Farmers and rural residents organized the first rural electric cooperatives in the 1930s as a means to receive electric power. In those days, private power companies found providing electricity to such sparsely populated areas just too expensive. With the help of the Rural Electrification Act, signed by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, cooperative leaders borrowed funds from the Rural Electrification Administration to finance the construction of power lines and the purchase of electric power for rural people.

Howard Electric Cooperative was incorporated in 1936 to serve member-consumers in Howard County. Today Howard Electric also serves consumers in southeastern Chariton County, southern Randolph County and northwestern Boone County. Howard Electric is one of 41 distribution cooperatives in Missouri.

As a cooperative, Howard Electric operates on a non-profit basis. All revenue above the cost of doing business (margins) is assigned to the members under a patronage refund plan called capital credits. The cooperative assigned capital credits annually and keeps a careful record of each member's investment in the co-op.

HOW YOUR CO-OP WORKS

What is an Electric Cooperative?

An electric cooperative in an organization formed by a group of people for the purpose of providing electric service in an area which, for many reasons, did not attract an investor owned utility…

How do we get our power?

How does Howard Electric Cooperative receive power to meet the electric demands of its member-owners?  Howard Electric is one of 41 rural electric distribution cooperatives in Missouri.  We purchase electricity from Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (AECI), a generation cooperative which is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri.  AECI then transfers the electricity to six transmission cooperatives including Central Electric Power Cooperative, located in Jefferson City, Missouri.  Central Electric Power Cooperative then brings the electricity to the substations, which feed the lines of Howard Electric, so it can be distributed to you – the member-owners.

What are the advantages of being a member?

Howard Electric Cooperative is equally owned by its members, and being a member of Howard Electric Cooperative has many benefits!  One of which is having a say in how the Cooperative operates.  You can exercise your rights as a member-owner at HEC’s Annual Membership meeting held each year in June.  Your participation and input at the annual meeting is vital to the continued success of your cooperative.  It’s an important way to ensure that HEC will continue to not only meet your expectations, but exceed them in every way possible.