Welcome, New Member!

New service lineman

If you're in the Ozark Electric Service Area, becoming a member is simple! Please complete the below application to access the many benefits of membership through your local electric cooperative.

What You'll Need:

  • Completed & signed membership application
  • Deposit or have OEC run a soft credit check.
  • Copies of photo IDs for ALL applicants
  • Meter number

Additional Documentation:

  • Prepaid Service Agreement & minimum payment of $20.00 to establish account.
  • Prepaid accounts bill daily with no paper bills sent.

Reliable, Affordable, Responsible

Why Membership Matters

Seven Cooperative Principles Cooperatives around the world operate according to the same set of core principles and values, adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance. Cooperatives trace the roots of these principles to the first modern cooperative founded in Rochdale, England in 1844. These principles are a key reason that America’s electric cooperatives operate differently from other electric utilities, putting the needs of their members first.

  • 1. Open and Voluntary Membership

    Membership in a cooperative is open to all people who can reasonably use its services and stand willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, regardless of race, religion, gender, or economic circumstances.



  • 2. Democratic Member Control

    Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Representatives (directors/trustees) are elected among the membership and are accountable to them. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote); cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

  • 3. Members’ Economic Participation

    Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the cooperative. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative; setting up reserves; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

  • 4. Autonomy and Independence

    Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control as well as their unique identity.

  • 5. Education, Training, and Information

    Education and training for members, elected representatives (directors/trustees), CEOs, and employees help them effectively contribute to the development of their cooperatives. Communications about the nature and benefits of cooperatives, particularly with the general public and opinion leaders, help boost cooperative understanding.



  • 6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives

    By working together through local, national, regional and international structures, cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies, and deal more effectively with social and community needs.

  • 7. Concern for Community

    Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by the membership.

Information provided by NRECA

The Three Tiered System When you hit the light switch, your lights come on. When you push “start,” your microwave heats up your food. When you pull into your driveway at night, your security light comes on. Have you ever wondered, though, how that power gets to from the power plant all the way to your house?

All 40 of your Missouri Electric Cooperatives across the state use the same three-tiered system to get electricity to your home, farm, or business. Those three tiers are: electricity generation, electricity transmission, and electricity distribution.

From the power plant to your light switch, here’s how Missouri’s three-tiered system works for you: 

Electricity Generation

Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives get their power from Associated Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI), which generates power at six different transmission cooperatives in Missouri, Iowa, and Oklahoma.


AECI relies on a diverse array of power sources including two coal-based power plants, three combined-cycle gas-based power plants, four peaking-oil and gas-based power plants, one hydroelectric peaking power plant, and the wind energy that comes from six different wind farms. 

Transmission Cooperatives

AECI’s six transmission Cooperatives are: NW Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. in Cameron; Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative in Palmyra; Central Electric Power Cooperative in Jefferson City; KAMO Power in Vinita, Oklahoma; Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative in Marshall; and M&A Electric Power Cooperative in Poplar Bluff. 


Ozark Electric Receives its transmission from KAMO Power in Vinita. 

Distribution Cooperatives

Each of AECI’s six transmission Cooperatives serves several of Missouri’s 40 distribution Cooperatives, as well as Cooperatives in neighboring states. 

Ozark Electric is your Distribution Cooperative: the Cooperative where your family or business is a Member-Owner. 

Information provided by AMEC

Diverse Power Sources A transition to a renewable future will take time for the technology to be proven commercially and time to build the projects and transmission to get the decarbonized power to our load. AECI is promoting that the transition to a decarbonized grid will require 3Ts -- technology, transmission and time.

Generation to serve member load

Information provided by AECI