Central State Rural Electric Cooperative was founded in 1938. A lot has changed in the past 78 years. The company of 141 original meters has grown to more than 24,000 meters. The original $85,000 borrowed from the Rural Electrification Administration to build the first distribution system has expanded to a system with more than $133 million in utility plant assets. The cooperative service area has grown to serve 2,000 square miles over seven counties. However, not everything has grown and expanded, the original name, for instance, was shortened when “state” was dropped from the name. Nearly eighty years later, more changes are coming to the company that was once Central State Rural Electric
Cooperative.
A Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, said “The only thing that is constant is change.” Over the past several years, we have been communicating about the changes facing the utility industry. From increased regulation and cyber security to renewable energy and industry insurgents, this change is definitely in our midst. The cooperative has been proactive by making investments and continuing to raise the bar when it comes to new technologies.