Laclede Electric Cooperative

What Laclede Electric Cooperative does

Laclede Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Lebanon, Missouri, founded in 1938. It delivers electricity to over 37,000 member locations across six central-Missouri counties — Camden, Dallas, Laclede, Pulaski, Webster, and Wright — through an owned-and-operated network of more than 4,700 miles of power lines. The cooperative maintains four physical offices (Camdenton, Hartville, Lebanon as headquarters, and Waynesville) to serve its territory, with executive leadership comprising CEO Terry Rosenthal and CFO Joe Knapp.

The cooperative's core product is regulated electricity distribution, sourced through long-standing membership in the Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative generation and transmission pool. Beyond kWh delivery, the cooperative sells a portfolio of ancillary services: outdoor and security lighting, the SmartHub digital member self-service portal, residential and commercial billing services, electric vehicle programs, the Operation Round-Up charitable giving program, energy efficiency rebate programs, and home energy audits. The cooperative is also an affiliate of Touchstone Energy Cooperative, a national brand and standards alliance for U.S. electric co-ops.

Revenue mechanics follow the standard cooperative model: the cooperative bills members at regulated retail rates for electricity distribution and ancillary services, with wholesale generation power purchased from Sho-Me. Margins, when earned, are allocated back to members through the Capital Credits patronage program on a published cycle (with 2026 allocations referenced in the source material). Member ownership replaces equity financing, eliminating shareholder returns and tying surplus directly to rate stability and capital credit retirements. Customer segments are residential, commercial, and small industrial members distributed across the six-county rural-to-suburban territory.

Name

Laclede Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Laclede Electric Cooperative

Website

https://lacledeelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Laclede Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit distribution cooperative that delivers electricity to over 37,000 member locations across six central-Missouri counties through 4,700+ miles of owned power lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lebanon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electricity Distribution Services: As a distribution cooperative, Laclede purchases electricity and distributes it over more than 4,700 miles of owned power lines to over 37,000 member locations. Revenue is generated through electricity sales at rates fixed by the Board of Directors. Member payments in excess of costs are allocated as capital credits.
2. Outdoor/Security Lighting: Billed as a set fee per lamp. These lights are not metered, and therefore the power they use is not included in the regular electric bill. Maintenance and bulb replacement is included in the cost.
3. Capital Credits: Excess revenues over the cost of providing electric service at year-end are allocated as patronage capital to members. The Board of directors decides annually whether to retire capital credits, typically retiring oldest years (approximately 24 years) and 5% of margins from the last three years.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Laclede Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative that purchases wholesale electricity and distributes it over more than 4,700 miles of owned power lines to over 37,000 member locations across six south-central Missouri counties. Beyond core power delivery, the cooperative offers outdoor/security lighting billed as a fixed fee per lamp, energy-efficiency rebates for HVAC, heat pumps, water heaters, and thermostats, home energy audits, electric vehicle programs, and the SmartHub online bill-payment and account-management portal.

Product overview

Laclede Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative serving over 37,000 locations across six Missouri counties through 4,700 miles of power lines. The cooperative offers electric power distribution as its core product, supplemented by SmartHub Portal for account management and bill payment, outdoor/security lighting options, electric vehicle programs with incentives and education, Capital Credits (patronage capital returns), Operation Round-Up community program, and energy efficiency rebates for residential and commercial members. The cooperative is affiliated with Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative for generation and transmission services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Power Distribution Core electric distribution service for residential and commercial members in six Missouri counties, delivered over 4,700+ miles of owned power lines to more than 37,000 service locations, with electricity purchased wholesale via Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative.
• SmartHub Online and Mobile Portal Self-service online and mobile account-management platform for Laclede Electric members to pay bills, monitor electricity usage, manage account details, and report outages.
• Billing and Payment Services Multiple payment options for members including online, mobile, phone, mail, drop box, in-person, and automatic payments, accessible through SmartHub and other channels.
• Outdoor/Security Lighting Type 1 and Type 2 outdoor/security lighting installations for residential and commercial members, billed at a fixed monthly fee per lamp with maintenance and bulb replacement included; usage is not metered on the regular bill.
• Residential and Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs Rebate programs for energy-saving equipment such as HVAC systems, ground source heat pumps (up to $750 per ton new / $400 per ton replacement), heat pump water heaters (50% of cost up to $750), weatherization (50% up to $750), and Energy Star advanced thermostats ($50).
• Home Energy Audits Residential home energy audit offering supported by a $75 rebate to help members identify energy-saving opportunities and qualify for weatherization improvements.
• Electric Vehicle Programs EV education, incentives, federal tax credit information, and resources for purchasing and charging electric vehicles, including savings calculator and public charging information for residential and commercial members.
• Start, Stop, or Transfer Service Service connection, disconnection, and transfer offering for residential and commercial members within Laclede Electric Cooperative's service territory.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 37,000 member locations across 6 counties
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sho-Me Power Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaclede Electric Cooperative is a member-owner of Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative, a regional generation and transmission cooperative located in Marshfield, Missouri. This membership provides access to power generation and transmission services for the distribution cooperative.
• Touchstone Energy CooperativecoreOthersLaclede Electric Cooperative is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, indicating adherence to national cooperative standards and brand identity for electric cooperatives known for integrity, innovation, and community commitment.
• Safe Electricity (EEC)minorOthersSafe Electricity is an award-winning, multi-media public awareness program of the Electrical Education Connection (EEC). Laclede Electric references their safety resources and materials on their safety page.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperative: National network/brand for electric cooperatives. Not a direct competitor but a strategic affiliation that provides shared branding, operational standards, and marketing resources — a structural element of Laclede's positioning.

Direct peers

• SEMO Electric Cooperative: Southeast Missouri electric distribution cooperative serving rural members with similar revenue model (kWh sales, capital credits, rebates, outdoor lighting). Direct functional and structural peer for distribution cooperative economics.
• Central Missouri Electric Cooperative: Member-owned distribution cooperative in central Missouri with a similar rural footprint, member governance, and capital credit structure. Closely mirrors Laclede's operating model and member economics.
• Ozark Electric Cooperative: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving south-central Missouri. Operates a comparable rural distribution model with similar product offerings (electric distribution, member programs, capital credits, Touchstone Energy affiliation).
• White River Valley Electric Cooperative: Southwest Missouri Touchstone Energy-affiliated distribution cooperative. Comparable in scope, rural service territory, member-owned structure, and product portfolio including EV programs and energy-efficiency rebates.
• Sho-Me G&T partnership co-ops (e.g., Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative): Distribution cooperatives that share Sho-Me Power as their G&T provider alongside Laclede. Highly comparable operating structure, wholesale cost exposure, and Touchstone Energy affiliation.

Broad incumbents

• Associated Electric Cooperative: Generation and transmission cooperative serving member distribution coops across Missouri, Iowa, and Oklahoma. Indirectly comparable as the larger G&T cooperative ecosystem in which Laclede and its peers operate.
• Ameren Missouri: Large investor-owned utility with significant Missouri distribution operations including rural-adjacent service areas. Broader incumbent comparable for regulated distribution economics, rate cases, and grid modernization practices.
• Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative: Regional generation and transmission cooperative in Marshfield, Missouri, of which Laclede is a member-owner. Provides wholesale power supply and transmission services, making it a critical upstream partner and structural comparable as a Missouri cooperative utility.

Regional players

• Empire District Electric / Liberty Utilities: Investor-owned utility serving overlapping portions of Missouri with comparable electricity distribution services. Useful benchmark for rate design, regulatory treatment, and member/customer programs in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Laclede

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Laclede Electric Cooperative