Concho Valley Electric Cooperative

Concho Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. dedicates itself to the improvement of its members' lifestyle and the economic environment of its service area.

The Cooperative is committed to providing safe, reliable electric service at the lowest practical cost and to meeting the changing needs of its membership with a well-trained, quality work force and with the use of sound business practices.

CVEC was organized by this area's rural residents in May 1940 as a not-for-profit organization, owned by the members. The first General Manager was Carroll Land. Mr. Land hired employees and things got busy quickly. Eager for electricity, individuals signed up to be CVEC members, gladly paying their $5.00 membership fee. After engineering and staking took place, poles were set and the construction of lines began. The first meter energized was for Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mazur. The meter was energized in July 1941, and is located 2 3/4 miles south of Veribest.

CVEC's service area is divided into 6 nominating areas. Area nominating meetings are held each year in the respective districts where director's terms have expired. A member is nominated from that area, then voted upon at the annual meeting -- held in July of each year. Directors are elected for a 3 year term. The directors elect their own officers and employ a Chief Executive Officer to oversee the day-to-day operations of the cooperative. There have been only 6 CEO's since CVEC was organized: Carroll Land, Jack Webb, Alton Rollans, Weldon Gray, Sid Long, and Kelly Lankford, the present CEO. CVEC employees are responsible to the CEO, the CEO is responsible to the Board, and the Board is responsible to the total membership. As you can see, CVEC truly is: 'Member Owned By Those We Serve'.

CVEC has continued to grow over the years since that first meeting in 1940. We now have 61 employees, 6,266 members, over 14,000 connected meters, and a total of 4,287 miles of lines covering 4,175 square miles in 10 counties; Tom Green, Coke, Concho, Sterling, Mitchell, Nolan, Runnels, Glasscock, Irion, and Reagan. CVEC has assets of over $92 million, with over 295 million KWH sales annually.

Since CVEC is owned by the members and is not-for-profit, any margin of revenue remaining after expenses is allocated yearly to members as capital credits. These capital credits are paid to the members as CVEC's financial conditions permit. CVEC has refunded $6,287,864 to it's member-owners in capital credits.

CVEC construction, maintenance and service crews construct electric lines and operate and maintain the utility system. Automatic meters transmit readings to the cooperative. Administrative, monthly billing for electric service, corporate accounting, data processing, engineering, mapping and all other support functions are performed by cooperative personnel at the headquarters building located at 2530 Pulliam Street in San Angelo.

Today, many electric co-op consumers don't remember the first day electricity came to their homes. In fact, their electricity was probably already there when they moved in -- one of those automatic things like running water. It is our duty, as employees of the members to adapt to the changing world and its changing attitudes, to provide service that causes the member, young or old, to feel fortunate to be a part of a unique organization -- an electric cooperative -- specifically Concho Valley Electric Cooperative.

It takes each employee working with team effort and commitment to obtain and maintain, 'CVEC - Member Owned - We Care'.

Voluntary and Open Membership

Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

Members’ Economic Participation

Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

Autonomy and Independence

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

Education, Training, and Information

Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

Concern for Community

While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.