Cooperatives are usually formed to satisfy a need that the members could not satisfy by themselves, and no other organization was willing or able to solve the problem for them. Most rural electric systems were organized as cooperatives because the rural areas they serve would not return a profit for a commercial power company. The non-profit operation of rural electrics, and the availability of low-cost, long-term loans from the government, help make it possible to extend electric service to sparsely settles areas.