When you flip a switch, charge your phone, or turn up the heat, it’s easy to think of electricity as something that just shows up. But behind every reliable moment of power is a system—and a business model—designed with you in mind. Jones-Onslow EMC isn’t a for-profit utility. We are a member-owned electric cooperative, and that difference matters.
You’re Not Just a Customer—You’re a Member
Unlike investor-owned utilities that exist to generate profits for shareholders, electric cooperatives like JOEMC were created to serve communities that others wouldn’t. Today, that mission continues.
As a member of the cooperative:
• You own a portion of the utility
• You have a voice in how the cooperative is governed
• Any margins are reinvested back into the system or returned to members—not paid out to shareholders
Our focus isn’t on profit. It’s on providing safe, reliable, and affordable power to the homes and businesses we serve.
How the Cooperative Model Impacts Power to Your Home
Because we are locally governed and not driven by shareholder returns, every dollar collected is used with purpose:
• Maintaining and upgrading power lines, substations, and equipment
• Investing in grid reliability and storm restoration capabilities
• Supporting long-term planning to keep power dependable today and into the future
Decisions are made by a local board of directors—your neighbors—who live in the communities we serve and understand local needs.
Built for the Long Term
Electric cooperatives were built to last. The cooperative model prioritizes:
• Reliability over profit
• Local decision-making over distant control
• Members over shareholders
That structure allows us to focus on keeping the lights on safely, responding quickly when outages occur, and planning responsibly for the future of the electric grid—all while keeping members informed every step of the way.
A Cooperative You Can Trust
At JOEMC, we take our responsibility to you seriously. Being a cooperative means transparency, accountability, and a commitment to doing what’s right for our members—not just today, but for years to come.