Dear Members,
Each October, electric cooperatives across the country take time to celebrate National Co-op Month and reflect on the unique advantages of being a part of a cooperative. I think this is also the perfect time to thank you, our members who make it possible and power our purpose.
For us at Choptank Electric, it’s not just a celebration. It’s a chance to reaffirm the values that guide everything we do. As the CEO, I see purpose in action every single day. Unlike investor-owned utilities, our co-op doesn’t exist to make profits for distant shareholders. We exist to serve our community and the members who live and work here. That purpose sets us apart and is the reason we were founded.
At its core, being a cooperative means we are member-owned and locally controlled. That’s not just a tagline; it’s the very heart of our business model. Co-ops were built to meet community needs, and that purpose extends well beyond delivering electricity. In fact, our Cooperative model is what sparked the creation of our broadband subsidiary, Choptank Fiber.
We realized the need for high-speed internet among our members in the rural, unserved areas along the Eastern Shore. Utilizing our existing electric infrastructure and the fiber optic cables we have in place to communicate with substations, paired with your vote to make Choptank Electric member-regulated, we have been able to deliver broadband
to more than 15,000 locations in just four short years of business.
And the best part about Choptank Fiber is that its success directly benefits your electric cooperative. Choptank Electric can continue growing and making essential upgrades with technologies that strengthen our local grid and, in turn, improve electric service. When you choose Choptank Fiber as your internet and phone provider, you’re choosing to support the electric cooperative you own and the community you live in.
We are looking forward to meeting your needs by delivering reliable, affordable and safe electricity and providing real value to the people we serve. Thank you for the trust you place in us. We’re proud to be your local electric cooperative.