Electric Cooperatives Post Strongest Showing Ever in Latest ‘Co-op 100’

The Washington, D.C.-based National Cooperative Bank recently released its annual Co-op 100, which ranks the nation’s top cooperative enterprises by annual revenue. For the first time, electric cooperatives make up one-quarter of this year’s ranked cooperative businesses.

CFC, along with 18 generation and transmission cooperatives and six electric distribution systems, were among those making the list (see table), accounting for a combined $23.8 billion in revenue in 2018. Making their inaugural debut in the top 100 ranking are Denton County Electric Cooperative in Texas and Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative.

Overall, the 100 largest U.S. cooperatives in 2018 posted revenue totaling $222.2 billion. Once again, agribusiness cooperative CHS, Inc., headquartered in Minnesota, topped the chart with more than $32.7 billion.

There are around 65,000 cooperative businesses operating in the United States today, and one out of every three Americans is a member of a cooperative, according to the National Cooperative Business Association.

The NCB Co-op 100 is the only annual report to track the profits and successes of cooperative businesses in the United States. You can read the full report and see all 100 co-ops online.