News and Events

Do We Owe You Money?

May 8, 2013

Can you help us find these consumers? Check out our list of consumers whose capital credit refund checks were mailed and either returned unclaimed or uncashed as of March 1, 2013.

New President/CEO Selected

April 19, 2013

Steven A. Harmon has been selected as the new President of Community Electric Cooperative. He begins his duties with CEC on June 3, 2013. Click here to read the press release.

American Hero Lineman Awards

January 29, 2013

Virginia’s Electric Cooperatives Honor Linemen Who Aided with Superstorm Sandy Recovery Efforts (press release)

Co-op linemen accept their award

2012 Capital Credit Refund

December 5, 2012

The Board of Directors of Community Electric Cooperative announced that on the first of December, 6,732 capital credit refund checks totaling more than $770,000 were mailed to current and former member-consumers who received service from the Cooperative during 1999 and 2000.  That’s something the customers of an investor-owned utility would never see.  These capital credits represent the cooperative difference. 

“Each consumer served by Community Electric Cooperative is a member and actually owns part of the Co-op,” says President James M. Reynolds.  “Unlike investor-owned utilities that pay dividends to their stockholders who are often far removed from the service provided, electric cooperatives return their margins to the members – those who used the service and helped provide the funding to build and maintain the electric system.”

This year’s refund represents the 20^th consecutive year that the Co-op has made a general retirement of capital credits.  To date more than $13 million has been returned to the members who participated in the Cooperative’s business. 

Reynolds said, “Refunding capital credits reflects Community’s strong financial position and a commitment to providing electric service at the lowest possible cost.  We are proud to put this amount of money back into the hands of our member-consumers -- this is our favorite time of year.”

Headquartered in Windsor, Community Electric Cooperative currently serves over 10,800 accounts throughout the City of Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Sussex, and Surry Counties.  Community is one of 14 electric cooperatives serving the Mid-Atlantic region.

2012 Annual Meeting

August 16, 2012

Annual Meeting Highlights

          Approximately 293 co-op members and guests attended the Annual Meeting, held Monday, August 13, at Windsor High School in Windsor. Meeting attendees elected three directors and learned of the state of the cooperative.

          Prior to the business session, drawings were held for the early bird prizes. The following individuals won CFL lights and ladies gloves: Ray Mack Gray, E. J. Freeman Estate, Vivian L. Wiggins, Peggy B. Boone, Pearl E. Tanner, and E. J. Smith.

          Cooperative President James M. Reynolds reported on the state of the cooperative. He noted this would be his last annual meeting since he will be retiring effective May 1, 2013.

          Two of the cooperative's nine directors were re-elected to serve three-year terms:  Paul E.Owen, representing Isle of Wight County, and H. Garland Lowe, Jr., representing Southampton County. One director-elect, Michael A. Faulk, representing the City of Suffolk, was elected to a three-year term.

          The evening's entertainment was provided by Greater Joy. Enjoy these songs performed that evening: You Must Come in at the Door: http://youtu.be/vt0Ge8QCInc, Now I am Found: http://youtu.be/VSNXkpyjVGo, and Behold the Man on the Cross: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjZkkeZN4F0.

          A Resolution of Appreciation was presented to retiring director Douglas A. Wiggins for his years of service to the cooperative and its membership.

          Preceding refreshments, drawings were held for the door prizes. The following individuals won blenders, convection oven, coffeemakers, hand mixer, toaster, rice cooker/food steamer, microwave oven, Lowe’s gift card, Wal-Mart gift cards, and a Visa gift card: Daniel J. Klapetzky, Gwendolyn D. K. Johnson, H. G. Eason, Cheryl V. Allmond, Doris A. Eure, Mary A. Worrell, Ruby C. Daniels, Frances M. Hunter, Floyd R. Umphlett, Jr., Helen F. Banks, Kitchen’s Welding Service, Sarah J. Moore, Robert & Sharon Gulyas, Lolita H. Thompson, Sarah E. Boone, Ella L. Murphy, Michael D. Lefler, Joseph M. Milteer, Bobby W. Buck, Bruce C. Holland, Pansy T. Aston, and Mrs. Emery Hawkins.

          The grand-prize winner of the 2001 Chevrolet 1500 was Hazel G. Lowther.

Rate Increase - Hearing Scheduled

July 18, 2012

A public hearing has been scheduled for January 8, 2013, by the State Corporation Commission to receive testimony and evidence related to the application by Community Electric Cooperative for a general increase in electric rates, Case No. PUE-2012-00041.

The Commission has permitted the Cooperative's proposed rates to become effective for bills rendered on and after August 24, 2012, on an interim basis and subject to refund.

The proposed rate schedules have been updated on the Cooperative's web site.

Cooperative Rate Increase

June 1, 2012

Community Electric Cooperative last filed for a general increase in its retail rates in 1991. At that time, the Cooperative’s average cost of a kilowatt-hour sold for residential purposes was slightly more than 8 cents. Over the years which followed, the cost of our average residential kilowatt-hour rose to 10.9 cents in 2011. The increases over this period were driven primarily by fuel related wholesale power cost. If one were to take the 1991 kilowatt-hour cost and escalate it consistent with the changes in the consumer price index (CPI) from 1991-2011, one would find that the CPI had increased at a rate significantly greater than that of the average cost of a residential kilowatt-hour sold by the Cooperative. In fact, if the Cooperative’s average residential kilowatt-hour cost had risen at the same rate as the CPI, in 2011 it would have cost approximately 13.3 cents per kilowatt-hour in lieu of the actual 10.9 cents. This relationship is depicted on this graph.

It is also interesting to compare the increases of other forms of energy over the same period.  The average cost of a gallon of gasoline in 1991 was 81 cents. Today, it is not unusual to pay $3.50 per gallon. Propane, used frequently for home heating, has experienced a similar increase since 1991. Compared to other forms of energy, electric service from your Cooperative remains a bargain.

The Cooperative had been able to maintain its rates with only the minimal increases, as indicated on the adjoining graph, through the benefit of its growth in membership and sales, coupled with increased efficiencies. Unfortunately, over the last three years, the Cooperative’s growth in membership has been nil and the impacts of inflationary costs have taken their toll on the Cooperative’s financials.

As the Cooperative’s staff prepared its budget for 2012, it became evident that the Cooperative would have to seek rate relief as soon as practical in order to maintain the reliability and quality of service which the membership has become accustomed. A cost of service study was commissioned and is nearing completion. Based upon the current schedule, we will file an application for an increase in our jurisdictional gross revenues of approximately 6% with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC). The actual increase experienced by Cooperative members may vary based upon usage level and rate classification. These variations are the result of the allocation of the power supply and the Cooperative’s operations’ cost as determined by the cost of service study. After receipt of the Cooperative’s application, the SCC will establish a schedule for consideration of the application and potentially an effective date for the rate increase. Members are encouraged to monitor this web site and the Cooperative’s pages within Cooperative Living magazine for additional details as the Commission gives consideration to the Cooperative’s application.