Generation & Transmission Cooperatives

The Missouri electric cooperative network is a unique model of cooperatively owned generation and transmission organizations that collectively serve the power needs of more than 700,000 Missouri homes, farms and businesses. Electricity is generated at power plants owned and operated by Associated Electric Cooperative, our wholesale power supplier. High-voltage electricity is transmitted long distances from the power plants across the state to our local region by our local transmission cooperative, Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative. Sho-Me Power builds, operates and maintains the transmission lines and the 13 substations in Crawford Electric’s service area.

Map of Associated Electric Cooperative's service area including power plant locations.

AECI map
AECI map pdf (131.26 KB)

Traditional Resources

thomas-hill-energy-center
Thomas Hill Energy Center

Crawford Electric’s members are served by a diverse mix of generation resources and technologies designed to deliver electricity at the lowest cost possible. 

Baseload energy – the electricity that is available around-the-clock, rain or shine – is produced using traditional resources such as coal and natural gas. 

A core portion of Associated's (our wholesale power supplier) portfolio always has included a robust energy efficiency program that educates and rewards consumers for wise energy use, because the cleanest (and cheapest) kilowatt is the one that’s never generated.

Wind/Hydro

cow branch wind farm
Cow Branch Wind Farm

As part of our wholesale power supplier’s commitment to environmental stewardship, about 20 percent of the electricity generated to meet members’ needs regularly comes from renewable resources: utility-scale wind and hydropower.

Members receive electricity generated at utility-scale wind farms contracted with Associated Electric Cooperative. When available, Associated Electric contracts power from eight regional wind farms and purchases a set allocation of hydropower from the U.S. Department of Energy.  Wind farms are located in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. Hydropower locations are in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.