Dear Member-Owners,
At Roanoke Cooperative, our mission extends beyond delivering reliable electricity and high-speed broadband. It is about improving the quality of life for the member-owners and communities we proudly serve. One of the most meaningful ways we fulfill that mission is by helping our members use energy wisely and keep their energy costs affordable.
For more than a decade, Roanoke Cooperative has invested in programs like Upgrade 2 $ave because we believe one of the most affordable kilowatt-hours is the one that never has to be generated. Every kilowatt-hour our member-owners save lowers their monthly electric bill. And when those savings occur during periods of peak demand, they can also help reduce the cooperative's wholesale power costs—creating benefits that extend across our entire membership.
Through this innovative on-bill financing program, hundreds of member-owners have made improvements that increase the comfort of their homes while reducing the amount of electricity they use. These investments demonstrate that energy efficiency isn't simply about using less electricity—it's about using energy more wisely while maintaining or even improving the comfort, health, and value of a home.
Helping members achieve those savings, however, requires more than financing. It requires knowledgeable professionals who understand how homes perform, can recommend the right improvements, and have the skills to install today's energy-efficient technologies correctly.
That is why workforce development has become an important part of Roanoke Cooperative's long-term strategy.
One of the ways we're helping strengthen that workforce is by partnering with organizations like Energy Savers NC. Through contractor education, technical training, and industry collaboration, these partnerships help develop a network of qualified professionals who can deliver high-quality energy-efficiency improvements throughout our region.
The results benefit everyone.
Member-owners have greater access to trusted professionals who can identify opportunities to save energy and improve comfort. Whether that means improving insulation, sealing air leaks, installing high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, upgrading water heating equipment, or recommending other energy-saving improvements, properly trained contractors help ensure these investments deliver the results families expect.
At the same time, local businesses benefit by developing new skills, expanding the services they offer, and creating additional opportunities for growth. Those jobs, those businesses, and those economic benefits stay right here in the communities we serve, strengthening the local economy while improving the quality of life throughout our region.
Looking ahead, the importance of workforce development will only continue to grow.
The energy industry continues to evolve, bringing new technologies that can further improve energy efficiency, affordability, and home comfort. One example is the emergence of cold-climate heat pumps—high-efficiency heating and cooling systems designed to perform effectively even during colder temperatures while using less energy than many conventional heating and cooling systems. Roanoke Cooperative is currently exploring opportunities that could help make technologies like these more accessible to our member-owners in the future. Regardless of the technology, however, success depends on having a skilled local workforce prepared to install, maintain, and support these advanced systems.
That's why we believe investing in people is just as important as investing in infrastructure.
Poles, wires, substations, and fiber networks are essential to serving our members. But the skilled professionals who help families make their homes more energy efficient are equally essential to building resilient communities, supporting local businesses, and ensuring that the benefits of innovation reach every member-owner.
At Roanoke Cooperative, we are committed to building both.
By investing in innovative energy programs, supporting workforce development, and strengthening partnerships that expand local expertise, we are helping member-owners lower their energy costs, creating opportunities for local businesses, and preparing our communities for the next generation of energy solutions.
Because when we invest in people, we don't just build a stronger workforce—we build a stronger cooperative, stronger communities, and a stronger future for every member-owner we serve.
In service,
Marshall Cherry
President & CEO