Western Farmers Electric Cooperative

To be a leader in providing value-based energy and related services.”

Mission Statement: 

“To honorably serve our customers with reliable, competitively priced energy and related services while providing a quality work environment and being responsive to the needs of our owners, customers, and the community.”

The Beginning:

Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) is a generation and transmission cooperative that provides essential electric service to 21 member cooperatives, Altus Air Force Base, and other power users. WFEC has been in existence for 75 years, and has grown into Oklahoma’s largest locally owned power supply system. WFEC was organized in 1941 when western Oklahoma rural electric distribution cooperatives found it necessary to secure an adequate power supply at rates farmers and rural industrial developers could afford.

On February 21, 1941, representatives of nine rural electric distribution cooperatives met in Oklahoma City to form a generation and transmission cooperative to be owned by the cooperatives it served. The incorporators provided for individual rural electric cooperatives to petition for membership. On April 25, 1941, the cooperative approved the membership of six cooperatives. These six members were joined by four other cooperatives later that year. 

In April 1942, Anadarko was chosen as the location for WFEC’s headquarters. Thirty acres of land was purchased just outside the northeastern city limits. In cooperation with the government, the Board of Trustees shut down construction at the start of World War II, and released the newly acquired generators to be used in the war effort “to aid in the defense of our country.” When the war ended, WFEC added an eleventh member, and after construction was complete, WFEC started producing power in 1950.

Generation resources and transmission investments are two key factors that allow WFEC to meet the supply demands of their distribution cooperatives, while keeping up with industry challenges and innovation. 

Providing a well diversified mix of generation resources helps ensure a reliable and economical power supply for WFEC members. WFEC resources include a coal-based power plant that produces low-cost, around-the-clock power. Also, a large portion of WFEC’s generation portfolio is supplied by natural gas units. Wind resources and hydropower allocations also make up a part of the overall energy mix, as well. This well balanced mix is generated through a combination of owned baseload, intermediate loaded  power plants and  peaking units in addition to purchases. 

With a focus on both the present and future power requirements of its members, WFEC continues to evaluate capacity needs. WFEC is properly positioned to maintain a reliable supply of electricity to its  member cooperatives well into the future. 

Transmission investments are also an essential and ongoing component of WFEC’s work plan. After all, it’s the transmission infrastructure that ensures dependable power delivery to member cooperatives throughout the state. 

Maintaining and/or improving reliability levels for both generation and transmission assets is a leading everyday priority. This alone indicates the importance of seeing that dependable service is carried out on a day-to-day basis.