Homer Electric has joined Touchstone Energy®, a national alliance of electric utilities representing nearly 600 cooperatives (of the 982 cooperatives in the country) in 44 states, serving more than 17 million customers every day. Along with Golden Valley Electric Association in Fairbanks, Homer Electric is one of the first Alaska cooperatives to participate.

"The power of human connections, " Touchstone Energy’s slogan, parallels Homer Electric’s ideals. The Touchstone Energy brand is a promise of providing reliable energy services through superior customer service and strong ties to the communities they serve.

Touchstone Energy provides the resources of a national network that helps cooperatives take advantage of economies of scale and enhance their unique relationships with their local member-owners through these four values:

Touchstone Energy cooperatives offer new solutions and state-of-the-art technology to meet customers’ needs.

• Online energy audits, the Touchstone Energy Home Program and other energy information programs help residential and business consumers save money.

• Touchstone Energy helps cooperatives and business customers get leading-edge information and forge stronger working relationships through conferences, publications and advisory councils.

Since consumers own co-ops, together, they chart the course for the business.

• Every member has an equal voice in running the enterprise. Unlike an investor-owned utility, in which the investor with the most shares has the most clout, co-op business is conducted through a locally elected board of directors and an annual meeting where policy is proposed and voted on by members, each having one vote.

• Electric cooperatives are small enough to listen and close enough to notice the needs of a single customer.

• Each co-op employee is committed to meeting the higher standards of customer satisfaction. Touchstone Energy’s ongoing training helps them achieve that goal.

The co-op business model always puts customers first. Not-for-profit electric cooperatives deliver energy to their members at the cost of service. In contrast, investor-owned utilities typically distribute their profits to investors across the nation or even the world – not necessarily those they serve.

Electric cooperatives put time, money and expertise to work building the local economy and strengthening relationships with consumer-owners. Across the nation, Touchstone Energy cooperatives improve their customers’ quality of life by:

• Taking a leadership role and investing in community and economic development projects.

• Educating students about safety and the environment.

• Generously donating time and energy for charities and local events.

Homer Electric understands that paying attention to the details and the little things is important. That’s the added benefit of being serviced by a local electric cooperative. We’re connected to our consumers, our neighbors, by much more than power lines.