A utility cooperative is a type of cooperative that is tasked with the delivery of a public utility such as electricity, water or telecommunications to its members. Profits are either reinvested for infrastructure or distributed to members in the form of `patronage` or `capital credits`, which are essentially dividends paid on a member`s investment into the cooperative.

Each customer is a member and owner of the business with an equal say as every other member of the cooperative, unlike investor-owned utilities where the amount of say is governed by the number of shares held.

A utility cooperative is most similar to which of the following types of organizations?