Big Country Electric Cooperative

What Big Country Electric Cooperative does

Big Country Electric Cooperative (BCEC) is a non-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative formed on January 1, 1999, through the consolidation of Midwest Electric Cooperative and Stamford Electric Cooperative. The cooperative distributes electricity across twelve rural West Texas counties (Borden, Fisher, Garza, Haskell, Jones, Kent, Mitchell, Nolan, Scurry, Shackelford, Stonewall, and Throckmorton) through a network of three physical offices in Roby, Snyder, and Stamford; over 5,381 miles of transmission and distribution line; and multiple substations including recently built Camp Springs, Sylvester, and North Hamlin, with the Nowlin substation under development. BCEC serves 6,055+ members across 13,659 meters, employs 51-100 staff, holds approximately $61 million in cooperative assets, and operates under the Touchstone Energy national cooperative brand.

The cooperative's core offering is electricity distribution service sold across residential, commercial/industrial, irrigation, farm, and seasonal rate classes at an effective rate of approximately $0.099665/kWh, including a Power Cost Adjustment mechanism tied to a $0.06/kWh budgeted purchased-power baseline. Member-facing technology is built around the SmartHub web portal and mobile application, which provides 24/7 account access, bill payment, usage monitoring, outage reporting, prepaid metering through "Prepay Your Way," and a Budget Billing option that averages the rolling 12-month actual cost. BCEC maintains operational coordination with upstream transmission providers AEP and Oncor, grid operators ERCOT (covering most of the service area) and Southwest Power Pool (covering Justiceburg, Union, Fluvanna, and Garza substations), and finance partner National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation for cost-of-service analysis. Member benefit programs include Capital Credits (annual allocation and periodic retirement of margins), Operation Round Up charitable bill rounding, AirMedCare Network membership discounts, Medical Priority designation, Rural Development Loans (RDLG), Big Country Development Corporation economic development funding, scholarships, and the Government-in-Action Youth Tour. In June 2025, severe storms downed 173 poles and left 1,700+ meters without power; restoration was completed within five days using mutual aid crews from Concho Valley Electric Cooperative and contracted support from Primary Utility Services.

BCEC operates as a not-for-profit cooperative: revenue beyond operating costs is allocated back to members as capital credits based on annual electricity usage, with periodic retirements distributed as bill credits or checks. The cooperative has returned over $19 million in capital credits to members or their heirs historically, with $3.77 million allocated in 2025 (for 2024 service) and $1.29 million retired that year, and $3.62 million allocated in 2026 (for 2025 service) with $561,051 retired. A cost-of-service study completed in 2025/2026 with CFC indicates current rates no longer fully align with operating costs, and an upcoming rate adjustment is anticipated.

Name

Big Country Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Big Country Electric Cooperative

Website

https://bigcountry.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Big Country Electric Cooperative is a non-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving 6,055+ members across twelve rural West Texas counties via 5,381 miles of line, operating under the Touchstone Energy cooperative brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Distribution Services

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI)

Keywords

• Electric distribution services
• Rural electric cooperative
• Electric utility services
• Power line distribution
• Member-owned electric utility

Headquarters

HQ city

Roby

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Electricity Sales and Distribution Service: BCEC generates revenue through electricity distribution fees charged to its member-customers. Members pay a facility charge (fixed monthly cost for infrastructure access) plus a per-kWh charge for electricity consumed. Revenue also includes a Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) component that tracks actual vs. budgeted purchased power costs ($0.06/kWh budgeted; BCEC's kWh rate is $0.099665/kWh). Revenue beyond operating expenses (margins) is allocated back to members as capital credits rather than distributed as profits.
2. Operation Round Up Trust Contributions: Members voluntarily 'round up' their electric bill to the nearest dollar, with the difference (never more than 99 cents/month) going into the BCEC Trust Fund for charitable disbursements in the 12-county service area. New members are automatically enrolled. Contributions average approximately $6 per year per meter.
3. Big Country Development Corporation (BCDC) Economic Development Funding: BCDC provides discretionary funding for community economic development projects sourced from escheated (unclaimed) capital credits. While not a direct revenue stream, it represents a cooperative purpose funded by unclaimed member capital credits retained under Texas law.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Big Country Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, non-profit electric distribution cooperative that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to over 6,000 members across 12 West Texas counties. The cooperative delivers electricity through more than 5,300 miles of line and four substations, offering residential, commercial, industrial, farm, seasonal, and irrigation rate classes. It supplements its core electricity delivery with member-facing digital tools (SmartHub portal/app, online outage map), optional billing programs (Prepay Your Way, Budget Billing), capital credit allocations and retirements, charitable and community programs, AirMedCare Network membership, Medical Priority designation, and Rural Development Loans and BCDC economic development funding.

Product overview

Big Country Electric Cooperative is a nonprofit rural electric distribution cooperative serving over 6,000 members across 12 West Texas counties through a network of over 5,300 miles of line. Its core product is electricity distribution service across multiple rate classes (residential, commercial, industrial, farm, seasonal, and irrigation). The cooperative supplements its core electricity delivery with member-facing digital tools — primarily the SmartHub portal and mobile app for bill payment, usage monitoring, and outage reporting — plus optional billing programs such as Prepay Your Way (prepaid metering) and Budget Billing. Member benefit programs include Capital Credits (annual allocation and retirement of margins), Operation Round Up (charitable rounding program), AirMedCare Network membership, and Medical Priority designation. Community and economic development offerings encompass Rural Development Loans (RDLG), Big Country Development Corporation (BCDC) funding, Scholarships, and the Government-in-Action Youth Tour. The cooperative also maintains an Emergency Operations Plan for storm restoration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $19 million in capital credits returned to members or their heirs historically
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Concho Valley Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2025Sister cooperative that provided mutual aid line crews during BCEC's June 2025 storm restoration efforts. Concho Valley EC crews worked late into the night setting poles and running wire to restore power in hard-hit areas. BCEC expressed gratitude for the support from 'sister co-op.'
• Primary Utility ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 9 June 2025Contracted utility services firm that provided crews for BCEC's June 2025 storm restoration. Primary Utility crews worked alongside BCEC and Concho Valley EC crews to restore power across the service territory, including repairs on the Longworth double circuit and south of Rotan areas.
• ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas)coreOthersBCEC's service area primarily falls within the ERCOT grid, which manages electric power flow to more than 26 million Texas customers across 46,500+ miles of transmission lines. ERCOT serves as the independent system operator for the region. BCEC follows ERCOT's load reduction instructions during grid emergencies.
• Southwest Power Pool (SPP)coreOthersFour BCEC substations (Justiceburg, Union, Fluvanna, and Garza) are served by SPP, a regional transmission organization overseeing the electric grid across parts of 14 states. SPP is connected to the national grid and can import/export electricity. BCEC follows SPP reliability protocols for affected substations.
• AEP (American Electric Power)coreTechnology or IntegrationAEP is a transmission provider whose infrastructure delivers power to several BCEC substations. During the June 2025 storm, AEP had approximately 76 poles downed (including ~40 transmission structures), impacting upstream power delivery to BCEC's system.
• Oncor Electric DeliverycoreTechnology or IntegrationOncor is a transmission provider delivering power to several BCEC substations. Oncor crews assisted BCEC during the June 2025 storm restoration efforts, repairing significant transmission damage. Both AEP and Oncor upstream damage affected BCEC outage restoration.
• Touchstone Energy CooperativescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational brand identity network of 700+ electric cooperatives across 47 states serving 30.5 million member-owners. BCEC operates under the Touchstone Energy brand, which provides national resources, brand standards, and cooperative leverage. The brand identity signifies high standards of service rooted in integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to community.
• Sundance Power Pole InspectionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted pole inspection firm engaged by BCEC to carry out inspection work on transmission and distribution poles throughout the service area through 2025-2026. Crews inspect both transmission and distribution lines, beginning with the transmission system. Personnel travel in pickup trucks or four-wheelers and carry Sundance identification and licensing.
• Empact EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm contracted by BCEC to stake jobs and prepare engineering designs for projects identified during pole inspections. Empact crews support BCEC's proactive infrastructure maintenance across various substations (Anson, Stamford, Sylvester). Crews operate in two-week rotations with BCEC-marked vehicles.
• XylemminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted vegetation management firm performing tree trimming near power lines throughout the BCEC system to reduce potential outages and support system reliability.
• AirMedCare NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAirMedCare Network partnership offering BCEC members discounted air medical transport membership ($5/month per household). Members receive no out-of-pocket expense for flights within BCEC's service areas. BCEC earns no direct revenue but offers this as a member benefit. Membership Sales Manager: Jade Hambright ([email protected]).
• Golden Spread Electric CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate cooperative offering the Directors' Memorial Scholarship ($2,000) available to BCEC members' graduating high school seniors. BCEC promotes this scholarship alongside its own academic scholarship program. Both BCEC and Golden Spread EC are part of the Touchstone Energy cooperative network.
• Texas Rural Electric Women's Association (TREWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization offering $1,500 scholarships to BCEC members and employees. BCEC promotes TREWA scholarships to its members as part of its scholarship and community education program.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Concho Valley Electric Cooperative: Sister Texas distribution cooperative that provided mutual aid line crews during BCEC's June 2025 storm restoration. Operates a similar Touchstone Energy-branded member-owned distribution model serving rural West Texas counties, making it a near-direct functional peer.
• Golden Spread Electric Cooperative: Generation & Transmission (G&T) cooperative affiliated with BCEC (powers BCEC's residential solar referral page and offers the Directors' Memorial Scholarship). While structured as a G&T, it is part of the same Touchstone Energy Texas cooperative ecosystem and shares member-benefit programs.
• Pedernales Electric Cooperative: Largest member-owned electric distribution cooperative in the U.S., serving central Texas. Direct functional peer with the same Touchstone Energy brand, capital credits model, and member-governed structure, but at materially greater scale than BCEC.
• Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative: Texas Touchstone Energy distribution cooperative serving rural and suburban members across multiple counties. Operates under the same cooperative distribution model as BCEC, with capital credits, SmartHub-style member portals, and similar service territory economics.
• Mid-South Synergy: Texas electric distribution cooperative formed from prior co-op consolidations, serving rural members with comparable rate classes (residential, irrigation, commercial). Direct peer in business model, regulatory structure, and rural service delivery profile.
• Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative: Rural Texas distribution cooperative serving similar member-owner agricultural and small commercial load. Comparable scale, cooperative governance, Touchstone Energy branding, and capital credit distribution mechanics as BCEC.
• Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative: Texas distribution cooperative providing electric service to rural members across a multi-county territory, sharing the same Touchstone Energy cooperative model, SmartHub-style billing portal, and member-elected board governance as BCEC.

Broad incumbents

• Oncor Electric Delivery: Investor-owned Texas wires-only transmission and distribution utility serving much of ERCOT. Functions as an upstream transmission provider to BCEC substations and is a broad incumbent in Texas electric distribution, though it operates under a for-profit (rather than cooperative) model.
• AEP Texas: Investor-owned transmission provider whose infrastructure delivers power to several BCEC substations and which experienced ~76 downed poles in the June 2025 storm. Broad incumbent in Texas electric delivery and a key counterpart in BCEC's power supply chain.

Others

• Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC / NRUCFC): Nonprofit capital lender owned by cooperative utilities that performs BCEC's professional rate studies, cost-of-service analyses, and Key Ratio Trend Analysis benchmarking. Critical ecosystem enabler and shared service provider across the rural electric cooperative sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bigcountryec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-country-electric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Big Country Electric Cooperative