News Releases

Don’t Take Your Safety Around Animals for Granted

CEC’s Darden Earns Journeyman Certification

Local Students Experience Nation’s Capital on Eve of U.S. Semiquincentennial

Twenty-Five Years after Joining CEC, Joyner Sets Her Sights on Some Newer Priorities: Ages 10 and 2

Twenty-five years after joining CEC, Senior Member Service Representative Debbie Joyner feels the need to focus on what matters most to her – family.

CEC Team Members Showcase Their Skills at Lineworkers Rodeo

Alas, no medals for CEC’s team members at the 2026 Gaff-n-Go held in mid-May north of Richmond, but the memories will linger nonetheless.

Don’t Roll the Dice on Hurricane Preparation

“We are entering the time of year when the threat of tropical storms and hurricanes is common. We can’t let that ‘familiarity’ desensitize us to the dangers that will arise if and when the threat of a major storm becomes a reality,” Presson said. “I urge every household to have an emergency plan and kit in place and to take timely action to have a backup power supply at the ready if they intend to have that additional layer of protection available.”

Don’t Let Your Electric Bill Climb with the Heat; Boost Your Home’s Energy Efficiency Now

Given the heating bill spikes that accompanied our bone-chilling winter, it’s little solace that The Old Farmer’s Almanac is forecasting temperatures hotter than average along the East Coast this July and August. Cold or hot, when it’s on the extremes it causes higher electric bills. 

It’s ‘Game On’ at CEC’s Team Appreciation Day

Community Electric Cooperative’s Team Appreciation Day seemed particularly well-timed this year. The gathering of CEC’s work force – 36 employees attended – took place on March 3rd. As CEC’s member-owners well know, this was mere weeks after a pair of winter storms hammered states along the Eastern Seaboard and caused extensive power outages.

From the Co-op to the Commonwealth: A Milestone Moment for Women’s Leadership

Upon its formation in 1938, CEC’s first president was a woman – Louise Davidson of Holland. One of her contemporaries, Bettie Gwaltney of Windsor, also was a driving force behind the cooperative’s creation and served as director and vice president for many years. And another woman, Gretchen Ellis, was CEC’s first secretary-treasurer. More recently, the role of board chair has been filled by another woman. Jeannette Everett, the current chairman, joined CEC’s board in in the mid-1990s.

CEC Details Preparations for Potential ‘Coastal Cyclone’

In its storm warning update Saturday morning, the National Weather Service in Wakefield, Va., stated, “An arctic air mass continues to surge southward into the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. … As the extremely cold air aloft approaches the much warmer waters of the Gulf Stream … a coastal cyclone is forecast to deepen explosively tonight … Tonight into Sunday morning should see the cyclone intensifying most rapidly while expanding in size off the Mid-Atlantic coast when the most intense winds will be accompanied with snow, which could lead to blizzard conditions at times even out to the outer banks of North Carolina early Sunday morning.”

Defending Against Emergencies — Noah Futrell Brings Naval Experience to RECORE

The pursuit of excellence – which included Futrell earning qualifications that allowed him to resolve system issues more readily rather than wait on others' authorization – was rooted in the recognition that CWIS is the ship’s last line of defense.

Capital Credits Have Gone Paperless

Community Electric Cooperative (CEC) is implementing a major change to reduce costs and bring more value to its member-owners. The cooperative is now issuing capital credit refunds as bill credits instead of mailing paper checks.

Paperless This Season — Savings All Year Long

As the holidays approach, we’re reminded how much we can accomplish when we support one another. At Community Electric Cooperative, working together isn’t just a belief — it’s the cooperative way. And a simple switch this season can bring big benefits for all our members.

CEC Puts Savings Back in Members’ Pockets with New Paperless Refund System

Starting this year, eligible members will see a “Capital Credit Refund” listed directly as a bill credit on their December electric bill. This new, paperless approach replaces the traditional method of mailing refund checks—a move that is expected to save the cooperative more than $200,000 each year in postage, printing, and paper expenses.

Members Overwhelmingly Find CEC’s Service Worth Recommending to Others, New Survey Shows

The NPS measures attitudes regarding co-op services, and the 75 result is considered “Top of Class,” Inside Information states. The service aspects for which Community Electric received especially high marks from members are:

Virginia Ranks Near Top of List of Power Outages Caused by Severe Weather

As winter approaches, Community Electric Cooperative (CEC) encourages its members to prepare for storms by reviewing storm safety checklists, like those found on the American Red Cross website. “Freezing temperatures and winter storms can wreak havoc on power lines, affecting power delivery and restoration efforts,” says CEC’s Manager of Operations Glen Presson.

Listening for Energy Savings in Your Home

If you listen carefully, you home may be trying to tell you that your wasting energy and money. Here are some common sounds of home energy waste.

Terryn Morton Brings Wide-Ranging Administrative  Experience to Role as CEC’s New Executive Assistant

Morton joined CEC on October 22nd as the successor to longtime Executive Assistant Annette Dickey, who will retire on January 3rd just shy of 33 years with Community Electric. Morton’s administrative experience ranges from working at a small family business serving disabled veterans to supporting a department of 80-plus people at Jefferson Lab – the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility run by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

Three CEC Employees Add Luster to Our Nation’s Veterans Day Observance

“I hope that Community Electric’s members will make a point this Veterans Day to show their appreciation to Glen, Mitch and Flynn for their service to our nation as well as for the work they do on a daily basis to make our cooperative better and stronger. They are hardworking, dedicated professionals who care deeply about the success of our organization, about their co-workers and, obviously, about our country. Our cooperative is so lucky to have them here.”

Celebrating Employees – and Their High Level of Performance

Mother Nature often isn’t the ally of electric sector entities charged with keeping the lights on, but she cooperated beautifully for Community Electric’s annual Team Appreciation Day in mid-September. The cooperative’s employees and many of their family members gathered under idyllic conditions on a late Friday afternoon at Topgolf Virginia Beach.

Much to Celebrate at CEC’s Annual Meeting

Community Electric Cooperative is going strong – with solid safety and financial performance for its member-owners – despite the turbulent times that much of the U.S. electric sector is facing. That was one of the key messages shared with attendees – in person and virtually – at CEC’s annual business meeting on August 13th. 

Welcoming Two New Staffers to the Team

“I am delighted that Amy and Kasey have joined our team. Based on their experience, I know they are going to hit the ground running and will be great assets to our organization as we carry out our mission serving our member-owners.”

CEC Promotes Cohen to Chief of Meter and Apparatus Department

Rick Cohen has been promoted to Meter and Apparatus, Chief, at Community Electric. He succeeds recent retiree Perry Wellman in that role. The two had paired together for the past dozen years or so to wire generators, connect and disconnect meters, install transfer switches and perform a host of related tasks that strengthen the cooperative’s electrical systems and support linemen working in the field.

Ryan Hewitt Promoted to Lead Lineman

Ryan Hewitt continues to advance in his career at Community Electric, which has promoted him to the position of Lead Lineman. Hewitt joined CEC in 2017 as a lineman trainee. The Windsor native achieved journeyman status in 2021, and this promotion moves him into the lead role.

Members Are Highly Satisfied with Community Electric’s Quality of Service, New Survey Shows

Community Electric Cooperative's member-owners are feeling well-served, with a CAPS score of 92—3 points higher than the national average! 🎉 Our Net Promoter Score also jumped 18 points to 74! Thank you to all who participated in the spring survey. Your feedback helps us deliver reliable, affordable electricity with respect and compassion.

CEC’s Wagensomer Wins Third-Place Trophy in Regional Rodeo Showcasing Lineworkers’ Skills

Wagensomer and CEC colleague Flynn Gladden competed in the drone operator contest held last Friday afternoon during the two-day rodeo in Doswell, Va. The Gaff-n-Go Rodeo is hosted by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives to showcase the skills and hard work of utility lineworkers. More than 300 linemen from 11 states competed in the rodeo, which celebrated its 20th anniversary.

20th Gaff-n-Go Lineman Rodeo Soggy but Successful

Doswell, VA. – A little rain did not prevent more than 300 linemen from 11 states from competing in the 20th annual Gaff-n-Go Rodeo this past weekend. The two-day event, held at Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Va., finished with local co-ops taking home top prizes.

Members of CEC’s Board of Directors Show Commitment to Professional Development

An ever-changing business environment has imposed new demands on electric cooperative directors, requiring increased knowledge of changes in the electric utility business, new governance and a solid knowledge of the cooperative principles and business model.

Are You Prepared for Storm Season?

Climate watchers are warning that weather dynamics that have unfolded in the first few months of 2024 may contribute to an active storm pattern early in this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. The cautionary reports underscore the importance of emergency preparedness to minimize the problems and dangers that severe storms can create. 

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