Central Electric Power Cooperative history

By 1950, Central Missouri Electric Cooperative and several other mid-Missouri cooperatives joined together to build a power plant and generate and transmit their own electricity.

1956 Election of board of directors changed from “at large” selection to representation based on geographic districts reflective of communities served.

By 1959, membership had grown to 4,750 served through 1,925 miles of line.

In 1962, cooperatives in the state formed Associated Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI). Its role was to plan, construct and operate the primary generation and transmission facilities needed by the state’s rural electric cooperatives.

1977 Redmond Chamber of Commerce gives Community Improvement Award to CEC for co-op’s new Redmond headquarters campus.

In 1994, the main office was moved to join the operation division at its new location on Wilson Road.

In 1999, preparation for future expansion of the cooperative’s role in a deregulated environment, Central EMC joined with other cooperatives nationwide in a strong alliance through Touchstone Energy.

In 2000, Imperial Freezer, one of Central’s largest industrial consumers, expanded their business.

To that end, Central joined South River EMC, Lumbee River EMC and Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, and in 2001, contracted with the US Army Corp of Engineers to operate and maintain the electric grid on Fort Bragg.

Imperial Freezer remained the largest industrial consumer until 2002, when 3M and Luck Stone Corporation came onboard.

2010 Capital Credits repaid to members exceeds $13 million.