Accepting Petitions Now!

Being a member-consumer of an electric cooperative means you have a say in the matters that affect you and your community. Hancock-Wood Electric is guided by a member-elected board of trustees, which is responsible for making decisions related to the co-op’s financial goals and other policies. If you’re interested in taking a more active role in your cooperative, we urge you to consider running for a seat on the board.

A trustee should have the best interests of the cooperative at heart, without placing his or her own interest or agenda first; no one should serve on the board solely to assist the cooperative or for any personal gain. Trustee candidates should have the capability to guide the president and CEO through the formulation of sound policies that both protect the financial and operating integrity of the cooperative and protect the rights of the membership.

Members who live in districts 2, 7, or 9 are eligible to run for the board in 2026. District 2 consists of portions of North Baltimore, Cygnet, Jerry City, Bowling Green, and Portage. District 7 consists of the Bluffton, Ada, and Mt. Cory areas, and District 9 consists of Kelleys Island. Not sure which district you’re in? Check your bill, where it’s noted on the top right, or you can call our office to verify. If you are a qualified member in one of those districts, you can obtain a petition form from our office or at www. hwe.coop. After collecting the required signatures, return your petition form to the office by the March 12 deadline and your name will be placed on the election ballots sent to members in May. The results of our elections will be announced during our virtual annual meeting.

Any eligible member may become a trustee on the board, and each district is designated by geographic area. In addition to completing the petition form, a member must:

• Have been a member for at least three years.
• Not have been an employee for three years prior.
• Not be closely related to an employee.
• Not be employed by a financially interested competing enterprise, or a business selling electric power or supplies to the cooperative.

If you have any questions about the petition process or the election, please feel free to call our office at 800-445-4840.