Why we exist: Where it all began

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Posted on Feb 08 2026 in Decatur County REMC
In the 1930s, rural electric cooperatives were formed across the country by neighbors.
In the 1930s, rural electric cooperatives were formed across the country by neighbors.

BACK TO THE BASICS

This year, Decatur County REMC is launching a Back to the Basics series — a return to the fundamentals of who we are, why we exist, and what makes a cooperative different. In a world full of buzzwords and big promises, it’s worth pausing to remember the simple truth behind our work: we exist to serve our members. That’s Power with Purpose — then and now.

Before the lights flicked on in every farmhouse, school, and small business across rural Decatur County, life was… darker. Literally. Families relied on kerosene lamps, wood stoves, and manual labor to get through the day. Investor-owned utilities had little interest in extending power lines to rural areas. There weren’t enough customers, and there wasn’t enough profit. So rural communities were left behind.

Instead of accepting that reality, people did what they’ve always done best — they worked together.

In the 1930s, rural electric cooperatives were formed across the country by neighbors who pooled resources, shared risk, and built something the private market wouldn’t. These co-ops were created with a clear purpose: bring electricity to rural America and improve quality of life. Decatur County Rural Electric Membership Corporation was born from that same cooperative spirit.

In 2026, technology has advanced, but the purpose is the same.
In 2026, technology has advanced, but the purpose is the same.

Local farmers, families, and business owners came together as member-owners — not just customers. That distinction mattered then, and it still does today.

Electricity changed everything: homes became safer and more comfortable, farms became more productive, and communities gained the power needed to grow and thrive.

Fast forward to today, and the mission remains unchanged. DCREMC still exists to serve its members, not shareholders. We still reinvest locally, plan for the long term, and make decisions based on what’s best for the people who own this cooperative. Technology has advanced. Expectations have grown. But the purpose is the same.