Kay Electric

What Kay Electric does

Kay Electric Cooperative (KEC) is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative founded in 1936 and headquartered in Blackwell, Oklahoma. It serves approximately 3,646 member-owners across 5,857 meters and 2,261 miles of distribution line in portions of Kay, Noble, Grant, Garfield, and Osage counties in north central Oklahoma, with 48 employees. KEC is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees elected from district constituencies and is a member-owner of Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC), a generation-and-transmission cooperative that supplies its bulk power. Grid infrastructure includes automated oil circuit reclosers (OCRs) for fault detection and self-reset, reducing outage duration.

KEC's core offering is electric power distribution, augmented by a member-facing service stack: the SmartHub web and mobile account management platform (NISC-powered) for billing, payments, usage monitoring, and paperless billing; energy efficiency rebate programs covering HVAC, insulation, and appliances; Generac automatic whole-home standby generator sales and installation; solar and electric vehicle charging programs; oversized-load coordination; tree trimming; pole attachment applications; and the K-UP community foundation, which allows members to round up monthly bills to fund local charitable and educational initiatives. Grid and account operations are supported by an outage center, outage mapping, and an emergency line support protocol for life-support and medical-critical members.

KEC's revenue model is structurally distinct from investor-owned utilities: as a cooperative it operates at cost, with the Board of Directors setting rates based on operational expenses, debt service, and capital needs. Net margins are not distributed as profit but allocated back to members as capital credits — KEC has retired $15.79M historically, including $17.06M in current-cycle returns, on an approximately 13-year rotation. There is no traditional sales motion; members join by establishing electric service within the cooperative's exclusive regulated territory, and the go-to-market is direct member service through the Blackwell office, phone support, and the SmartHub digital channel. Member communications are primarily community-based, including the Cooperator newsletter, an annual meeting, school safety programs, and partnerships with organizations such as Special Olympics Oklahoma and Our Blood Institute.

Name

Kay Electric

Legal name

Kay Electric Cooperative

Website

https://kayelectric.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kay Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility serving approximately 3,646 members across 5,857 meters and 2,261 miles of line in five north central Oklahoma counties, operating at cost and returning margins as capital credits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

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

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Utility-Integrated Distributed Energy Resources (DER) & Non-Wires Alternatives (EUACALAF), Distribution System Planning (DSP) & Non-Wires Alternatives (NWA) (EUADAGAB), Demand Response & Load Flexibility Services (EUAMAJAF)

Keywords

• Electric distribution services
• Rural electric cooperative
• Member-owned utility
• Residential electricity supply
• Capital credits program

Headquarters

HQ city

Blackwell

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Electricity Sales: As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, KEC generates revenue through electricity rates charged to its members. Rates are established by the Board of Directors based on the actual cost of providing dependable electric service, including operational costs, debt repayment, and capital expenditures. Revenues exceeding expenses (margins) are allocated back to members as capital credits rather than distributed as profits to shareholders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kay Electric Cooperative distributes electricity to residential, agricultural, and commercial members across portions of five counties in north central Oklahoma through 2,261 miles of power lines. The cooperative operates as a member-owned, not-for-profit utility, providing billing, account management, and customer service through its SmartHub web portal and mobile app. Complementary offerings include energy efficiency rebates, whole-home backup generators (Generac), solar and EV programs, capital credits retirement, and the K-UP community foundation.

Product overview

Kay Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric utility providing electricity distribution services across five counties in north central Oklahoma. The core offering is electric power delivery, complemented by SmartHub, an online account management portal and mobile app that enables members to pay bills, monitor usage, and manage accounts. The cooperative's Capital Credits program differentiates it by returning excess revenues to members. Additional services include energy efficiency rebates, Generac backup generators, solar programs, EV charging support, and the K-UP community foundation for charitable giving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• K-UP: Community foundation program where members round up their monthly bills to support charitable and educational initiatives in north central Oklahoma.
• SmartHub

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Electric power distribution service through 2,261 miles of power lines to 5,857 meters across portions of Kay, Noble, Grant, Garfield, and Osage counties, serving 3,646 member-owners.
• SmartHub Member Portal and Mobile App Online account management platform enabling members to view and pay bills, monitor energy usage, set up notifications, enroll in autopay, and access paperless billing via web portal and iOS/Android mobile apps.
• Capital Credits Member Ownership Program Member ownership program that allocates and returns excess revenues (net margins) to members based on electricity usage and years of service, with $17.06M returned and $15.79M retired historically over a 13-year rotation.
• Energy Efficiency Rebates Rebate program for energy-efficient upgrades including HVAC systems, insulation, and appliances to help members reduce energy consumption and costs.
• Whole Home Backup Generators Generac automatic standby generators powered by propane or natural gas that activate within seconds of a power loss for whole-home backup power, with cooperative handling sizing and installation.
• Solar Programs Information and programs related to solar energy options for members interested in solar power installations.
• EV Charging Programs Programs and information for members regarding electric vehicle charging infrastructure and options.
• K-UP Community Foundation Community giving program where members round up their monthly bills to support charitable and educational initiatives in north central Oklahoma.

Quantifiable outcome

• $17.06M in capital credits returned to members
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Our Blood InstituteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 May 2026Blood drive partnership. KEC hosted a blood drive that exceeded its goal of 16 donors with 19 donors and 17 successful donations, potentially saving 57 lives.
• Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026OAEC is a statewide association of 30 member systems (27 distribution cooperatives and 3 G&T cooperatives). KEC participates in OAEC-coordinated programs including the Guatemala electrification project, youth programs, and safety initiatives.
• NRECA InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026NRECA International is the philanthropic arm of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. They coordinate international electrification projects including the Guatemala village electrification project that KEC participates in through OAEC.
• Iowa Association of Electric CooperativesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Partner in the joint Guatemala electrification project coordinated by OAEC and NRECA International. Volunteer linemen from Iowa and Oklahoma cooperatives will build powerlines and wire homes in Guatemala.
• Colorado Rural Electric AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Partner in the joint Guatemala electrification project. CREA joins OAEC and NRECA International in bringing first-time electricity access to villages in Guatemala.
• Special Olympics OklahomaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Ongoing partnership where KEC employees volunteer at Special Olympics Oklahoma Summer Games. More than 7,000 participants are involved in Special Olympics Oklahoma programs.
• Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEC is a member of Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, a generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative. WFEC provides power generation and transmission services to KEC's distribution system, giving KEC access to diverse generation resources including various fuel types and technologies.
• Safe Electricity (Energy Education Council)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe Electricity is an electrical safety education program administered by the Energy Education Council. KEC participates by sharing safety tips and educational content from Safe Electricity.org.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperative: National branding and services network for member-owned electric cooperatives. Adjacent to KEC as a co-op marketing/identity resource rather than a competitor, with KEC's peers and partners (e.g., WFEC, OAEC) participating in the same network.

Broad incumbents

• Public Service Company of Oklahoma (AEP): Investor-owned regulated electric utility serving much of eastern Oklahoma under the AEP umbrella. Competes at the franchise-edge level with KEC's adjoining territories and operates the same electricity delivery business under a for-profit regulatory model.
• OGE Energy Corp (OG&E): Investor-owned utility serving Oklahoma City and surrounding areas via OG&E. Large incumbent utility in the same Oklahoma regulatory jurisdiction, with overlapping distribution capability but different ownership structure and service territory.

Direct peers

• Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative: Distribution cooperative serving members around the Tulsa metro and rural Wagoner County. Comparable on member-owned structure, WFEC affiliation, and similar mix of rural/agricultural plus light commercial loads.
• Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative: OAEC-member distribution cooperative serving rural Ottawa County and surrounding areas in northeast Oklahoma. Directly comparable on cooperative structure, scale, and rural residential/agricultural customer base.
• Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC): Generation-and-transmission cooperative that supplies KEC's wholesale power and is one of KEC's core strategic partners. Directly comparable as an Oklahoma electric cooperative, but operates upstream of KEC in the value chain rather than overlapping on retail distribution.
• Oklahoma Electric Cooperative: Distribution cooperative serving Cleveland County and parts of the OKC metro fringe with a mix of rural and suburban members. Same OAEC member-owned operating model and capital-credits program, comparable in scale tier.
• Central Rural Electric Cooperative: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving rural members in north-central Oklahoma, including Payne and surrounding counties. Closest analog to KEC in business model (not-for-profit distribution co-op under OAEC), customer base (rural/agricultural), and scale tier.
• Cotton Electric Cooperative: OAEC distribution co-op serving rural southern Oklahoma counties. Closely mirrors KEC's rural franchise model, capital credits structure, and reliance on WFEC wholesale power.
• Cimarron Electric Cooperative: Rural electric distribution cooperative serving Kingfisher and surrounding Oklahoma counties. Operates an equivalent member-owned, cost-of-service model with similar rural/agricultural member mix and size tier to KEC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KayElectricCoop
• Instagraminstagram.com/kayelectriccoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kay-electric-cooperative
• Xx.com/kayelectriccoop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Kay Electric