About PCEC

The Phillips Community Energy Co-op got its beginnings when electric utilities were considering deregulating in the late 1990s. Realizing that many small enerygy users, such as the residents of Phillips, may get sidelined by this shift, Phillips community members decided that they would have more collective bargaining power by working together.
When deregulation failed to gain a foothold, the Co-op kept its goal of empowering low income residents on issues of energy and added the goal of providing energy-efficient products and lowering hte energy bills of Phillips residents. In 2002, the PCEC received a Low-Income Conservation Improvement Program grant from the Department of Commerce which allowed it to begin hiring staff and expand its distribution of energy-efficiency products in Phillips.
In Fall of 2004, the PCEC experienced incredible growth, expanding its membership base from 700 to nearly 2,500. A massive organizing effort resulted in over 5,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs being distributed and members saving on their winter heating bills with PCEC distributed window insulation kits.
The Co-op now has a partnership with area business, Welna Hardware, which has become a valuable partner for distribution of its energy-efficient products for Coop members. In January of 2005, the PCEC became its own entity and organization, independent from the Green Institute, and hired Jeff Cook-Coyle (612.278.7120) as its new Manager.