By Jim Lovinggood, CEO and President

Electric cooperatives exist to serve their members. That mission is straightforward, but what it looks like in practice goes well beyond keeping the lights on. 

Cooperatives across the country operate under seven core principles, adopted in 1884 and still guiding the way we work today. One of those principles, concern for community, which shapes everything from how we respond after a storm to how we show up for our neighbors year-round. 

For our employees, that means more than keeping the grid running. In addition to our Watts of Love Member Assistance Program, which provides grant-funded support to members facing hardship, our team invests time in local schools with a straightforward goal: helping the next generation of young people understand what a career in the energy industry looks like. Statewide youth programs like Washington Youth Tour and Cooperative Youth Summit are the pinnacle of our education efforts, but local school visits are where we meet the most young people.  

The rise of artificial intelligence and advances in technology aren't eliminating the need for skilled electrical workers. If anything, the demand is growing. Connecting with students early, through classroom visits, career fairs, and hands-on opportunities, is one major way we're working to ensure the communities we serve have the workforce to support them in the decades ahead. 

In the past school year alone, our co-op visited more than a dozen schools and participated in local career fairs, connecting with students of all ages. These visits often include hands-on safety demonstrations with lineman's gear or an up-close look at a bucket truck. 

School may be out for the summer, but learning doesn’t stop. If you're an educator planning a fresh curriculum for the fall, we’d love to hear from you.