Good Afternoon –

This email is informational in nature regarding an organization showing some interest in Florida. It requires no action but if you have any questions, let us know.

Recently, we have noticed an interest in Florida’s electric cooperatives by an organization called “We Own It” that some of you may be familiar with from several years ago.  In the past, the group focused on board member diversity among electric cooperatives, but they have expanded their agenda.  Last week, the organization hosted a “Florida Electric Cooperative” webinar in partnership with the Center for Biological Diversity, NAACP Florida and the We Own It Network.  This webinar may be viewed here.

“We Own It” is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2015 to create a national network for cooperative members’ rights, education and organizing.  If you are interested in learning the basics about the organization, you may watch this short video.  The organization has focused on three main areas:

1. Encouraging electric cooperatives to be more renewable friendly focused
2. Transparency – Capital Credits, budgets, meetings, and fuel mix
3. Board Member Diversity in comparison to consumer-owner population.

“We Own It” has been active in several states; successfully drawing media attention around transparency issues and board diversity.   South Carolina, Tennessee, Minnesota, Indiana, Louisiana and Kentucky have received the most coverage and scrutiny thus far.

As NRECA watches this organization expand and organize, they created the “Reputation Management and Governance Communication Guide” to assist co-ops in developing communication plans to address any increased scrutiny by members, the media and / or policy makers regarding electric cooperative governance practices.   You may access that information at www.coooperative.com/reputation . Page 17 of the document, lists the 20 questions asked by the media of the South Carolina Cooperatives.  These questions serve as an example of what co-ops should expect to answer when the media (or a consumer-owner) questions the co-op model and co-op governance. 

While their website encourages the renewed engagement of consumer-owners, many of their tactics have produced negative media attention.  This email is to serve as a simple introduction to the organization and some of the ways they have been active in other states.

If you have any questions, please let Mike or me know.

Allison Carter

Director of Government Affairs

Florida Electric Cooperatives Association

2916 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

Office: 850-877-6166, ext. 2

Mobile: 850-567-0059

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