Executive Member Spotlight: Appalachian Electric Cooperative

For 80 years now, Appalachian Electric Cooperative has been bringing electricity to this part of East Tennessee. With close to 48,000 residential and commercial members in parts of five counties, AEC’s reason for being is to improve the quality of life in the communities it serves.

In addition to building and maintaining an electric distribution system featuring a dozen substations and more than 2,500 miles of line, the Co-op is building out a fiber network that will, in partnership with broadband provider Trilight, bring high-speed internet connectivity throughout AEC’s 591-square-mile service area. 

Back a long time ago, when electricity was first available, only people who lived in cities had it. Where people lived close together, private companies could make a profit providing service. Lagging far behind were rural areas, where it would cost much more to set poles and string wire. But the fact is, folks in these areas were mostly hard-working farm families who needed it the very most.

That’s how co-ops got started. The people who lived out in the country came together to find a way to make their lives easier. By folks making an up-front commitment to sign up for electric service once it became available, Appalachian Electric Cooperative came into being in 1940. The brand-new Co-op obtained a loan from the REA and—over time—the lights began to come on, out in the country. Of course, electricity is available everywhere now, but every day, the men and women who work for AEC come to work with one goal: to make things better in the communities we call home.

While providing safe, reliable power at the lowest possible cost will always be AEC’s core business, the Co-op is constantly working to provide its members with value in a variety of ways and is involved in many aspects of community life. For example, education has always been an important part of their focus. AEC is a strong supporter of local schools, with programs and resources designed to help young people understand how electricity works, how to stay safe around it, why energy efficiency and renewable energy helps the environment, etc.

Job growth and economic development are other AEC focuses. Affordable electric rates and reliable power are major factors when industries are evaluating potential locations for relocation and expansion. The Co-op provides expertise and resources to existing businesses, as well: facilitating grants and loans that ensure the long-term economic vitality of local communities.

AEC’s expansion of its fiber network to enable broadband connectivity through its partnership with Trilight is yet another way the Co-op is actively working to grow the local economy. Gig-speed internet service is a significant draw for industries considering this area in their plans to locate or expand operations.

Perhaps no other focus is more directly impactful to its members than AEC’s emphasis on providing programs and services that help folks manage their energy budgets. The Co-op is actively engaged in assisting those it serves with reducing their electric bills through efficiency improvements. With a variety of programs designed to help members assess opportunities for greater energy efficiency and a number of financing options to make those improvements more affordable, AEC is committed to helping its members’ energy dollars go further while improving their comfort and increasing the value of their homes.