Article I: Membership

Section 1: Requirements for Membership

Any person, firm, association, corporation, or body politic or subdivision thereof will become a member of Ouachita Electric Cooperative Corporation (hereinafter called the “Cooperative”) upon receipt of electric service from the Cooperative, provided that they or it have first:

made a written or electronic application for membership therein;
agreed to purchase from the Cooperative electric energy as hereinafter specified;
agreed to comply with and be bound by the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Cooperative and any rules and regulations adopted by the board; and
paid the membership fee hereinafter specified

No member may hold more than 1 membership in the Cooperative, and no membership in the Cooperative shall be transferable, except as provided in these bylaws

Section 2: Evidence of Membership

Membership in the Cooperative shall be evidenced by delivery to the Cooperative of the properly completed and executed application with payment of the membership fee.

Section 3: Joint Membership

2 or more adults may apply for joint membership and, subject to their compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 1 of this Article, may be accepted for such membership. The term “member” as used in these bylaws shall be deemed to include 2 or more adults holding a joint membership, and any provisions relating to the rights and liabilities of membership shall apply equally with respect to the holders of a joint membership. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the effect of the hereinafter-specified actions by or in respect of the holders of a joint membership shall be as follows:

The presence at a meeting of any of the joint members shall be regarded as the presence of 1 member and shall constitute a joint waiver of notice of the meeting;
The vote of any of the joint members shall constitute 1 joint vote;
A waiver of notice signed by any of the joint members shall constitute a joint waiver.
Notice to any of the joint members shall constitute notice to all.
Expulsion of any of the joint members shall terminate the joint membership.
Withdrawal of any of the joint members shall terminate the joint membership.
Any of the joint members may be elected or appointed as a director, provided that he/she meet the qualifications for such office.

Section 4: Conversion of Membership

A membership may be converted to a joint membership upon the written request of the holder thereof, and the agreement by such holder and his or her joint members complies with the articles of incorporation, bylaws, and rules and regulations adopted by the board.
Upon the death of any party to the joint membership, such membership shall be held solely by the survivor. The estate of the deceased shall not be released from any debts due the Cooperative.
Upon the death of a member leaving a surviving spouse, even though the surviving spouse is not a joint member, the surviving spouse, upon presentation of a death certificate and meeting the requirements for membership, shall succeed to the membership of the deceased spouse and shall be responsible for payment of any account due in connection with the membership. The Cooperative shall transfer the membership to the surviving spouse promptly upon receipt of notice of the death of the member.

Section 5: Membership Fees

The membership fee shall be $15, upon the payment of which a member shall be eligible for 1 or more service connections.

Section 6: Purchase of Electric Energy

Each member shall, as soon as electric energy is available, purchase from the Cooperative electric energy for use at the premises specified in their application for membership and shall pay therefore at rates which shall from time to time be fixed by the board. It is expressly understood that amounts paid for electric energy in excess of the cost of service are furnished by members as capital, and each member shall be credited with the capital so furnished as provided in these bylaws. Each member shall pay to the Cooperative an availability charge per month regardless of the amount of electric energy consumed, as shall be fixed by the board from time to time. Each member shall also pay all amounts owed to the Cooperative as and when the same shall become due and payable. The availability charge provides the backbone for the Cooperative to operate in order to serve its members.

Section 7: Termination of Membership

Any member may withdraw from membership upon compliance with such uniform terms and conditions as the board may prescribe. The board may, by the affirmative vote of not less than 2/3 of all the members of the board, expel any member who fails to comply with any of the provisions of the articles of incorporation, bylaws, or rules or regulations adopted by the board, but only if such member shall have been given written notice by the Cooperative that such failure makes them liable to expulsion and such failure shall have continued for at least 10 days after such notice as given. Any expelled member may be reinstated by a vote of the board or by a vote of the members at any annual or special meeting. The membership of a member who, for a period of 6 months, after service is available to them, has not purchased electric energy from the Cooperative, or of a member who has ceased to purchase energy from the Cooperative, shall automatically terminate. The availability charge meets the requirement for purchased electric energy.
Upon the withdrawal, death (except as set forth in Article I, Section 4), cessation of existence, or expulsion of a member, the membership of such member shall thereupon terminate. Termination of membership in the Cooperative shall not release the member or their estate from any debts due the Cooperative.
In case of withdrawal or termination of membership in any manner, the Cooperative shall repay to the member the amount of the membership fee paid, provided, however, that the Cooperative shall deduct from the amount of the membership fee the amount of any debts or obligations owed by the member to the Cooperative.