Red River Valley Rural Electric Association

The Red River Valley Rural Electric Association (RRVREA) is a nonprofit organization and a member-owned electric cooperative based in South Central Oklahoma. It operates on a not-for-profit basis in five counties, serving over 17,000 accounts with a network of approximately 2,800 miles of distribution lines[1][3].

Mission and Structure

The mission of RRVREA is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to its member-owners. It achieves this by operating on a cooperative basis, where members participate in decision-making processes and share in financial benefits, such as capital credits and net operating margins[1][2]. In 2022, it returned $1,546,103 in capital credits and allocated $2,467,095 in net operating margins to its members[1].

Financial Overview

RRVREA is designated as a 501(c)(12) organization, which includes benevolent life insurance associations, irrigation companies, and other mutually beneficial entities. Donations to this organization are not tax deductible[5]. The cooperative's revenues primarily come from program services, with minimal contributions from other sources like investment income and property rentals[5].

Community Impact

By serving the community with reliable and affordable power, RRVREA plays a crucial role in supporting local economic development and enhancing the quality of life for its members. It also fosters community engagement by allowing its members to participate actively in governance through voting and running for the Board of Directors[2].

Governance and Operations

The cooperative prides itself on values such as integrity, accountability, and innovation. Decisions are made with a commitment to serving the community, ensuring a sustainable and equitable distribution of electricity[3]. The absence of professional fundraising fees reflects its focus on member benefits rather than external fundraising efforts[1][5].

[1] https://givefreely.com/charity-directory/nonprofit/ein-730417655/ [2] https://rrvrea.com/about [3] https://rrvrea.com [4] http://www.rrvrea.com [5] https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/730417655