The Energy Cooperative

What The Energy Cooperative does

The Energy Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned utility cooperative that distributes electricity, natural gas, and propane to more than 72,000 accounts across east central Ohio, primarily in Licking, Knox, and Muskingum counties. It operates under the legal name Licking Rural Electrification, Inc. (founded 1936) and an umbrella of six operating subsidiaries—Licking Rural Electrification (LRE), National Gas & Oil Cooperative (NGO), Producers Gas Sales, NGO Development Corporation, NGO Transmission, NGO Propane Cooperative—covering generation-to-delivery infrastructure for all three energy commodities. Core technology assets include 2,955 miles of electric distribution lines, 32 miles of electric transmission lines, 20 substations, 3 switching stations, a multi-county natural gas pipeline network, underground gas storage fields capable of supplying up to half of daily gas demand, advanced metering infrastructure, and the SmartHub online/mobile platform for member account management.

Revenue mechanics are subscription/recurring at cost to members rather than profit-maximizing: monthly facilities charges combined with usage-based per-kWh, per-ccf, and per-gallon rates (with Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment and Gas Cost Recovery riders), complemented by demand-side programs (Peak Alert, load management, rebates), community solar subscriptions, net billing for rooftop generation, and an alternative supply partnership with IGS Energy (Member Select Program) that preserves cooperative delivery economics. The customer base spans residential members (primary), commercial and industrial members (including campgrounds, restaurants, breweries, arboretum, mixed-use redevelopments), agricultural operations, and emerging large-power users including data centers. GTM motion is hybrid—sales-led for commercial/industrial business development targeting new subdivisions and mixed-use facilities, and community-led via Operation Round Up Foundation, youth programs, scholarships, and the Co-op Ambassador Program. The cooperative is governed democratically by elected board members; ownership rests with member-owners, not shareholders, and there is no parent company, VC investment, or public equity.

Name

The Energy Cooperative

Legal name

Licking Rural Electrification, Inc.

Website

https://myenergycoop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Energy Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned utility cooperative providing electric, natural gas, and propane distribution services to more than 72,000 residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural accounts across east central Ohio (primarily Licking, Knox, and Muskingum counties).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Utilities (22)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Microgrids & Shared Distributed Generation (EUACALAC), Captive & Embedded Gas-Fired Power Generation (Industrial/Commercial CHP) (EUALALAB), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)

Keywords

• Electric utility services
• Natural gas distribution
• Propane delivery service
• Member-owned cooperative
• Energy infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Newark

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Electric Service: Electric distribution service providing power to over 27,400 accounts across nine counties. Revenue generated through facilities charges and per-kilowatt-hour charges for generation, transmission, and distribution.
2. Natural Gas Distribution: Natural gas delivery service through National Gas & Oil Cooperative (NGO) serving over 39,400 accounts within a seven-county area. Revenue from facilities charges and distribution rates per ccf (centum cubic feet), plus Gas Cost Recovery rates.
3. Propane Service: Propane delivery service through NGO Propane Cooperative serving over 5,200 accounts across twelve counties. Revenue from per-gallon pricing based on annual usage tiers with monthly facilities fees.
4. Member Select Program: Alternative natural gas supply program partnering with IGS Energy, where the cooperative continues delivery and billing while IGS administers supply. Cooperative generates revenue through delivery service while members pay alternative supplier for gas commodity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Energy Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned utility cooperative that distributes electricity, natural gas, and propane to more than 72,000 residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural accounts across east central Ohio. Services are delivered through owned infrastructure including electric transmission and distribution lines, substations, natural gas pipelines, underground gas storage fields, and propane delivery operations, supported by a SmartHub digital platform for account management.

Product overview

The Energy Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned utility providing electric, natural gas, and propane services to more than 72,000 accounts across east central Ohio (Licking, Knox, and Muskingum counties). The cooperative operates through its family of companies including Licking Rural Electrification (LRE), National Gas & Oil Cooperative (NGO), Producers Gas Sales, and NGO Propane Cooperative. Members access services through SmartHub digital platform for account management, billing, and meter readings. The product portfolio includes core energy delivery services (electric, natural gas, propane), renewable energy programs (Community Solar, Net Billing/Rooftop Solar, Buckeye Power renewables), demand response programs (Peak Alert, Load Management), safety products (Excess Flow Valves, GenerLink), and incentive programs (Rebate Programs). Major infrastructure projects include the Licking County Pipeline ($150M, 24-mile natural gas) and Clover Valley Pipeline (4.94-mile natural gas). The cooperative also offers billing flexibility through Budget Billing and Prepaid Billing, and community programs like Operation Round Up that round up bills for local charitable giving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartHub: A mobile and web application for members to manage their accounts, pay bills, submit meter readings, and access cooperative services.
• Operation Round Up
• OurSolar
• Licking County Pipeline
• Clover Valley Pipeline

Products and services

• Electric Service Residential, business, commercial and industrial electric distribution service providing power to over 27,400 accounts across nine counties in east central Ohio. Revenue generated through facilities charges and per-kilowatt-hour charges for generation, transmission, and distribution.
• Natural Gas Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 72,000 member accounts served across electric, natural gas, and propane
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IGS EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with IGS Energy (based in Central Ohio with 20+ years experience serving 800,000+ customers) to offer the Member Select Program providing members an alternative way to purchase natural gas. Cooperative continues to deliver gas and send monthly invoices while IGS administers supply and pricing.
• Buckeye PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio's generation and transmission cooperative (G&T) providing power to 24 Ohio-based electric cooperatives and Michigan-based Midwest Energy & Communications. Buckeye Power owns generation assets including Cardinal Power Plant, contracts for Clifty Creek and Kyger Creek plants, natural gas peaking facilities, and manages renewable energy investments including hydropower, solar, and biogas projects. The Energy Cooperative receives power supply through this G&T relationship.
• Ohio's Electric CooperativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide association of Ohio electric cooperatives that sponsors youth programs including the annual NRECA Youth Tour trip to Washington D.C.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association representing America's electric cooperatives, providing advocacy, education, and the annual Youth Tour program that connects cooperative youth with congressional leaders.
• NGO TransmissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of The Energy Cooperative family, NGO Transmission provides firm gas delivery service through a network of pipelines and gas storage fields, ensuring reliable natural gas service for affiliated and non-affiliated customers. Storage fields can supply up to half of daily energy requirements.
• New York Power Authority (NYPA)minorOthersLargest state-owned power organization in the nation providing attractively priced hydropower to Buckeye Power from Niagara (90%) and St. Lawrence rivers. The Energy Cooperative benefits from this 55-megawatt hydropower entitlement through its Buckeye Power relationship.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Buckeye Power: Ohio's electric generation and transmission cooperative that supplies wholesale power to The Energy Cooperative. Operates the same member-owned cooperative model, owns Cardinal Power Plant and renewable assets, and serves 24 Ohio-based electric cooperatives — directly comparable in structure and mission.
• South Central Power Company: Ohio-based member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving similar rural and suburban territories. Operates under the same cooperative structure with member governance, comparable customer scale, and overlapping service territory dynamics in central and southeast Ohio.
• Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative: Ohio-based electric cooperative serving adjacent counties in east central Ohio. Highly comparable due to geographic proximity, similar member-owned structure, similar customer mix (residential, agricultural, light commercial), and parallel reliance on Buckeye Power for generation supply.
• Midwest Electric Cooperative: Ohio-based member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving rural northwest and central Ohio. Comparable in size, structure, and service profile; offers similar electric distribution service through Buckeye Power partnership and engages in community-focused programs parallel to The Energy Cooperative.
• Consolidated Electric Cooperative: Ohio-based member-owned electric cooperative serving multiple counties in central Ohio. Direct comparable on cooperative structure, customer base composition (rural and residential), and reliance on regional G&T partnerships for power supply.
• Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative: Ohio-based electric distribution cooperative serving Holmes and Wayne counties with similar member-owned model and rural service territory. Comparable in scale, customer count range, and community engagement approach (youth programs, scholarships, Operation Round Up equivalents).
• Pioneer Rural Electric Cooperative: Ohio-based member-owned electric cooperative serving multiple counties. Operates under the same cooperative principles, similar customer scale, parallel community programs, and comparable distribution infrastructure footprint in rural Ohio.
• Midwest Energy & Communications: Michigan-based member-owned electric cooperative that also receives power supply from Buckeye Power. Comparable as a multi-state G&T customer with similar cooperative structure, rural service territory, and community-focused operations model.

Broad incumbents

• AEP Ohio: Investor-owned utility subsidiary of American Electric Power serving overlapping electric distribution territory in central Ohio. Larger, broader portfolio utility with regulated returns; not direct co-op peer but competes for commercial/industrial customers and represents the investor-owned alternative model in the same geography.
• Dominion Energy Ohio: Investor-owned natural gas utility serving overlapping Ohio territory. Comparable in natural gas distribution operations, regulatory framework, and infrastructure-intensive business model, but operates under a for-profit utility structure rather than member-owned cooperative model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@myenergycoop
• Facebookfacebook.com/theenergycooperative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theenergycooperative
• Instagraminstagram.com/theenergycooperative
• Xx.com/theenergycoop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Energy Cooperative