At LaGrange County REMC, our story is deeply rooted in the values of cooperation, community, and commitment. As we continue to serve the members of LaGrange County, its important to reflect on how far we’ve come, why we were created, and the powerful benefits of being part of an electric cooperative.

In the 1930s, much of rural America still lacked access to electricity. Investor-owned utilities saw little profit in running power lines to sparsely populated areas, leaving rural communities quite literally in the dark. That’s when local citizens, with support from the federal Rural Electrification Administration, stepped up to form electric cooperatives, member-owned, not-for-profit organizations focused on serving the community rather than generating profits.

LaGrange County REMC was born out of that movement. We were founded in 1936 by neighbors who recognized that the only way to bring power to their farms, homes, and schools was to do it together. What began as a grassroots initiative soon transformed life in LaGrange County, spurring economic development, increasing safety, and improving quality of life.

WHAT MAKES A CO-OP DIFFERENT?

Unlike investor-owned utilities, LaGrange County REMC is owned by the people we serve — our members. This structure creates several important benefits:

Local control: Our board of directors is elected by and from our membership. That means decisions are made right here in LaGrange County, not in a corporate boardroom hundreds of miles away.

Not-for-profit model: We operate at cost. Any margins we earn are returned to members as capital credits. That’s money back in your pocket, not profits for shareholders.

Member focused: Every decision we make is driven by whats best for our members not investors. That includes keeping rates fair, maintaining reliable service, and investing in technologies that meet your needs.

Community commitment: As a local organization, we support local schools, economic development, and charitable initiatives. When LaGrange County succeeds, we succeed.

While our roots are in the past, our vision is firmly focused on the future. Were investing in electric grid upgrades to improve reliability and response times. We offer energy efficiency programs, rebates, and tools to help members manage their electricity consumption. And were proud of building a fiber-optic network from the ground up to provide broadband internet access to rural areas (currently supplying internet to more than 4,000 customers) because we believe in bridging todays digital divide just as we bridged the electric divide decades ago.

As we reflect on nearly 90 years of service, one thing remains constant: LaGrange County REMC exists because of you. Our members are our reason for being, and our mission will always be to serve with integrity, innovation, and care.

Thank you for your continued trust. Together, well keep powering a brighter future for LaGrange County.