powered By Purpose

In October, electric cooperatives across the country will take the time to celebrate National Co-op Month and reflect on the unique advantages of being part of a cooperative. As a not-for-profit cooperative, we exist to serve you, our members, our neighbors and our communities. That purpose is what sets us apart. It’s why we were founded, and it’s what continues to drive every decision we make.

At its core, being a cooperative means we are member-owned and locally controlled. That’s not just a tagline. It’s the very heart of our business model. 

Members have a voice in how our cooperative operates. You elect board members who live right here in our service area and understand the unique challenges and opportunities our communities face. Decisions aren't made in corporate boardrooms hundreds of miles away; they're made here at home, by people who care about the same things you do.

This local accountability means we can stay focused on what matters most: delivering safe and reliable electricity and providing real value to the people we serve.

We do this by investing in essential infrastructure upgrades and technologies that strengthen our electric grid and enhance reliability. This commitment to long-term investment is not new. Since the enactment of the Rural Electrification Act in 1935, people have come together to invest in powering their homes, farms, and businesses, raising the bar for the standard of living we benefit from today.

The electric industry is navigating ongoing challenges including a nationwide shortage of electric generation capacity which has been worsened by the early retirement of ‘always on’ dispatchable energy resources. As electricity demand grows for our current membership, and electric utilities nationally, electric cooperatives across the nation are working hard to ensure we are positioned to meet those needs by investing in new infrastructure with a balanced, reliable energy mix. Our generation and transmission cooperative, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, is taking a proactive, forward-thinking approach to meet new challenges and prepare for the future.

But our commitment doesn’t end at the power lines. Co-ops were built to meet community needs, and that purpose extends well beyond delivering electricity. Whether sponsoring youth programs, awarding college scholarships or making an impact by donating to not-for-profit organizations, we are always looking for ways to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.

Community support isn’t an afterthought, it’s a part of who we are as your local cooperative. In fact, we encourage our employees to volunteer in community events, because we live here and work here. That’s the power of the cooperative difference. That’s what it means to be powered by purpose.

As you can see, you play a unique role as a Mountrail- Williams Electric Cooperative member. You’re not just a member, you’re an owner, a stakeholder and a vital part of a larger effort to keep our community strong, connected and energized.

Thank you for the trust you place in us. We’re proud to be your local electric cooperative.