Using your power as a rural electric cooperative member-owner


Most Floridians are serviced by an investor-owned utility, like Duke or FP&L. But about 10% of us get our electricity from a rural electric cooperative. Unlike those utilities, the rural electric cooperative customers are its owners. This is why cooperative customers are often referred to as member-owners. Member-owners have a say in how the utility is run.
You can use this power to push for better service, better prices, cleaner energy, investment in local clean energy projects, local economic development, and local energy efficiency projects to help cooperative members save money and energy costs. A great first step to exercising that power is attending your electric cooperative’s annual meeting.
We have compiled a list of upcoming Annual Meetings in Florida in the table below. It is always a good idea to bring a photo ID and recent bill with you to the annual meeting. You can also visit the website listed (if applicable) or call to try to RSVP. Registering to your annual meeting can even score you a bill credit!
The annual meeting is a great first step to being more involved in your rural electric cooperative. You can also read the founding seven principles of rural electric cooperatives from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
When engaging with elected or prospective leadership, advocate for your solar rights, fair fixed charges, protection of net metering, and communicate the value of solar.
Rural Electric Cooperative | Phone number | Meeting date | Meeting location | Meeting information |
---|---|---|---|---|
Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative (CHELCO) | 850-892-2111 | Saturday, April 27, 8 a.m. | Freeport High School, 12615 U.S. 331 Business, Freeport, FL 32439 | http://www.chelco.com/sites/chelco/files/January%202019%20CHELCO%20News.pdf |
Clay Electric Cooperative | 352-473-4917 | Thursday, March 28, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Clay HQ, 7022 Cooperative Way, Keystone Heights, FL 32656 | https://www.clayelectric.com/annual-meeting-2019 |
Escambia River Electric Cooperative | 850-675-4521 | Saturday, April 27, 8 a.m. | TBA | https://www.erec.com/about-us/annual-meetings/ |
FL Keys Electric Cooperative | 305-852-2431 | Saturday, April 6, 1 p.m. | Coral Shores High School, 89901 Old Highway, Tavernier, FL 33070 | http://flcurrents-fkec.fl.newsmemory.com/ |
Glades Electric Cooperative | 863-946-6200 | Saturday, March 23, 8 a.m. | Moore Haven High School, 700 Terrier Pride Road, Moore Haven, FL 33471 | |
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative | 850-639-2216 | Saturday, April 27, 8 a.m. | GCEC Headquarter Office, 722 West Highway 22, Wewahitchka, FL 32465 | |
Lee County Electric Cooperative | 239-656-2300 | Thursday, April 18, 8:30 a.m. | HQ, 4980 Bayline Drive North Fort Myers, FL 33917 | |
Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO) | 800-282-3824 | Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m. | PRECO Park, 220 Knight Road, Wauchula, FL 33873 | https://www.preco.coop/preco-79th-annual-meeting-scheduled/ |
Sumter Electric Cooperative | 352-793-3801 | Saturday, March 23, 8 a.m. | Annual Meeting Pavillion, 293 South Highway 301, Sumterville, FL 33585 | https://secoenergy.com/annual-member-meeting/ |
Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative | 386-362-2226 | Saturday, April 27, 8:30 a.m. | Suwannee County Agricultural Coliseum, 1302 11th Street SW, Live Oak, FL 32060 | https://svec-coop.com/2019/03/11/youre-invited-to-our-annual-meeting/ |
Talquin Electric Cooperative | 850-627-7651 | Saturday, April 27, 8:30 am | Gadsden County High School 27001 Blue Star Hwy, Havana, FL 32333 | https://www.talquinelectric.com/wp-content/uploads/January-February-2019-Current.pdf |
West FL Electric Cooperative | 850-547-9325 | Saturday, April 27, 8 a.m. | Graceville Civic Center, Coounty Road 77, Graceville, FL 32440 | |
Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative | 352-567-5133 | Wednesday, April 17, 5 p.m. | Dan Cannon Auditorium at Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52, Dade City, FL 33525 | https://www.wrec.net/events/15d16179-d42d-4b58-bf79-3692c1aabbe0 |