In honor of National Co-op Month, we are sharing a few facts about electric cooperatives.

The nation’s member-owned, not-for-profit electric co-ops constitute a unique sector of the electric utility industry.

Distribution cooperatives, like Blue Grass Energy, form the foundation of the rural electric network delivering electricity to 42 million co-op members in 47 states. Nearly 10 percent of the nation's meters belong to members of electric co-ops.

Generation and transmission cooperatives (G&Ts) provide wholesale power to distribution co-ops through their own generation or by purchasing power on behalf of distribution members.

All co-ops, not just electric cooperatives, are governed by seven principles.