Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association

Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association (CCECA) is a member-owned, non-profit electric cooperative headquartered in Rusk, Texas, serving rural communities across East Texas. It was incorporated in July 1938 by a group of local leaders — R.R. Banks and C.E. Smith of Rusk, Ras R. Martin of Troup, H.W. Walker of Bullard, Grady Dial of Forest, T.B. Acker of Maydelle, and A.M. Jordan of Reklaw — at a time when Texas cities already had electricity but rural farms and ranches remained without power. The cooperative brought electric service to those farms, ranches, and communities, and has operated continuously for more than 80 years. As a cooperative, CCECA is owned by the members it serves rather than by shareholders, and it is organized on a non-profit basis geared toward people rather than profit. Its service territory spans Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Rusk, and Smith counties. According to the cooperative, it operates over 3,500 miles of electric and fiber line, serves more than 17,500 members, and maintains over 25,540 active meters, with roughly 6.1 meters per mile of line. It employs about 98 people. Beyond electricity, CCECA has expanded into broadband, delivering high-speed fiber internet with the same member-centric approach as its electric business. The cooperative reports more than 10,000 broadband subscribers, a milestone it highlighted in 2026. Member services include bill pay, outage management, start/stop/transfer of service, capacity changes, outdoor lighting, vegetation management, solar/distributed generation interconnection, and various reports and forms such as member policies, a member handbook, and bylaws. CCECA is locally led and governed by its membership, holding an annual meeting and engaging members through a mobile app and social media. Its stated mission is to provide dependable electric service and strengthen the communities it serves.

In the 1930s, Texas cities had enjoyed the benefits of electricity for decades, but rural towns remained in the dark. In July 1938, the electric cooperative that would become Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association (CCECA) brought power to the farms, ranches, and communities across East Texas. The cooperative was incorporated by several key local leaders: Mr. R.R. Banks of Rusk, TX; Mr. C.E. Smith of Rusk, TX; Mr. Ras R. Martin of Troup, TX; Mr. H.W. Walker of Bullard, TX; Mr. Grady Dial of Forest, TX; Mr. T.B. Acker of Maydelle, TX; and Mr. A.M. Jordan of Reklaw, TX. They started the cooperative from zero. By definition, a cooperative is people working or acting together willingly for a common purpose. CCECA is a non-profit, people-owned organization geared not toward profit but toward people — the members it serves. Over more than 80 years, the cooperative grew to operate over 3,500 miles of line, serve over 17,500 members, and maintain over 25,540 active meters across Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Rusk, and Smith counties. In recent years, CCECA expanded beyond electricity into broadband, delivering high-speed fiber internet with the same member-centric approach. The cooperative reported reaching 10,000 broadband subscribers. It continues to be locally led and member-owned, providing dependable electric service and strengthening the communities it calls home.

• 2026

  CCECA announced reaching 10,000 broadband subscribers.

• 1938

  CCECA incorporated in July 1938 by local leaders, bringing electricity to rural East Texas.

A locally led, member-owned non-profit cooperative providing dependable electric service and community-strengthening broadband across rural East Texas.

• Electric service

  Residential and rural electricity distribution across Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Rusk, and Smith counties.

• Fiber broadband internet

  High-speed fiber internet delivered with a member-centric approach.

• CCECA mobile app

  App for paying bills, viewing usage, reporting outages, and staying informed.

1. 1Homecceca.net
2. 2Who We Are – Cherokee County Electric Cooperativecceca.net
3. 3Member Services – Cherokee County Electric Cooperativecceca.net
4. 4Reports & Forms – Cherokee County Electric Cooperativecceca.net
5. 5Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Associationwikidata.org