Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative is an electric distribution utility serving over 30,700 members in portions of DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall and Cherokee counties. The cooperative is located in northeast Alabama and it purchases power from the Tennessee Valley Authority, who is currently the nation’s largest generator of electricity.

The cooperative was organized on March 25, 1940 for the benefit of providing electric service to the people in rural areas at the lowest cost possible, consistent with sound business practices. In addition, this cooperative is a working partner for economic and environmental growth in the communities it serves.  The service area covers over 990 square miles of territory in the northeast corner of Alabama including 19 incorporated towns.

A nine-member board of directors is the governing body of the cooperative. Directors are elected each year at annual meeting to a three-year term. A director must be a cooperative member and must reside in the district they serve.

The board of directors hires the general manager to oversee the day-to-day business of the cooperative. A total of 76 employees including the general manager and staff are responsible for the daily operation of this organization.

What is a Cooperative?

Cooperatives are businesses owned and controlled by the people who use them. Cooperatives differ from other businesses because they are member-owned and operate for the benefit of members, rather than earn profits for investors. Like other businesses, most cooperatives are incorporated under State law.

In the United States there are more than 40,000 cooperatives that serve one out of every four citizens. The cooperative business structure provides farm products and supplies, insurance, credit, health care, housing, telephone, electrical, transportation, child care, and utility services. Members use cooperatives to buy food, consumer goods, and business and production supplies. Farmers use cooperatives to market and process crops and livestock, purchase supplies and services, and to provide credit for their operations.

Cooperatives Are Organized To:

1. Improve bargaining power

2. Reduce costs

3. Obtain products or services otherwise unavailable

4. Expand new and existing market opportunities

5. Improve product or service quality

6. Increase income

Engineering/Operations

It is the intent of this section to familiarize members with co-op policies and procedures, as well as serve as a resource for questions regarding electrical service. The following information includes typical examples and charges to serve as guidelines (but not limited to).

It is recommended that all members contact the engineering department before construction begins for a new electrical service or an existing service upgrade.

The first step to establishing a new service with Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative (SMEC) is to come into the Rainsville office to apply for membership, which is $25.00 and pay a meter deposit that will be determined by our consumer accounts department. The membership and deposit must be paid prior to setting up a meeting with a field engineer. For those who already have a membership, a meter deposit is required for each meter that SMEC sets.

If there has never been electricity at the location where service is needed, please provide the meter number or map number of the closest neighbor to the location.

The maximum overhead service is 100 feet. If service is more than 100 feet, please make an appointment with a SMEC field engineer to determine if a pole must be set.