RUS Accounting 101
Master the RUS Uniform System of Accounts and build a solid foundation for electric cooperative accounting. Practical, plain-language training designed for co-op finance and operations professionals.
- 19 lessons with 1.5 hours of video
- Downloadable PDF & Excel materials
- Interactive exercises and flip cards
- Review questions in each module
- NASBA-compliant final exam (10 questions)
- Certificate of completion (2.00 CPE)
Learn the RUS Uniform System of Accounts — The Foundation of Electric Cooperative Accounting
The RUS Uniform System of Accounts (USoA) is the accounting framework required for all electric cooperatives borrowing from the Rural Utilities Service. Every transaction, every capital project, every financial report ties back to this structure — and understanding it is essential for anyone working in co-op finance, operations, or management.
This course gives you a clear, practical grounding in how the RUS USoA is structured and how to apply it in day-to-day cooperative accounting. Plain language, real co-op examples, and interactive exercises make the material stick.
- New co-op accounting and finance staff
- Operations and engineering staff involved in capital projects
- Co-op managers who oversee financial reporting
- Accountants transitioning into the electric cooperative industry
- Board members seeking cooperative accounting literacy
- CPAs and auditors serving electric cooperatives
Russ Hissom, CPA
Russ Hissom, CPA is a principal of UtilityEducation.com, providing on-demand professional education in FERC, RUS, FASB, and GASB accounting, finance, and ratemaking for electric utilities and cooperatives. With over 30 years of hands-on industry experience, he brings real-world expertise to a modern learning platform trusted by more than 1,000 professionals.
What You'll Be Able to Do After This Course
Inside the Course
Introduces your co-op accounting journey, the course roadmap, learning objectives, and the central daily challenge: where do costs get classified?
- 0.1 – Introduction to Your Co-op Accounting Journey
- 1.1 – Course Roadmap
- 1.2 – What You'll Learn: Course Learning Objectives
- 1.3 – The Daily Puzzle: Where Do the Costs Get Classified? Free Preview
To access the free preview: Click "Watch Free Lesson Preview" at the top of this page to view Lesson 1.3 at no charge before enrolling.
A concise overview of how the electric business works — generation, transmission, distribution — so accounting decisions make sense in operational context.
- 2.1 – How the Electric Business Works
- Thought Break!
Covers how electric cooperatives operate and how RUS accounting standards govern their financial reporting and regulatory obligations.
- 3.1 – How Electric Cooperatives Operate
- 3.2 – Review Questions 1
A guided tour of what's inside the RUS USoA, how to navigate its account structure, and a smorgasbord of key RUS accounting concepts.
- 4.1 – What's in the RUS Uniform System of Accounts
- 4.2 – Navigating the RUS USoA
- 4.3 – RUS Accounting Concepts Smorgasbord
Applies RUS USoA rules to balance sheet and income statement accounts — what the co-op owns, owes, earns, and spends.
- 5.1 – Using the RUS USoA for Balance Sheet and Income Statement Accounts
Apply your knowledge to realistic co-op accounting scenarios with an interactive transaction classification exercise and review questions.
- 6.1 – Practice Module: Classifying Routine Transactions
- 6.2 – Exercise: Classify Those Transactions!
- 6.3 – Review Questions 2
Consolidates key concepts and next steps, followed by the NASBA-compliant final exam. A passing score of 70% earns your 2.00 CPE certificate.
- 7.1 – Key Points and Your Next Steps
- 7.2 – Course Evaluation
- 7.3 – Final Exam for NASBA Certification (10 questions, 70% to pass)
- 7.4 – What You've Achieved and a Final Review!
Trusted by Over 1,000 Utility Professionals
"Very good overview of the introduction to the electricity business. I just started a job with a utility and will definitely be taking another course through UtilityEducation.com."
"The Intro to FERC class is a well thought out, easy to understand course for beginners!"
"This was an incredible overview! I cannot wait to share this with others. I LOVED how you explained things."
"Russ was great and explained everything really well — someone who has actually been in the industry. I will be taking more courses!"
"I am new to the Co-op world and this did help me. Thank you!"
"I found it very helpful as a new employee needing to learn and understand FERC Accounting. I look forward to the next class."
Frequently Asked Questions
Continue Your Development
Part of the New Electric Cooperative Accounting Professional learning path — a structured set of courses to build core electric utility accounting skills. Courses may be taken in any order.
Ready to Build Your RUS Accounting Foundation?
Utility Accounting and Rates Specialists, LLC is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: NASBAregistry.org.
Requests for refunds must be made in writing within 30 days of purchasing the course. No refunds will be granted after the qualified assessment has been completed. For any concerns, please contact us at 608-628-4020 or at russ.hissom@utilityeducation.com.
Course materials are provided for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute legal, accounting, or professional advice. © 2026 Utility Accounting & Rates Specialists, LLC. All rights reserved.