The Cooperative Story

Rural Electrification Administration

During the 1930s, the majority of the rural United States did not have electricity. The existing providers of electricity did not feel it was feasible or profitable to run electric lines to rural areas. On May 11, 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 7037 which established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). In 1936, the REA was passed and the lending program began. It provided money in the form of loans to electrify the rural United States. Investor-owned utilities were not interested in the federal loans to serve rural, low-populated areas in the United States.

However, farmer-based cooperatives were turning in loan applications. Rural Americans had joined together to form these cooperatives. REA realized electric cooperatives were going to be what it took to make rural electricity happen. In 1937, REA drafted the Electric Cooperative Corporation Act, a model law that could be adopted to form the operation of not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperatives.

Central Missouri Electric Cooperative

Central Missouri Electric Cooperative began business in 1938. Today, your not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative serves over 11,000 meters, 2,400 miles of line and three counties. Your board of directors is elected from the membership, by the membership, and governs the cooperative. They employ a general manager who is responsible for day-to-day operations of the system. The general manager employs and oversees the staff as they perform all the duties necessary to provide rural electric service.

You are a member-owner of a cooperative that serves you and believes in putting members first!