Shelby Electric Cooperative

What Shelby Electric Cooperative does

Shelby Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative formed in 1938 by farmers to electrify rural central Illinois. Headquartered in Shelbyville, Illinois, it serves roughly 9,500-10,000 member-owners across an exclusive service territory spanning 2,200 miles of energized line in nine counties (Christian, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Macon, Montgomery, Moultrie, Sangamon, and Shelby). Distribution is delivered through owned infrastructure managed by a field operations crew and the engineering department, with member engagement via the SmartHub web/mobile platform for billing, usage monitoring, and outage reporting.

Revenue is generated from monthly service-availability charges plus per-kWh energy charges published across rate classes (Rate 1 single-phase, Rate 2 three-phase, Rate 11 heat pump, Rate 12 electric heat, Rate 13 interruptible), together with subscription-style ancillary services including security lighting rentals, Bright Options Solar block purchases (200/400/600 kWh at $12-$36/month), and capital credits retirements that return accumulated patronage equity to members. Beyond core electric distribution, the cooperative operates three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Shelby Energy Company (propane gas and whole-house generators), PWR-net (broadband internet), and ShelbyFiber (fiber-optic internet). Wholesale electricity is sourced through Prairie Power, Inc., a generation-and-transmission cooperative in which Shelby holds an 8.22% share of the 1,600 MW Prairie State Energy Campus, giving it 135 MW of baseload generation, with additional output from Prairie Power's solar farms and the Pioneer Trail Wind Farm near Paxton, Illinois.

Members participate in cooperative governance through a seven-district elected board (Robert Holthaus, Chairman; Brent Lively, Vice Chairman; David Keown, Secretary; Greg Mackling, Treasurer; with at-large and district directors), and the cooperative is affiliated with the Touchstone Energy national brand network of 700+ cooperatives. Leadership is headed by President/CEO Josh Shallenberger and Manager of Operations Terry Oldham, with departments covering construction, forestry, member services, HR/compliance (Diane Bunton), and a workforce that recently earned the 2025 Best Loss Time Rate Certificate of Achievement from the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. The entity operates as a regulated Illinois utility subject to USDA Rural Utilities Service civil-rights compliance and coordinates grid reliability through MISO.

Name

Shelby Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Shelby Electric Cooperative

Website

https://shelbyelectric.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Shelby Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving roughly 9,500-10,000 member-owners across 2,200 miles of line in nine central Illinois counties, with broadband, propane, and fiber subsidiaries extending service beyond electricity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122)

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), Retail Electric Providers / Competitive Distribution Utilities (where applicable) (EUADABAE)

Keywords

• Electric distribution services
• Rural electric cooperative
• Member-owned utility
• Community solar program
• Subsidiary broadband services

Headquarters

HQ city

Shelbyville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Electric Distribution Services: Monthly electricity distribution services to over 9,500 member-owners across nine central Illinois counties. Revenue generated from service availability charges and energy charges per kWh consumed.
2. Capital Credits Retirements: Not-for-profit cooperative model where margins are allocated back to members as patronage capital credits. Retired and returned to members as their share of cooperative margins based on electricity usage.
3. Bright Options Solar Program: Members can purchase blocks of solar-generated electricity (200, 400, or 600 kWh) at added monthly cost through Prairie Power Inc. solar farms
4. Security Lighting: Monthly security lighting services with various wattage options from 65W LED to 1000W Mercury Vapor
5. Subsidiary Services (Shelby Energy, PWR-net, ShelbyFiber): Propane, generators, broadband internet, and fiber services through affiliated subsidiaries

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Shelby Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit member-owned electric distribution cooperative delivering electricity to over 9,500 member-owners across 2,200 miles of line in nine central Illinois counties. The cooperative operates multiple rate classes for residential, farm, and commercial members, and extends its offerings through wholly-owned subsidiaries providing propane, whole-house generators, broadband internet (PWR-net), and fiber internet (ShelbyFiber).

Product overview

Shelby Electric Cooperative operates as a not-for-profit member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving nine central Illinois counties. The cooperative offers a unified portfolio of energy products and services centered on its core electric distribution service, supplemented by subsidiary offerings including propane gas and generators (Shelby Energy Company), broadband internet (PWR-net and ShelbyFiber). Members access account management through SmartHub, an online and mobile platform for bill payment, usage monitoring, and outage reporting. The cooperative also provides community solar participation (Bright Options Solar), distributed generation interconnection for member-owned renewable systems, capital credits reflecting member ownership, security lighting, and the Co-op Connections discount program. The product portfolio functions as a single cooperative ecosystem where electric service serves as the core offering, with subsidiary brands and member programs extending value to member-owners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Member-owned electric distribution service providing reliable, affordable electricity to residential, farm, and commercial member-owners across nine central Illinois counties via 2,200 miles of energized line.
• SmartHub

Quantifiable outcome

• Capital credits retired up to 1993 totaling more than $6.25 million
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prairie Power, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelby Electric Cooperative's member-owned generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative. PPI supplies wholesale electricity to 10 central Illinois co-ops and operates transmission lines, substations, and power generation resources. Owns 8.22% of Prairie State Energy Campus (135 MW of 1,600 MW capacity).
• Prairie State Energy CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-unit, 1,600 megawatt supercritical coal-fired generation station. Shelby Electric, through Prairie Power Inc., owns 8.22% share providing 135 MW of low-cost baseload generation to member cooperatives.
• Touchstone Energy CooperativescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational brand identity network of 700+ local electric cooperatives serving 30 million member-owners. Provides marketing resources, partnerships, and cooperative best practices to member cooperatives.
• Air Evac LifeteamminorOthersAir ambulance membership program offered to cooperative members at discounted rates ($60/year household). Provides life-saving air ambulance services across 14 central U.S. states with no out-of-pocket costs for flights.
• PWR-net (Broadband Internet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-speed broadband internet service offered through cooperative subsidiary. Expands member services beyond electric distribution into telecommunications.
• Shelby Energy CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary company offering propane services and whole house generators to cooperative members. Provides additional energy services beyond electric distribution.
• ShelbyFibercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiber optic internet service offered through cooperative subsidiary, expanding broadband access in rural service territory.
• MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator)coreOthersMISO is the electric grid operator for the central United States, ensuring power flows reliably across 15 states and Manitoba. Coordinates grid alerts and energy emergencies with member utilities including Shelby Electric Cooperative.
• Pioneer Trail Wind FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWind-generated electricity purchased by Prairie Power Inc. from wind farm located near Paxton, Illinois. Part of diversified generation portfolio for member cooperatives.
• Backcountry Hunters & AnglersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers supporting the archery park at Opossum Creek near Lake Shelbyville, managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Prairie Power, Inc. Generation and transmission cooperative that supplies wholesale power to Shelby Electric and nine other Illinois distribution co-ops. Comparable as a Touchstone Energy member co-op and operates substations/transmission, but functions as Shelby's wholesale supplier rather than a direct distribution competitor.
• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: National network/brand of 700+ local electric cooperatives serving ~30 million members. Shelby is a member; Touchstone provides shared marketing, branding, and purchasing power, making it a strategic ecosystem peer rather than a competitor.

Direct peers

• Corn Belt Energy Corporation: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative operating in central Illinois. Directly comparable on territory, member structure, distribution-only business model, and renewable energy program offerings.
• Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association: Member-owned rural electric distribution cooperative in southern Illinois. Closely comparable on cooperative model, member service focus, and SmartHub-style digital member services.
• Menard Electric Cooperative: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving central Illinois. Directly comparable to Shelby on geography, business model, member-owned structure, and Touchstone Energy/Prairie Power network affiliation.
• Southwestern Electric Cooperative: Illinois-based member-owned electric distribution cooperative. Comparable on cooperative structure, rural service territory, and residential/farm customer base.
• Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative: Central Illinois rural electric distribution cooperative serving farms, residences, and small businesses. Highly comparable member-owned distribution model with similar customer mix and Prairie Power G&T supply relationship.

Broad incumbents

• Ameren Illinois: Investor-owned electric and natural gas utility serving much of Illinois. Comparable in electric distribution activity in Illinois but operates at far greater scale with rate-regulated IOU economics, making it a broad incumbent peer in the same service geography.

Regional players

• Corn Belt Power Cooperative: Generation and transmission cooperative serving member distribution co-ops in Iowa and adjacent Midwest states. Comparable G&T cooperative model and member-owned structure, though operating in a different geography than Shelby's Illinois territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YourCoop
• Facebookfacebook.com/YourCoop
• Instagraminstagram.com/shelbyelectriccooperative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shelby-electric-cooperative-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Shelby Electric Cooperative