EREC Holds 77th Annual Meeting (With Gallery)

May 1, 2016

Escambia River Electric Cooperative members held their 77nd Annual Meeting Saturday at Northview High School.

Members enjoyed food and entertainment, vote for trustees and met in session.

In 1937, the first meeting was held to organize Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Inc. at the  Oak Grove Community House. By lamplight, several prominent community leaders laid out the  blueprints for the formation and operation of EREC.

After Congress passed the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, which made loans available for  the establishment of rural electric cooperatives, widespread rural electrification began. The formation of cooperatives in other parts of the country stimulated the interest of local leaders  such as C. R. Walker, E. H. Lundy, J. L. Robbins and County Agent J. G. Hudson. They continued to move forward with their plans even though they were often met with opposition and  skepticism.

On March 10, 1939, Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Inc. was born when the incorporators met at the American National Bank building in Pensacola to pass the bylaws, which would establish the cooperative and make their dream a reality. The cooperative’s first month of  operation brought them 88 members. Since that time, the cooperative has grown to serve approximately 10,000 members in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with over 1,800 miles of  energized line.

Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event.

Pictured top: Caleb Dennis performs at the Escambia River Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting at Northview High School. Pictured inset: The meeting included activities and goodies for the kids. Pictured below: Powersouth Energy Cooperative CEO Gary Smith explains how his $2 billion company provides electricity to EREC.  NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News