Norris Electric Cooperative

What Norris Electric Cooperative does

Norris Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric utility cooperative headquartered at 8543 N State Highway 130 in Newton, Illinois, serving residential and rural members within a designated Illinois service territory. The cooperative distributes electricity to member-owners at rates set by its board and operates as a not-for-profit cooperative, returning excess revenues to members through capital credits. Core technology infrastructure comprises cooperative-owned distribution assets plus two principal digital systems: the SmartHub platform (web portal and iOS/Android mobile app, provided via the cooperative industry standard SmartHub stack) for billing, payments, paperless billing, usage monitoring, and notifications; and an interactive Outage Management System from Futura Systems, Inc. that delivers real-time outage tracking and member-facing outage reporting.

The business model rests on three revenue streams. The primary stream is monthly electricity distribution tariffs billed to member-owners, with multiple billing/payment products layered on top including Auto Pay, Budget Billing, PrePay, Quick Pay, and Online Bill Pay. The second stream is an LED outdoor security lighting subscription priced at $7.00 per month, covering installation, maintenance, operation, and electricity on lights mounted on Norris Electric poles. The third stream is a non-refundable $300 application fee for members interconnecting member-owned renewable generation systems onto the cooperative's grid, with additional engineering review costs possible depending on system size. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: members apply for service by phone, an engineering site visit is required for new connections, and the cooperative retains exclusive service territory rights under state and federal utility regulation.

Auxiliary products and partnerships round out the offering. The cooperative performs vegetation management (a 15-foot right-of-way clearance on either side of primary conductors with 20-foot overhead clearance), distributes standby generators from Briggs & Stratton through Ambraw Power Systems, participates in the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Co-op Connections discount program, offers Air Evac Lifeteam air ambulance membership as a member benefit, and contributes to the Illinois Country Living Magazine via the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC). The cooperative is also affiliated with NRECA and partners with Safe Electricity for public safety education. Member service and outage channels include a member services line (877-783-8765) and an outage reporting line (877-783-3221), supported by the website, Facebook, and the SmartHub app.

Name

Norris Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Norris Electric Cooperative

Website

https://norriselectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Norris Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric utility cooperative headquartered in Newton, Illinois, distributing electricity to residential and rural members across its exclusive Illinois service territory under a regulated, not-for-profit cooperative model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI), Non-Wires Alternatives (NWA) & DER as Grid Capacity (Capacity Deferral) (EUADALAJ), DER Financing, Leasing & Billing Platforms (TPO, PPA, On-Bill) (EUAMAJAJ)

Keywords

• Electric distribution services
• Member-owned cooperative
• Electric utility services
• Outage management
• Rural electricity distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Newton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electric Distribution Services: Sale and distribution of electricity to member-owners within the cooperative's service territory. Members pay for electricity consumption based on rates set by the cooperative.
2. Outdoor Lighting Service: Monthly fee of $7.00 for LED security lights covering installation, maintenance, and operation of the light. Electricity for the light is included in the monthly fee.
3. Member-Owned Generation Application Processing: Non-refundable $300 application fee for members installing renewable energy systems on the cooperative's grid. Additional costs may be required based on system size and engineering studies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Norris Electric Cooperative distributes electricity to member-owners across its rural Illinois service territory through cooperative-owned grid infrastructure, with member sign-up requiring a call to the cooperative office and an engineering site visit for new service. Members manage their accounts and pay bills through the SmartHub web portal and mobile app, and the cooperative provides a real-time interactive outage map for service disruption tracking. Supplementary paid offerings include LED outdoor security lighting subscriptions, a member-owned (co-)generation interconnection program, standby generator offerings through a Briggs & Stratton partnership, and assorted member benefit programs such as Co-op Connections, capital credits, scholarships, and energy efficiency programs.

Product overview

Norris Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric utility providing electricity distribution services to residential and commercial members. The cooperative operates a single integrated product portfolio centered on reliable electric service delivery, with member-facing digital tools anchored by the SmartHub platform (mobile app and web portal) for account management. Supplementary services include outage management, outdoor security lighting, member-owned generation interconnection, vegetation management, standby generator referrals, 811 dig-safe services, and member benefit programs such as Co-op Connections and energy efficiency initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartHub: Mobile app and web portal for account management, bill payments, usage monitoring, and notifications

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Sale and distribution of electricity to member-owners within the cooperative's rural Illinois service territory. Members apply for service by calling the cooperative office and, for new connections, complete an engineering site visit before being connected to the cooperative-owned grid.
• SmartHub Mobile app and web portal that lets cooperative members manage their accounts, view and pay bills, set up Auto Pay or paperless billing, monitor energy usage, and receive notifications, available on iOS and Android.
• Outdoor Lighting Service LED dusk-to-dawn outdoor security lighting installed on Norris Electric poles, with installation, maintenance, operation, and electricity usage included in a $7.00 monthly subscription fee.
• Member-Owned Generation (Co-Generation) Interconnection Program that allows cooperative members to interconnect renewable energy systems on the cooperative's grid under a member-owned generation agreement, subject to proof of insurance, engineering review, interconnection studies, and a non-refundable $300 application fee.
• Standby Generators Standby generator systems from Briggs & Stratton ranging from 7kW to 20kW, offered as a member benefit through Ambraw Power Systems to provide automatic backup power during outages, operating on natural gas or propane.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Touchstone Energy CooperativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorris Electric Cooperative is a member of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, a national network of electric cooperatives. The partnership provides access to resources, branding, and cooperative support services.
• Illinois 1 Call (JULIE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Illinois 1 Call system for underground utility locating. JULIE coordinates between utilities and excavators to prevent damage to underground facilities. Contacting JULIE before digging is required by state law.
• Co-op Connections ProgrammoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipates in Touchstone Energy Cooperatives' Co-op Connections program offering members discounts on pharmacy, dental, vision, hearing, hotel savings, cash back shopping, events, insurance, and more.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with NRECA, the national service organization for America's electric cooperatives, providing advocacy, education, and industry resources.
• Air Evac LifeteamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAir Evac Lifeteam membership program offered as a member benefit, providing air ambulance services to members at discounted rates.
• Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing member to the AIEC, which produces the Illinois Country Living Magazine distributed monthly to cooperative members across Illinois.
• Safe ElectricitymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner of Safe Electricity, a multi-media public awareness program of the Energy Education Council promoting electrical safety and energy efficiency since 2001.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: Network/brand partner — the national alliance of 750+ member-owned electric cooperatives of which Norris is a member. Not a direct competitor, but the parent network that defines Norris's branding, shared services access, and Co-op Connections program.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA): Industry trade association — national service organization for America's electric cooperatives providing advocacy, education, and shared services. Norris is an affiliated member; relevant for benchmarking governance, safety, and operational best practices.

Emerging players

• Basin Electric Power Cooperative: Larger-scale generation-and-transmission (G&T) cooperative — operates at a vastly different scale and upstream in the value chain, but is the cooperative model that distribution co-ops like Norris ultimately depend on for wholesale power supply. Useful for understanding supply-side cost dynamics affecting Norris.
• Seminole Electric Cooperative: Member-owned generation-and-transmission cooperative serving Florida distribution co-ops. Not a direct competitor, but a structurally comparable cooperative-utility operating under a different regional regulatory regime — useful for benchmarking cooperative governance and capital structure.

Direct peers

• Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative: Direct peer — fellow Touchstone Energy member-owned distribution cooperative serving rural east-central Illinois, with a comparable product mix (electric distribution, SmartHub, outdoor lighting, member generation programs). Operates in a contiguous service territory with a similar member-owner structure and revenue model.
• Corn Belt Energy Corporation: Direct peer — member-owned distribution cooperative serving rural central Illinois with comparable product and member service mix. Operates under the same Illinois regulatory framework and AIEC/Touchstone Energy affiliation as Norris Electric.
• Shelby Electric Cooperative: Direct peer — Illinois-based member-owned distribution cooperative affiliated with AIEC and Touchstone Energy, serving rural Shelby and surrounding counties. Closely comparable in scale, regulatory framework, and product portfolio including member generation and outdoor lighting.
• Menard Electric Cooperative: Direct peer — Illinois Touchstone Energy distribution cooperative serving rural Menard and adjacent counties. Comparable member-owned structure, regulatory environment, and small-staff operational model serving a similar rural customer base.
• Adams Electric Cooperative: Direct peer — Illinois-based member-owned electric distribution cooperative affiliated with AIEC and Touchstone Energy. Operates the same member-owner model, same Illinois regulatory framework, and offers a similar set of programs (SmartHub, member-owned generation, outdoor lighting).

Regional players

• Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative: Regional peer — member-owned distribution electric cooperative serving rural eastern Iowa, just across the Illinois border. Operates a comparable Touchstone Energy / NRECA-affiliated model with similar member services, but in a different state regulatory jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NorrisElectric
• Xx.com/NorrisElectric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Norris Electric Cooperative