Manager's Message

As the holiday season approaches, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to you, the member-owners of Central Electric. Your support and involvement help us create a stronger, brighter community together.

Usually, I use this space to share updates on projects, new developments, or energy industry trends to keep you informed about our cooperative’s initiatives. But this season of giving also feels like the perfect time to say thank you—for being a part of our co-op and making a difference in the communities we serve.

One of the cooperative’s key principles is “concern for community,” and while our main goal is providing safe, reliable, and affordable energy, we see the co-op as a force for positive change. Through our Operation Round Up® program, fueled by voluntary donations from our members, we’ve awarded over $1.1 million in grants since 2013. This funding has supported organizations like the Partnership for Children and Families, H3: Health Healing Hope Medicine, Heart of Deep River Historical Society, and the Vass Community Food Pantry just to name a few. 

We also work closely with local schools, awarding $15,000 annually in Bright Ideas education grants to teachers who create inspiring learning environments, providing scholarships for students attending a 4-year university or one of our local community colleges, and encouraging student excellence in the classroom through our “Give Us an A” program. 

Additionally, Central Electric works alongside our partners to provide opportunities for students to attend the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., NC Cooperative Leadership Camp, and Touchstone Energy basketball camps. We believe that supporting education and youth programs are some of the best ways we can invest in the future.

This is also a good time of year to offer an extra “thank you” to our dedicated co-op board members, who invest their time and effort to ensure they represent your best interests. Their commitment to attend meetings, training sessions, and stay informed on current industry trends benefits all of us.

Finally, on behalf of our lineworkers and employees, we deeply appreciate the support and kindness you show, especially during storms or challenging conditions. Your patience and encouragement mean the world when we’re working to restore power in difficult situations.

Thank you for being a part of our cooperative and helping make our community a better place. We can’t do it without you. Together, we’ll continue improving our corner of the world to make it a better place to live.

Until next time,