Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE) is calling on Congress and the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to place member-consumers at the center of the evaluation process for electric cooperative franchise renewals.
The advocacy group stresses that granting a 25-year franchise extension must not be treated as a routine legislative exercise or an automatic entitlement. Instead, it should be a rigorous review driven by the real-world experiences of the households, businesses, and communities that pay for and depend on these essential services every day.
“We consumers pay our electric bills every month, and we deserve a voice in franchise renewals, deciding whether our cooperative has earned another 25 years of public trust,” said Nic Satur Jr., Chief Advocate Officer of PARE. “A franchise is a public trust that must be earned through affordable rates, reliable service, transparency, and accountability.”
PARE argues that the current evaluation process relies too heavily on technical paperwork and National Electrification Administration (NEA) performance ratings. The group points out a frustrating disconnect for consumers: several cooperatives receive top-tier “Triple A” or “Double A” administrative classifications while their communities suffer from prolonged brownouts, high system losses, and expensive electricity rates. PARE cited cooperatives such as BATELEC II, FICELCO, and MOELCI I as clear examples of this gap between official compliance and on-the-ground reality.
Furthermore, PARE raised concerns that consumers are frequently denied meaningful opportunities to voice their grievances locally. Annual General Membership Assemblies (AGMAs), which are designed to ensure transparency, are either not held regularly—as seen with PALECO—or fail to address critical financial and operational issues. In some cases, like with FICELCO, serious consumer engagement takes a backseat to ceremonial activities and raffle draws, leaving member-owners uninformed about the true status and future direction of their utility.
With more electric cooperatives actively seeking renewals, PARE insists that congressional hearings must serve as an open, accessible platform for consumers to demand concrete plans regarding:
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Rate Reduction: Clear strategies to lower expensive monthly electricity costs.
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Service Reliability: Measurable steps to eliminate frequent power outages and brownouts.
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System Losses & Governance: Transparent management of financial and technical inefficiencies.
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Disaster Preparedness: Stronger infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events.
PARE emphasizes that this accountability must be shared by the lawmakers evaluating these applications. If a cooperative secures a renewal despite a history of poor service, consumers have every right to question the rigor of the government’s review process.
“A franchise is a privilege granted in the public interest,” Satur added. “Shared accountability between cooperatives, regulators, and policymakers will help ensure that renewals are based on actual performance and consumer welfare, not simply paperwork and compliance reports. Consumers deserve answers, not excuses.”
