Trico Electric Cooperative Inc. is a non-profit electric distribution cooperative serving more than 48,000 Members in communities surrounding the City of Tucson, including portions of Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz counties. The majority of Trico’s service territory is to the west of Tucson and spans approximately 66 miles east to west and 80 miles north to south, extending to the border with Mexico. Overall, Trico’s service area encompasses 2,346 square miles.
Area farmers and ranchers organized Trico in 1945 under the Rural Electrification Act that was enacted to bring electricity to the rural areas of the United States. Three years later, Trico’s first electrical lines were energized. A Certificate of Convenience and Necessity issued by the Arizona Corporation Commission in 1966 provides Trico the exclusive right to provide electric distribution service in its territory. Between 1987 and the present, additional Certificates were issued for the SaddleBrooke and Oracle Junction areas, adding 32 square miles to the northern part of Trico’s service area.
At Trico, we believe that connection powers our purpose. This connection brings us together as a community – with the understanding that we can do more together than we could do by ourselves. We are able to support both our members and community through the Trico Foundation and The Trico Electric Charitable Trust.
OUR MISSION
Dedicated to making a difference in the communities we serve by providing our Members cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions.
YEAR ESTABLISHED
1945
NUMBER OF METERS
55,000
MILES OF ENERGIZED LINE
4,082
NUMBER OF MEMBERS
48,000+
TRICO ELECTRIC CHARITABLE TRUST
The Trico Electric Charitable Trust is a non-profit charitable trust organized in 1986 and funded through both Operation Round Up and Cooperative donations.
Each year, the Trust funds $70,000 to POWER Grants, which help non-profit organizations in Trico’s service area.
Trust funds provide assistance to Trico Members through a partnership with Wildfire/Arizona Community Action Association.
TRICO FOUNDATION
The Trico Foundation is a non-profit foundation organized in 1985 and funded through Capital Credit Retirements that are gifted or unclaimed.
In 2024, the Foundation awarded $500,000 in scholarships to 99 students. Since 1983 we have awarded over $4.7 million in scholarships benefiting over 778 students.
The Foundation also funds our Washington Youth Tour, where each year we are able to send three to four local high school juniors to our nation’s capital.
WHERE WE SERVE
We proudly serve more than 48,000 Members in the communities surrounding the City of Tucson including the Tri-County area of Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz counties.
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.
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.
MEMBERS’ ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control the capital of the cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative.
AUTONOMY & INDEPENDENCE
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members.
EDUCATION, TRAINING & INFORMATION
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so that they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives.
COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY
While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.
WHAT IS TOUCHSTONE ENERGY?
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives connects the people of electric cooperatives to benefit members and their communities. Touchstone is different from traditional power companies – it represents a nationwide alliance of member-owned electric co-ops, including Trico. Collectively, it delivers power and energy solutions to more than 700 local electric cooperatives across 46 states.