The name of each cooperative primarily engaged in the distribution of electricity or other services shall include the word "cooperative"; and the name of each cooperative primarily engaged in generating or transmitting electricity for delivery to an electric distributor shall include at least one of the words "electric", "power" or "cooperative"; provided, that such limitation shall not apply if, in an affidavit made by the president or vice president of a cooperative on file with the Secretary of State, it shall appear that the cooperative desires to transact business in another state and is precluded therefrom by reason of its name; and provided further, that any corporation heretofore or hereafter organized under Chapter 7 of this title, which may be converted into a cooperative and become subject to this chapter, as provided in Section 37-6-16, or any foreign corporation transacting business in this state pursuant to Section 37-6-26, may, at its election, retain the same corporate name which it had prior to such conversion or transaction of business. The name of a cooperative shall distinguish it from the name of any other corporation organized under the laws of, or authorized to transact business in, this state. The words "electric cooperative" or "power cooperative" shall not both be used in the name of any corporation organized under the laws of, or authorized to transact business in, this state, except a cooperative or corporation transacting business in this state pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
Ala. Code § 37-6-4 (1975)