United Cooperative Services
United Cooperative Services is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving 79,000+ members across 14 North Texas counties, operating 13,600+ miles of distribution line and 20,000+ miles of fiber-optic broadband infrastructure delivering power and internet service.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1938
- HeadquartersCleburne, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What United Cooperative Services does
United Cooperative Services is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Cleburne, Texas, serving approximately 79,000 member-owners across 14 North Texas counties (Bosque, Comanche, Coryell, Eastland, Ellis, Erath, Hamilton, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Somervell, Stephens, Tarrant, and Young). The cooperative was formed in April 2000 through the consolidation of Johnson County Electric Cooperative and Erath County Electric Cooperative Association, both originally established in 1938, and operates under the Texas Electric Cooperative Corporation Act as a Touchstone Energy Cooperatives affiliate. It employs 230 people and operates from seven district offices across its service territory.
The cooperative's core technology platform centers on more than 13,600 miles of energized distribution line (including 1,800+ miles underground) and 20,000+ miles of fiber-optic cable delivering high-speed broadband internet. It maintains a 9.9 MW (AC) community solar photovoltaic plant (44,340 panels in 553 tracking rows) launched commercially in 2018, plus member-facing energy programs including Beat the Peak demand response, energy audits, rebate programs, and a Bring-Your-Own-Thermostat program. Wholesale electricity is purchased from Constellation Energy and delivered to 110,000 connected meters.
United's business model is subscription-based recurring revenue from electric delivery charges (separated from pass-through wholesale generation costs) and broadband internet service fees. As a non-profit cooperative, margins are reinvested in infrastructure or returned to members as capital credits. The cooperative earns top-quartile customer satisfaction (ACSI scores in the 90s and high 80s versus a utility industry average of 74) and is governed by an elected seven-member board of directors. A $440 million securitization bond issued in 2022 to recover Winter Storm Uri extraordinary costs will be repaid via a 1.05 cents/kWh charge over 28 years beginning January 2026.
United Cooperative Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- United Cooperative Services
- Legal name
- United Electric Cooperative Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://ucs.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1938
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- United Cooperative Services is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving 79,000+ members across 14 North Texas counties, operating 13,600+ miles of distribution line and 20,000+ miles of fiber-optic broadband infrastructure delivering power and internet service.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
United Cooperative Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rural Electric Distribution Cooperative
- NAICS
- Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA), Demand Response & Load Flexibility Services (EUAMAJAF), Retail Electric Providers / Competitive Distribution Utilities (where applicable) (EUADABAE)
Keywords
Where United Cooperative Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleburne
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
United Cooperative Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Electric Distribution Service: United purchases wholesale electricity from Constellation Energy and delivers it to members through its distribution system. As a non-profit cooperative, costs are passed through to members without markup. Revenue comes from delivery charges that maintain the distribution system.
- High-Speed Internet/Broadband Service: Broadband internet service provided over fiber-optic network to more than 34,000 subscribers, generating revenue from internet service fees.
- Member Capital Credits: As a non-profit cooperative, net margins are allocated back to members as capital credits based on patronage, which are returned over time.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Monthly | Residential Electric Service |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Commercial/Business Electric Service |
| Subscription | Monthly | High-Speed Internet Service |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
United Cooperative Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
United Cooperative Services is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative that purchases wholesale power from Constellation Energy and delivers it through more than 13,600 miles of energized line to 110,000+ connected meters across 14 North Texas counties. It also delivers high-speed fiber-optic broadband internet over 20,000+ miles of fiber to 34,000+ subscribers, and offers a 9.9 MW community solar subscription program, prepaid metering, energy audits, and demand-response programs to its 79,000+ member-owners.
Product overview
United Cooperative Services operates as an electric distribution cooperative providing a comprehensive suite of energy and broadband services to approximately 79,000 members across 14 North Texas counties. The company's core offerings center on electricity distribution (serving 110,000+ meters via 11,800+ miles of energized lines) and high-speed fiber-optic internet service (serving 34,000+ subscribers across 10,000+ miles of fiber). The product portfolio includes: Electric Distribution Service as the foundational utility product; United Community Solar (9.9 MW community solar plant launched in 2018) and United's Solar Solution for renewable energy options; High-Speed Internet/Broadband Service for residential and business connectivity; and member benefit programs including Beat the Peak (demand response), Energy Audits, Rebate Programs, Thermostat Program, Co-op Connections Card (discount program), In-Home Energy Use Display, prepaid metering, and various financial assistance programs including Operation Round Up and the Brazos Hardship Fund. The co-op also offers safety education through Arcing Demonstrations and youth development via Youth Tour and Scholarship Awards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Co-op Connections Card: A discount card and mobile app program offering members discounts on products, services, prescriptions, and entertainment at participating local and national businesses.
- Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
Products and services
- Electric Distribution Service
- High-Speed Internet/Broadband Service
- United Community Solar
- prePower Prepaid Metering
Quantifiable outcome
- Scored in the 90s and high 80s on ACSI (American Customer Satisfaction Index)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use United Cooperative Services
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
United Cooperative Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
United Cooperative Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and foundational.
- Brazos Electric Ratepayer Hardship FundcoreA $140 million trust established to help low-income residential cooperative members cover Winter Storm Uri securitization charges. The fund pays 100% of securitization charges for qualifying members for 24 months. Eligibility: LIHEAP/SNAP participants or households at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Line.
- Constellation EnergycoreConstellation Energy is United's wholesale power supplier, providing the electricity that United distributes to its 110,000+ meters. United purchases electricity from Constellation and passes costs through to members without markup as a non-profit cooperative.
- Touchstone Energy CooperativescoreTouchstone Energy is a national branding initiative and alliance of local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives. United is a member of this cooperative network that collectively serves 32 million member-owners through 750+ local cooperatives in 46 states, delivering power over 2 million miles of lines.
- New BenefitsminorNew Benefits provides the pharmacy discount program component of the Co-op Connections Card, offering members 10-85% savings on prescriptions at 60,000+ pharmacies including Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens, and Target.
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)coreNRECA sponsors the Rural Electric Safety Accreditation Program (RESAP) that reviews and accredits cooperative safety programs. NRECA provides resources, advocacy, and professional development for America's electric cooperatives.
- ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas)coreUnited operates within the ERCOT electric market and is subject to compliance with ERCOT regulations for grid management, including mandated load shed events during power emergencies.
- Rural Electrification Administration (REA)foundationalCreated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to provide financing for rural electrification. The REA enabled local cooperatives like Johnson County Electric Cooperative and Erath County Electric Cooperative to form and bring power to rural North Texas.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
United Cooperative Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CoServ Electric: North Texas electric cooperative (gas and electric) with overlapping service geography in the DFW area, offering similar member-owned distribution plus broadband services. Closely comparable on territory, customer mix, and broadband diversification.
- Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative: Texas electric distribution cooperative offering similar member services, community solar, and fiber broadband in a comparable rural setting. Directly comparable on cooperative governance, ERCOT exposure, and diversification into broadband.
- Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative: Texas electric distribution cooperative serving members across multiple counties, also offering fiber broadband. Directly comparable business model, scale, member programs, and ERCOT regulatory exposure.
- Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative: North Texas electric distribution cooperative adjacent to United's territory, offering similar member programs and fiber broadband expansion. Directly comparable rural electric distribution model in the same regulatory environment.
- Pedernales Electric Cooperative: Largest electric distribution cooperative in the U.S., serving central Texas with the same member-owned, non-profit distribution model. Highly comparable in governance structure, ERCOT exposure, broadband ambitions, and regulatory treatment.
Others
- Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: National alliance/co-branding network of 750+ local electric cooperatives of which United is a member. Comparable at the network level for benchmarking governance, branding, ACSI performance, and shared services.
- Jasper Engines & Transmissions (rural utility context only): Not a comparable peer; omitted placeholder removed. No additional genuine peer identified.
Broad incumbents
- Oncor Electric Delivery: Largest regulated T&D utility in Texas serving the broader DFW region including counties adjacent to United. While IOU-owned rather than cooperative, Oncor is the dominant distribution peer in the same ERCOT footprint and competes for major commercial accounts.
Regional players
- Tri-County Electric Cooperative (Texas): East/North Texas electric distribution cooperative operating adjacent to United's territory under the same ERCOT framework with similar broadband and member programs. Comparable rural cooperative model in neighboring geography.
- Navarro County Electric Cooperative: Electric distribution cooperative serving areas south and east of United's territory with a similar rural member-owned model. Comparable in scale, regulatory treatment, and broadband-overbuild strategy in adjacent North Texas geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
United Cooperative Services social profiles
Digital presenceUnited Cooperative Services compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
United Cooperative Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
United Cooperative Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
United Cooperative Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
United Cooperative Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about United Cooperative Services
What does United Cooperative Services do?
United Cooperative Services is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative that purchases wholesale power from Constellation Energy and delivers it through more than 13,600 miles of energized line to 110,000+ connected meters across 14 North Texas counties. It also delivers high-speed fiber-optic broadband internet over 20,000+ miles of fiber to 34,000+ subscribers, and offers a 9.9 MW community solar subscription program, prepaid metering, energy audits, and demand-response programs to its 79,000+ member-owners.
Is United Cooperative Services a public or private company?
United Cooperative Services is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was United Cooperative Services founded?
United Cooperative Services was founded in 1938. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is United Cooperative Services based?
United Cooperative Services is headquartered in Cleburne, United States, in the North America region.
How does United Cooperative Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Electric Distribution Service is the primary driver. The others are high-Speed Internet/Broadband Service and member Capital Credits.
Who are United Cooperative Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CoServ Electric, Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative and Pedernales Electric Cooperative. Others are Touchstone Energy Cooperatives and Jasper Engines & Transmissions (rural utility context only). Oncor Electric Delivery is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Tri-County Electric Cooperative (Texas) and Navarro County Electric Cooperative.
Does United Cooperative Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for United Cooperative Services.
What industry is United Cooperative Services in?
United Cooperative Services's product category is Rural Electric Distribution Cooperative. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUADABAC, Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities), with a secondary code of EUAMAJAA, Community Solar Development & Subscription Management. Its NAICS code is 221122 and its SIC code is 4911.