Butler Rural Electric Cooperative

What Butler Rural Electric Cooperative does

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative that has served southwest Ohio since 1936. The cooperative delivers electricity to nearly 12,000 homes and businesses across portions of Butler, Hamilton, Preble, and Montgomery counties through 16 substations and 1,131 miles of power line. As a regulated rural electric cooperative, it sources generation through its G&T partner Buckeye Power, Inc., and operates under democratic member governance via a nine-person elected board of trustees. The cooperative has returned more than $63 million in capital credits to members cumulatively and reported approximately $40 million in revenue, $74 million in utility plant assets, and $101 million in total assets in its 2025 annual report, with 99.97% system availability and a record-high American Customer Satisfaction Index score among electric utilities nationwide.

The cooperative's primary member-facing platform is SmartHub, a mobile and web application supporting billing, account management, outage reporting, hourly usage monitoring, peak alerts, and the newly launched Home Energy Analytics feature (powered by Bidgely) for appliance-level consumption disaggregation and personalized recommendations. The technology stack also includes AI-based electricity load forecasting (exploratory), drone and GIS-based infrastructure inspection piloted with Miami University, and a Peak Alert system distinguishing off-peak, on-peak, and critical peak periods. Revenue is generated primarily through usage-based electricity sales to residential and small commercial members, supplemented by fees from load management switches, surge protection, water heaters, outdoor lighting, energy audits, and electrician services. Pricing includes standard residential rates, time-of-day rates, and electric vehicle rider rates, with capital credits allocated to members rather than distributed as profits.

Commercially, the cooperative's most significant strategic initiative is its partnership with altafiber (formerly Cincinnati Bell) to deploy gigabit fiber internet across all nearly 12,000 member locations, building on infrastructure installed to all 16 substations since 2017. Additional revenue-adjacent programs include community solar subscriptions through Buckeye Power's OurSolar, EV charging rebates, smart thermostat rebates, and a planned prepaid metering option. The cooperative engages members through Ohio Cooperative Living magazine, social media, the SmartHub platform, safety demonstrations, the Community Connection grant program (over $1.8 million awarded since 1994), youth programs including the Youth Tour to Washington D.C., and member scholarships.

Name

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc

Website

https://butlerrural.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative serving nearly 12,000 homes and businesses across four southwest Ohio counties through 16 substations and 1,131 miles of power line.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Distribution Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Distribution Network Construction (Feeders, Laterals, Service Drops) (IMAFAHAC)

Keywords

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electric Service Revenue: As a not-for-profit cooperative, Butler Rural Electric generates revenue through electricity sales to members. Revenue is used to cover operating costs, maintain infrastructure, and any excess is returned to members as capital credits. The cooperative reported nearly $40 million in revenue for 2025.
2. Capital Credits: Excess revenue after expenses is allocated and returned to members as capital credits. The cooperative has returned more than $63 million in capital credits to members over the years, with $45 million in equities reported.
3. Member Services and Fees: Revenue from services including load management switches, surge protection, water heaters, outdoor lights, energy audits, electrician services, and fiber internet partnership services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned rural electric distribution cooperative that delivers electricity to nearly 12,000 homes and businesses across portions of Butler, Hamilton, Preble, and Montgomery counties in southwest Ohio. Founded in 1936, it operates 16 substations and 1,131 miles of power lines to provide reliable residential and small-business electric distribution service to its members.

Product overview

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative provides electric distribution service to nearly 12,000 homes and businesses in portions of Butler, Hamilton, Preble, and Montgomery counties in southwest Ohio. The cooperative operates as a member-owned not-for-profit utility offering SmartHub as its primary member-facing digital platform for account management, bill payments, and energy monitoring. Through SmartHub, members access home energy analytics powered by Bidgely, peak alert notifications, and outage reporting capabilities. The cooperative also offers time-of-day rate plans including electric vehicle rider rates, community solar subscriptions through Buckeye Power's OurSolar program, and is expanding fiber internet access through a partnership with altafiber. The cooperative is exploring AI applications including load forecasting and energy analytics, and utilizes drone and GIS technology for infrastructure inspection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Core regulated electricity distribution service delivered to residential and small business members across portions of Butler, Hamilton, Preble, and Montgomery counties in southwest Ohio through 16 substations and 1,131 miles of power lines.
• SmartHub Member Account Platform Digital member self-service platform providing account management, billing, payment, usage monitoring, and outage notification for cooperative members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.97% system availability in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Miami UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with Miami University's GIS program where students conduct drone-based utility inspections and mapping projects. Students apply GIS, drone technology, and field research to utility infrastructure challenges including mapping utility poles, evaluating right-of-way, and assessing community solar field. Students gain industry experience while cooperative explores drone-based inspection solutions.
• altafiber (formerly Cincinnati Bell)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership with altafiber to expand fiber internet access to cooperative members. Started in 2018 with initial project bringing fiber to 2,000+ locations. Expanded partnership in 2022 to extend fiber access to remaining 2,800 underserved members, eventually aiming to serve all nearly 12,000 member locations. altafiber invests in building the network while benefiting from cooperative infrastructure synergies.
• Touchstone EnergycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorButler Rural Electric Cooperative is a Touchstone Energy Partner, abiding by high standards of customer service and core values of Integrity, Accountability, Innovation, and Commitment to Community. Touchstone Energy is an alliance of more than 750 electric cooperatives in 46 states serving 32 million people.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of NRECA, a national service organization for more than 900 not-for-profit rural electric cooperatives. NRECA provides educational programs, retirement and insurance programs, energy research, public relations, and legislative representation. Headquartered in Washington, DC.
• Ohio's Electric CooperativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the statewide trade association representing all 24 of Ohio's distribution electric cooperatives. Provides services including loss control, safety training, lobbying, education, youth programs, and communications including Ohio Cooperative Living magazine production. Located in Columbus, Ohio.
• Buckeye Power, Inc.flagshipTechnology or IntegrationGeneration and transmission (G&T) cooperative owned by Ohio's 24 distribution electric cooperatives. Provides power to Butler Rural Electric through ownership in coal-fired Cardinal Plant, peaking facilities, and renewable capacity including community solar, anaerobic digesters, landfill gas, and hydropower. Also provides energy efficiency programs and marketing.
• Cincinnati Bengals and NFL FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration to secure a grant for Camden Elementary School through Butler Rural Community Connection program, supporting local schools and educational opportunities.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Logan County Electric Cooperative: Logan County Electric Cooperative is a member-owned distribution cooperative serving Logan County and surrounding areas in west-central Ohio. Direct peer operating in the same statewide cooperative ecosystem with overlapping product offerings and member programs.
• Darke Rural Electric Cooperative: Darke Rural Electric Cooperative is a member-owned distribution cooperative serving rural members in western Ohio. Directly comparable as a Touchstone Energy-affiliated Ohio electric distribution cooperative of similar size and structure to Butler Rural Electric.
• South Central Power Company: South Central Power is a member-owned distribution electric cooperative serving 11+ counties across southern and eastern Ohio. A direct peer operating under the same Touchstone Energy and Buckeye Power cooperative umbrella as Butler Rural Electric, with similar product offerings including SmartHub and fiber/broadband partnerships.
• Firelands Electric Cooperative: Firelands Electric Cooperative is a member-owned distribution electric cooperative serving rural north-central Ohio. Directly comparable as a Touchstone Energy cooperative delivering electric distribution, member services, and community programs of similar scale and scope.
• Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative: Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative is a member-owned distribution cooperative in northeast Ohio providing electric distribution and broadband services. Directly comparable as another Ohio distribution cooperative offering member services and fiber broadband partnerships to its members.
• Consolidated Electric Cooperative: Consolidated Electric Cooperative is a member-owned distribution cooperative serving north-central Ohio through the same statewide cooperative infrastructure. A direct peer under Ohio's Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power umbrella with analogous service offerings.
• Paulding-Putnam Electric Cooperative: Paulding-Putnam Electric Cooperative is a Touchstone Energy-affiliated distribution cooperative serving rural northwest Ohio. Comparable as a similarly sized member-owned cooperative offering electric distribution, member programs, and community engagement.
• Midwest Electric, Inc. Midwest Electric is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving rural northwest Ohio. Closely comparable to Butler Rural Electric in business model (not-for-profit cooperative), regulatory framework, member services, and Ohio statewide cooperative ecosystem membership.
• Union Rural Electric Cooperative: Union Rural Electric Cooperative is a member-owned distribution cooperative serving rural central Ohio. Direct peer offering electric distribution services under the same statewide cooperative structure and member-benefit programs.

Others

• altafiber: altafiber (formerly Cincinnati Bell) is Butler Rural Electric Cooperative's flagship fiber broadband partner, building and operating the fiber network extended to the cooperative's members. Included as an adjacent ecosystem participant, not a direct competitor, because the relationship is a strategic infrastructure partnership rather than overlapping service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ButlerRuralElectricCooperative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/butler-rural-electric-cooperative-oh-
• Instagraminstagram.com/butlerruralelectric
• Xx.com/ButlerRural

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 Butler Rural Electric Cooperative