Chugach Electric Association

Chugach Electric Association is headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. Anchorage itself sits at the base of the Chugach Mountains. The word "Chugach" comes from an Alaska Native name, which the Russians recorded as "Chugatz" or "Tchougatskoi." In 1898, U.S. Army Capt. W.R. Abercrombie spelled the name "Chugatch" and applied it to the mo... untains. Responsibly developing energy to build a clean, sustainable future for Alaska. We provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity through superior service and sustainable practices, powering the lives of our members. Guided by our values of safety, accountability and sustainability, we are committed to serving our members, the community, and the Chugach team. Chugach is a cooperative, formed to serve its member-owners. In many ways, cooperatives are like any other business; but in several important ways they're unique and different. Owned and democratically controlled by their members the people who use the co-ops services or buy its goods not by outside investors; co-op members elect their board of directors from within the membership. Return surplus revenues (income over expenses and investment) to members proportionate to their use of the cooperative, not proportionate to their investment or ownership share. This is Chugachs capital credits program. Motivated by service, not profit to meet their members' needs for affordable and high quality goods or services. Exist solely to serve their members. There are about 950 electric cooperatives across the country. Other businesses can be organized as cooperatives. There are a number of telephone cooperatives in the country. Other examples of cooperatives include REI and Sunkist. The modern cooperative era began in 1844, when the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society was established in Rochdale, England. Its members documented the principles by which they would operate their food cooperative, implementing the central tenets around which cooperatives are structured today. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th ...Read More