McDonough Power Cooperative

What McDonough Power Cooperative does

McDonough Power Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility headquartered in Macomb, Illinois, serving more than 5,000 residential, commercial, and industrial accounts across portions of Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, Schuyler, and Warren counties in West-Central Illinois. The cooperative, founded in 1937, operates approximately 1,400 miles of distribution line with a small staff of around 11–17 employees and purchases all of its wholesale power from Prairie Power, Inc., a generation and transmission cooperative based in Springfield, Illinois. McDonough Power is governed by a nine-member board of directors elected from geographic voting districts and operates on the seven cooperative principles, returning any annual operating margins to members in the form of capital credits.

The cooperative's core product is electric distribution service, billed through a hybrid pricing model comprising a fixed monthly facility charge (approximately $68/month for residential single-phase service as of 2023) plus a per-kWh energy charge ($0.107/kWh in 2023), with higher facility charges, demand charges, and subcategory rates applied to commercial and industrial customers including hog confinement operations. Member service delivery is supported by the SmartHub online account management platform (web and mobile), which enables bill payment, usage monitoring, outage reporting, auto pay, and paperless billing. Supplementary offerings include distributed generation and net-metering programs (Bright Options Solar), security lighting, line locating, tree trimming/vegetation management, a Kill A Watt usage monitor lending program, levelized billing, and payment assistance. Community programs — Operation Round-Up (over $172,000 donated since 2016), Coats for Kids (260 coats distributed in 2024), the Cooperative Cares Fund, and youth leadership/scholarship programs — are funded through member contributions and scrap sales rather than electric rates. The cooperative is a member of the Touchstone Energy alliance and participates in NRECA and AIEC industry activities.

Name

McDonough Power Cooperative

Legal name

McDonough Power Cooperative

Website

https://mcdonoughpower.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

McDonough Power Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility serving 5,000+ residential, commercial, and industrial members across seven West-Central Illinois counties, operating approximately 1,400 miles of distribution line from its Macomb headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

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

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Electric distribution services
• Rural electric cooperative
• Member-owned utility
• Residential commercial power
• Net metering solar

Headquarters

HQ city

Macomb, Illinois

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electric Distribution Service: As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, McDonough Power generates revenue through electric distribution service charges. Members pay facility charges and energy charges (per kWh). All operating margins are returned to members in the form of capital credits. Revenue must cover operational costs, infrastructure maintenance, and power supply purchases from Prairie Power, Inc.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

McDonough Power Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility that purchases wholesale power from Prairie Power, Inc. and delivers it to over 5,000 residential, commercial, and industrial members across seven counties in West-Central Illinois through approximately 1,400 miles of distribution lines. Members also access the cooperative's SmartHub online account management platform for billing, payments, and outage reporting, and benefit from member programs such as capital credit returns, levelized billing, and community initiatives.

Product overview

McDonough Power Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution utility providing electric power to over 5,000 households and businesses across seven counties in West-Central Illinois. The cooperative's primary product is electricity distribution, supplemented by SmartHub — an online account management platform (web and mobile app) enabling members to pay bills, monitor usage, report outages, and manage account settings. Additional service offerings include renewable energy programs (Solar/Bright Options, distributed generation/net-metering), security lights, line locating, tree trimming, and usage monitor lending. Member benefit programs include capital credits, levelized billing, and payment assistance. Community programs include Operation Round-Up (bill rounding charitable program), Coats for Kids, youth leadership programs, and scholarship opportunities. The cooperative purchases power from Prairie Power, Inc. and is governed by a nine-member elected board of directors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartHub: Online billing and account management platform provided by McDonough Power for members to pay bills, monitor usage, and manage their accounts.
• Bright Options Solar
• Operation Round-Up
• Coats for Kids
• Cooperative Cares Fund

Products and services

• Electric Power Distribution Core distribution utility service delivering electric power to over 5,000 residential, commercial, and industrial members across portions of Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, Schuyler and Warren counties in West-Central Illinois. Power is purchased wholesale from Prairie Power, Inc. and distributed through approximately 1,400 miles of lines.
• SmartHub Online Account Management Platform Online account management portal and mobile application (iOS/Android) enabling members to pay bills, monitor energy usage, access billing history, set up auto pay, receive outage alerts, report service issues, and manage paperless billing preferences.
• Solar / Renewable Energy Net-Metering Program Distributed generation and net-metering program allowing members to connect solar or other renewable energy systems to the grid and receive credit for excess generation.
• Bright Options Solar Solar program offering for members interested in renewable energy options as an alternative or supplement to grid power.
• Security Lights Outdoor security lighting service for member properties, installed and maintained by the cooperative.
• Line Locating Utility line locating service provided to members and the public to identify underground electric lines before digging or excavation.
• Tree Trimming (Vegetation Management) Vegetation management service to control vegetation under and around electrical equipment, performed in partnership with Spoon River Electric Cooperative, to ensure reliable service.
• Usage Monitor Check-Out Program (Kill A Watt) Device lending program allowing members to check out usage monitors to track and analyze their household electricity consumption.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $172,000 donated to community organizations through Operation Round-Up since 2016
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Prairie Power, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrairie Power, Inc. is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric generation and transmission cooperative that produces and supplies electricity for 10 member distribution cooperatives in Illinois, including McDonough Power. McDonough Power purchases all its power from Prairie Power, headquartered in Springfield, Illinois.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRECA is the national service organization dedicated to representing the national interests of cooperative electric utilities and the consumers they serve. McDonough Power participates in NRECA Legislative Conference and Youth Tour programs.
• Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIEC is the service organization for member electric and telephone cooperatives for Illinois, providing technical and professional support and training. McDonough Power participates in AIEC Youth Day, Youth Tour, Lineman's Safety Rodeo, and scholarship programs.
• Touchstone Energy CooperativesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouchstone Energy is a nationwide alliance of more than 660 local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives in 46 states, delivering power to more than 30 million members. McDonough Power is a member of this brand network representing the largest electric utility network in the nation.
• McDonough Telephone CooperativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcDonough Telephone Cooperative (MTC) is a related telephone cooperative in the same community. The two cooperatives jointly sponsor youth programs including Youth Day and Youth to Washington Tour, and collaborate on community initiatives.
• Safe ElectricityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe Electricity is the award-winning, multi-media public awareness program of the Energy Education Council, a registered 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting electrical safety and energy efficiency, headquartered at the University of Illinois.
• Energy StarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy helping save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
• Lincoln Land Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLincoln Land Community College in Springfield conducts lineworker school in conjunction with the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. McDonough Power promotes the LaVern and Nola McEntire Lineworker's Scholarship for members to attend this program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: National brand alliance of 660+ member-owned electric cooperatives serving 30+ million members. McDonough is a member, gaining shared marketing, training, and procurement benefits. Not a competitor but a defining part of McDonough's market identity and scale-leverage mechanism.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA): National service organization representing the interests of U.S. electric cooperatives. McDonough participates in NRECA's legislative and youth programs. Functions as an industry association and lobbying counterpart rather than a peer, but shapes the regulatory and policy environment McDonough operates in.
• Prairie Power, Inc. Generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative that supplies 100% of McDonough Power's wholesale electricity. Operates upstream in the value chain rather than as a competitor, but is the critical counterpart that defines McDonough's cost structure and rate competitiveness.

Direct peers

• Corn Belt Energy Corporation: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving central and north-central Illinois. Comparable in cooperative structure, Touchstone Energy affiliation, and rural service territory; serves a similar small-employee, multi-county footprint.
• Spoon River Electric Cooperative: Adjacent Illinois distribution cooperative serving similar rural territory in west-central Illinois. Already partners with McDonough on vegetation management, making it the closest operational peer in geography, scale, and member-owned cooperative structure.
• Shelby Electric Cooperative: Member-owned Illinois electric distribution cooperative serving Shelby and surrounding counties. Same Touchstone Energy / AIEC / Prairie Power ecosystem, comparable in scale, member count, and rural electric cooperative value proposition.
• Adams Electric Cooperative: Illinois distribution cooperative serving western Illinois counties. Operates under the same Touchstone Energy brand, AIEC membership, and Prairie Power/CoBank ecosystem, with similar rural member base and small-employee operating model.
• Menard Electric Cooperative: Member-owned Illinois electric distribution cooperative serving rural central Illinois. Comparable in customer count, member-owned governance model, and reliance on Prairie Power/AIEC ecosystem, making it a direct comparable for benchmarking.
• Tri-County Electric Cooperative (Illinois): Illinois distribution electric cooperative serving rural portions of the state. Operates under the same member-owned cooperative model, AIEC affiliation, and comparable rural service territory profile as McDonough Power.

Broad incumbents

• Ameren Illinois: Investor-owned utility that serves a large portion of Illinois, including areas surrounding McDonough's cooperative territory. Not a direct competitor due to franchise boundaries, but represents the broader Illinois utility landscape and is the implicit alternative governance/pricing model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/McDonoughPower
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcdonough-power-cooperative-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 McDonough Power Cooperative