Electric cooperatives were established to provide electricity to rural America and now make up the nation's largest utility network. Touchstone Energy is the national brand identity for the exclusive network. CREC shares a common promise to provide your residential and commercial energy services while meeting the highest standards of accountability, integrity, innovation, and commitment to your community.

Cooperatives around the world generally operate according to the same core principles, and they trace these roots to the first cooperative founded in Rochdale, England in 1844. This is considered the birth of modern cooperatives because of the seven principles created to guide the co-op proved successful. The principles have evolved over the years, but no matter the industry, today all cooperative businesses adhere to them:

1. Voluntary and Open Membership—Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
2. Democratic Member Control—Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner. 
3. Members' Economic Participation—Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative, and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
4. Autonomy and Independence—Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
5. Education, Training, and Information—Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation. 
6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives—We serve our Members best by strengthening the cooperative movement and working together through structured groups such as the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives (AMEC) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
7. Concern for Community—While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members. We do this through programs like Operation Round Up and our Cuivre Cares program.