Barbie and Ken struggled to agree on a place to settle after they decided to move in together. Ken wanted somewhere that had plenty of reliable energy and expansive broadband to watch sports, but he still wanted a rural area for his Mojo Dojo Casa House and all of his horses. However, Barbie wanted somewhere that had an inexpensive energy source with tons of job opportunities for her many previous careers and leadership development opportunities for her younger sisters.

They both sat down one day to discuss a potential home. Ken seems to have a specific place in mind.

“I have no idea,” Barbie said disappointedly.

“Tennessee is just right for us. It has horses and Wi-Fi!” Ken said excitedly.

“No, Ken. I need somewhere that provides strong support for Skipper, Stacie, and Chelsea. I also need chances for new jobs I haven’t gotten to try out yet. I’m not sure we can afford to run the Dreamhouse Elevator there with the electrical cost in rural areas,” Barbie replied.

“Barbie, hear me out. XYZ Electric Cooperative can fulfill both of our requirements in a new home. They are completely here to serve their communities, which means they can offer affordable energy to their members,” Ken argued.

“They are very reliable, too. They serve over 2 million people in Tennessee, which is about one in three homes. With all those people, they have a 99.96% reliability rate. That is just wonderful, Barbie,” Ken continued.

“And… they provide rural Tennessee which was overlooked by other internet companies with high-speed internet access. This means I could have a TV with streaming services in my barn. I can’t even believe that,” Ken said before Barbie could speak a word.
“That’s great, but what about my sisters?” Barbie asked.

“XYZ Electric Cooperative covers it all. They maintain a strong presence in the local school systems that could provide amazing learning opportunities like the Washington Youth Tour Writing Contest for Skipper, 4-H Electric Camp for Stacie, or Little League sports for Chelsea. They could learn new leadership skills, participate in hands-on activities, and maybe even earn money for college!” Ken added.
“Wow, that is impressive. What about job opportunities? There is no way rural Tennessee can provide different careers to try,” Barbie asked sarcastically.

“Oh, there is a way. Electric cooperatives provide so many different jobs. You could be an engineer, service lines one day, and be a public relations manager that controls social media,” Ken said with even more attitude than Barbie.

“Okay, fine. You’re starting to convince me. I don’t know how we are going to adjust to this new way of life, though. How will we get involved in the community and access communication outlets? These cooperatives sound so different,” Barbie stated concerningly.

“It is alright to not know, Barbie. XYZ offers education and training to their members, so we can learn more about electric cooperatives. They also sponsor The Tennessee Magazine which communicates current programs, services, and events to its members. They even have an app that provides real-time notifications to keep us up to date,” Ken assured.

“I don’t know, though. What if we don’t like the way things are run there?” Barbie asked.

“Luckily, electric cooperatives are autonomous organizations which means they are controlled by their members. This also means they are democratic organizations. Members can actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. It is also completely voluntary and open. We get to choose to join and use their services,” Ken continued his argument.

“I have a few more questions. This sounds too good to be true. How do these electric cooperatives keep prices so cheap? We have to worry about expenses while we are in between jobs after our big move,” Barbie reminded him.

“Well, Barbie. XYZ Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to serving its community. They buy wholesale electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority and sell it to members at affordable costs. Their membership only costs $5!” Ken shouted.

“I am glad they can provide us with energy at such low costs. It is truly a lifesaver. However, is it ethically run? I don’t want to become a member of a shady business!” Barbie replied.

“Of course, Barbie. XYZ Electric Cooperative supports Project Help, which allows members to donate as low as $1 in support of families who might need additional help with their electric bills. They also provide children with Christmas gifts and food drives for people in need,” Ken added.

“Ken, you’ve sold me. Tennessee is the perfect place for us. XYZ Electric Cooperative is going to take great care of our family. They can connect me with career opportunities. They can connect Skipper, Stacie, and Chelsea with their future. They can connect you with sports. They also connect the community with all the potential resources and support they could need,” Barbie concluded.

“They’re an amazing company that I would love to be a part of,” Ken replied.

“I believe it is settled. We are moving to Tennessee!” Barbie exclaimed.

“I’ll start packing the Mojo Dojo Casa House, and you start packing the Dreamhouse. We can start planning our Mojo Dojo Dreamhouse together now that we have a place with a connection to energy and community,” said Ken.