Our Annual Meeting is a chance to look back at what we have accomplished and where we are heading next.
Last year, we talked about completing major milestones. This year, I would like to talk about building on that strong foundation and preparing Jackson County REMC for the future.
Financials
Both our Electric and Fiber Divisions had another strong financial year in 2025, allowing us to continue investing in our systems while returning electric capital credits to our members.
Because we are your local and trusted member-owned cooperative, we are not trying to maximize profits for outside shareholders. Our job is to provide safe and reliable services at cost, while planning for the long term.
Electric Division highlights
In 2025, we invested $9.8 million in our electric distribution system, funded through a combination of operating cash and financing. The financing allowed us to purchase a much-needed digger truck and bucket truck — an investment of nearly $700,000 — to ensure our crews have the reliable equipment they need.
These investments will benefit our members for many years to come. Every pole replaced, every mile of line upgraded, and every piece of equipment we buy has one purpose — to improve overall safety and reliability.
To continue making those investments while keeping pace with rising costs, we completed a detailed review of both our wholesale power costs and the cost of providing electric service. As a result, our new retail rates became effective on April 1 of this year. The energy portion of the bill increased by $3.80 per 1,000 kWh used, and the monthly service charge increased by $5. However, members who enroll in paperless billing will receive a $2 monthly bill credit.
Fiber Division highlights
Broadband has quickly become just as essential as electricity for many families.
Every Jackson County REMC member now has access to our fiber-optic broadband network. Today, more than 13,600 subscribers rely on our fiber-optic network for work, education, healthcare, and staying connected. That is a responsibility we do not take lightly.
We are currently about 20% complete in upgrading the electronics across our fiber-optic network to the latest technology. These upgrades will allow us to offer speeds up to 6 Gbps, among the fastest around, all while improving reliability. Best of all, we have been able to fund this work without taking on any additional debt.
This is your fiber-optic network, and we are committed to providing the reliable service you have come to expect.
Jackson Solutions
In 2024, we started Jackson Solutions. Jackson Solutions exists because members asked us for products they could trust from a company they know.
The GenerLink transfer switch makes it easy and safe to connect your generator whenever you need it.
Our Honeywell security systems offer 24/7 professional monitoring with a user-friendly app so you can manage your home’s security right from your phone. We offer medical alerting, whole-home security, and camera monitoring. You can choose the level of protection that is right for you.
Change for Community
Investing in our communities is another important part of serving our members.
This year, we are excited to launch our Change for Community program. Through this voluntary program, members can round up their monthly electric bill to the next whole dollar. Even the smallest amount of change can make a big difference in funding grants for local charitable organizations and community projects throughout our service territory.
This is a great example of the Cooperative Principle – Concern for Community, and we are excited about the positive impact this program will have for years to come. We will be sharing more information about this new program in the coming months.
2026 storms
Once again, in 2026, we have had our share of severe weather. We know how frustrating it is when your power goes out or your internet stops working. We understand that every outage affects families, businesses, and daily life.
Many of our employees are members, and when storms roll through, they may also lose power or internet — yet they come to work knowing their neighbors are counting on them. Watching how our dedicated employees respond during storms reminds me of exactly what makes this cooperative special.
Whether it’s restoring power after a storm, expanding broadband capabilities, or investing in the next generation of our electric system, we are committed to making sure Jackson County REMC remains strong for decades to come.
Closing
At the end of the day, everything I have talked about tonight comes back to just one thing — serving our members. That is why we are here, and that is what we will continue to do.
Thank you for your trust and thank you for being a member of Jackson County REMC.
