Corn Belt Energy Corporation

Corn Belt Energy Corporation is a not-for-profit electric cooperative headquartered in Central Illinois, United States. Founded in 1938, it distributes electricity to more than 37,000 homes and businesses throughout 18 counties in Central Illinois, making it the largest electric cooperative in Illinois. The cooperative employs about 75 people and maintains over 5,000 miles of power line across its service territory. As a cooperative, Corn Belt Energy is owned by the members it serves rather than by outside shareholders. It is governed by 11 directors who are themselves residential members and who represent specific districts within the service territory. Members share equally in control of the cooperative, elect directors from among themselves, and receive returns of net savings in the form of capital credits. The cooperative operates according to the seven cooperative principles adopted in 1995 by the International Cooperative Alliance, including open membership, democratic member control, and member economic participation. Corn Belt Energy's electricity is supplied by Wabash Valley Power Alliance, a generation and transmission cooperative based in Indianapolis. The cooperative is a member of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC). Its mission is to enhance the quality of life of its members and support the communities it serves by cooperatively providing reasonably priced energy with exceptional service. Beyond basic electricity distribution, Corn Belt Energy offers a range of member programs. These include Autopay and Paperless Billing options, the GeoCents geothermal program that helps make geothermal heating and cooling more affordable, and rebate programs for energy-efficient equipment such as air source heat pumps. The cooperative also supports energy efficiency, education, and safety initiatives, including an Education Grants Program and participation in the national Youth to Washington Tour. Over its more than 80-year history, Corn Belt Energy's membership base has shifted from primarily farmers to an ever-increasing number of urban, suburban, and commercial accounts. While it retains its rural farm heritage, it now serves many new residential subdivisions and commercial areas in Bloomington-Normal and other communities. The cooperative continues to focus on helping members use energy wisely in a world increasingly reliant on electricity.

Corn Belt Energy Corporation was founded in 1938 as a not-for-profit electric cooperative. Its original goal was to bring electricity to rural areas of Central Illinois, at a time when many farms and rural communities lacked access to electric service. Over the decades, the cooperative grew to become the largest electric cooperative in Illinois, now distributing electricity to over 37,000 homes and businesses throughout 18 counties in Central Illinois. The cooperative's membership base has changed dramatically over its more than 80-year history. It began with primarily farmers as members, reflecting its rural farm heritage. In the decades since, it has added an ever-increasing number of urban, suburban, and commercial accounts. Today, while embracing its rural heritage, Corn Belt Energy serves many of the new residential subdivisions and commercial areas in Bloomington-Normal and other communities. Corn Belt Energy is owned by the electric members it serves and is governed by 11 directors who are residential members representing specific districts within the service territory. The cooperative employs about 75 people and maintains over 5,000 miles of line throughout its territory. Its electricity is supplied by Wabash Valley Power Alliance, a generation and transmission cooperative based in Indianapolis. Corn Belt Energy is a member of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC). As a cooperative, Corn Belt Energy operates on a not-for-profit basis. Members invest in shares of the business to provide capital, and all net savings left after bills are paid and money is set aside for operations and improvements are returned to members, usually in the form of capital credits. The cooperative follows the seven cooperative principles adopted in 1995 by the International Cooperative Alliance. In recent years, Corn Belt Energy has focused on helping members use energy wisely. It offers programs such as GeoCents, which makes geothermal heating and cooling more affordable by paying to install geothermal loops at members' homes in exchange for a monthly fee, and rebate programs for energy-efficient equipment such as air source heat pumps. The cooperative also supports energy efficiency, education, and safety initiatives, including an Education Grants Program and participation in the national Youth to Washington Tour.

• 1995

  International Cooperative Alliance adopts seven cooperative principles that Corn Belt Energy follows.

• 1938

  Founded as a not-for-profit electric cooperative.

Not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative providing reliable, affordable energy with exceptional service.

• Electricity distribution

  Distributes electricity to over 37,000 homes and businesses throughout 18 counties in Central Illinois.

• GeoCents geothermal program

  Corn Belt Energy pays to have geothermal loops installed at members' homes; members pay a monthly fee to use the loops.

• Air source heat pump rebates

  Rebates for qualifying air source heat pumps, including cold climate and mini-split configurations.

• Autopay and Paperless Billing

  Members can have monthly electric bill payments automatically deducted and sign up for paperless billing, with a one-time $20 bill credit for signing up for both.

1. 1Home - Corn Belt Energycornbeltenergy.com
2. 2Company Profile - Corn Belt Energycornbeltenergy.com
3. 3About Cooperatives - Corn Belt Energycornbeltenergy.com
4. 4Rebate Programs - Corn Belt Energycornbeltenergy.com
5. 5Corn Belt Energy Corporation - Wikidatawikidata.org