What is Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative?
Headquartered in Mansfield, Pa., Tri-County is a member-owned, non-profit electric utility. Today, the cooperative provides electric service to more than 17,000 meters in north central Pennsylvania.

When was Tri-County founded?
Residents of Pennsylvania's northern tier began organizing Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative in 1936. In December 1937, the cooperative energized its first substation, located in Nelson, Pa.

What comprises Tri-County's service territory?
Tri-County's service territory encompasses a seven-county region. The co-op presently serves parts of Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Lycoming, Cameron, Clinton and McKean counties. Tri-County maintains more than 3,000 miles of line stretching across this 5,000 square mile area. Because of the rural nature of its service territory, the cooperative's average consumer density ratio is only five members per mile of line.

Who serves on Tri-County's board of directors?
A nine-member board of directors, consisting of one director from each of the cooperative's nine districts, governs Tri-County. Elected by and from the membership, each director serves a three-year term. Tri-County's Board of Directors is as follows:

Who runs Tri-County's daily operations?
The CEO is responsible for the day-to-day management of the cooperative. Tri-County's current CEO is Craig Eccher. Other key staff includes: Barbara Johnson, Director of Financial Services; Cheryl LeBlanc, Director of Human Resources; John Lykens, Senior Director of Engineering and Senior Director of Operations; Bryan Berguson, Director of Member Services.

The cooperative's payroll consists of just under 60 full-time employees. Personnel work out of Tri-County's headquarters office in Mansfield and five district buildings. District buildings are located in Coudersport, Germania, Liberty, Mainesburg and Westfield.

Does Tri-County generate its own power?
No, Tri-County purchases wholesale power from Allegheny Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa. Allegheny, in turn, buys power in bulk at discounted rates for the 14 electric cooperatives in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Allegheny obtains power from General Public Utilities (GPU), West Penn Power, Pennsylvania Power & Light (PP&L), New York Power Authority (NYPA) Susquehanna Steam Electric Station and Raystown Hydroelectric Plant.

Is Tri-County regulated by the Public Utilities Commission?
Tri-County does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). As a result of the passage of Pennsylvania's Electric Cooperative Corporation Act of 1937, rural electric cooperatives within the state remain exempt from PUC regulations. Rather, Pennsylvania electric cooperatives are regulated by their member-elected boards of directors and the mandates of the federal Rural Utilities Service (RUS).

What is the Rural Utilities Service?
The Rural Utilities Service, also known as RUS, is an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was created in 1994 to replace the federal Rural Electrification Administration (REA). RUS lends money to member-owned electric and telephone cooperatives. The agency also provides assistance to cooperatives for the establishment of rural water and sewer systems and other utility-related services.

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