Jeff Conrad, President and CEO of Wabash Valley Power
October is National Co-op Month — and this year, the United Nations has gone even further, declaring 2025 the International Year of Cooperatives. What does that mean? Maybe not much at first glance. But for me, it’s a powerful reminder that co-ops aren’t just another business model. They are something better.
A few years ago, Phil Hayes, a former Wabash Valley Power director and current NineStar Connect director, said he was “an unabashed believer that the co-op model is the best business model if you want to serve customers.” I couldn’t agree more.
At Wabash Valley Power Alliance, our mission is simple: to grow and develop vibrant communities. Unlike investor-owned utilities, we don’t answer to Wall Street. We answer to you — our members. That means every decision has one purpose: service.
That difference matters. It allows us to act quickly, think creatively, and take bold steps that others cannot. Think about this: in March, we closed on the purchase, with Hoosier Energy, of the St. Joseph Energy Center, a state-of-the-art natural gas power plant in northern Indiana. This decision, made in less than a year, will strengthen our power supply for decades.
These decisions are critical as we navigate a fast-paced “utility world.” In my lifetime, I’ve never seen energy demand like this. Data centers and increasing electrification are driving growth on a scale we once thought impossible. We are an example of the co-op difference. A few months ago, a global technology leader called us first, as it looked to expand. Why? Because they know the co-op way: we are creative, nimble, and deliver. When one member benefits, we all benefit. That is how the cooperative model works. We structure every deal to protect and uplift all members.
Despite all this, our rates remain consistently competitive. That is not by accident. It’s because we are member-owned. Every dollar is invested with your best interests in mind. The co-op way is about more than electricity. It’s about strategically building something stronger together than any one of us could achieve alone.
So, as we celebrate co-ops, I hope you will remember that the co-op idea works. It works because it’s rooted in trust, community, and the simple truth that we are stronger together.
Jeff Conrad
President and CEO
Wabash Valley Power Alliance