About Menard Electric Cooperative
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| Menard Electric Cooperative (MEC) is a
member-owned and controlled utility that provides
electricity and associated services at cost to its consumer
members.
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| MEC was established by rural pioneers in 1936 with the
assistance of the Rural Electrification Administration. |
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| Cooperatives like MEC brought electricity to rural areas
that the investor-owned utilities wouldn't serve, turning on
the lights for farmers and rural residents. |
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August 7 1937, is a major date in your cooperative's
history for on that day electricity flowed through the first
116 miles of line that served 348 member-owners.
Over 70 years later, electric cooperatives like MEC are
the primary provider of electricity in the rural areas of
downstate Illinois. |
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Cooperatives no longer serve just farmers in the diverse
rural area - today MEC serves small businesses and
industries, farms, residences, cabins and recreational
homes. Because electricity was available, rural areas have
developed.
MEC is one of more than 950 electric cooperatives
nationwide, providing services to member-owners at cost.
Currently, MEC receives primary financing through the Rural
Utility Service of the Department of Agriculture. |
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MEC is governed by a unique form of
democracy. Consumer-members, the owners of the cooperative,
control it through the election of nine directors who
represent districts throughout the cooperative's service
territory. Local control through an elected board of
directors ensures all members an equal voice in the
operation of their electric supply system. The one
member - one vote concept is not only a right of all MEC
members....it's a responsibility
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| Year End
2009 |
| Number of members served |
10,488 |
| Miles of energized line |
2,582 |
| Consumers per mile of line |
4 |
| Average residential monthly kWh usage |
1,059 |
| Number of local area employees |
34 |
| Total utility plant |
$50,187,098 |
| Source of wholesale power |
Prairie Power, Inc. |
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