Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative

On November 10, 1937, 21 men of Sedgwick County signed the Articles of Incorporation for a rural electric company. On November 18, 1937 the Kansas Secretary of State signed the charter forming The Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative, Inc.

The first home of the corporation was in Goddard, Kansas. The board was made up of seven members: Albert D. Wise, Clearwater; Charles Hornecker, Wichita; Joe McQuillan, Clearwater; E.A. McCormick, Wichita; R.W. McClure, Colwich; D.W. Brown, Valley Center; and C.M. Sandusky, Wichita.

The first Project Superintendent, known today as the General Manager, was Lloyd V. Decker. Mr. Decker helped secure the cooperative's first loan from the R.E.A. (Rural Electrification Administration) of $222,000.00. This loan was to build 184 miles of line designated as 'A' section.

One hundred thirty five stockholders were present at the first annual meeting at Goddard City Hall on January 18, 1939.

By August 1939, 'A' section was complete and 240 customers had electricity. The average consumption rate during August was 41.8 kWh. In 1941, The Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative, Inc., had lines reaching into the four surrounding counties of Sumner, Reno, Harvey, and Kingman.

The scarcity  of materials in 1941 and the National Defense Program prompted the board 'to continue our present lines rather than to extend into new territory, and that applications for line extensions will be accepted only if they will not jeopardize service on existing lines and subject to conditions arising from the National Defense Program.'

The board decided to move the headquarters in 1946, to Cheney, Kansas. Lack of available housing in Goddard was noted as the reason for the move. Line construction was also once again underway with sections 'C' and 'D'.

In 1947, the stock of the company was retired and the cooperative concept as we know it today was put in place.

By April, 1949, with sections 'F' and 'G' completed and energized, the cooperative had 90% of all farms within its territory connected. There were almost 700 miles of line, serving more than 1,300 farms.

The first capital credit checks were mailed on November 28, 1955. There were 201 checks totaling $3,234.97.

In July of 1965, the board approved the purchase of land from Robert John Brown. The land was to be used for the co-op's first substation. Construction on the Cheney substation began in 1966.

Having been located in Kansas, there have been many storms in our past. A sleet storm in December 1944 knocked out 41 of our poles. Wind and lightning storms of July 1948 caused major flooding and serious damage to our lines. Lines were damaged by farm buildings and trees that were blown through our lines. When this particular storm was over and the lines all repaired, Mrs. Loren Elliott of Colwich wrote the following poem of appreciation.