Wood County Electric Cooperative

Wood County Electric Cooperative (WCEC) is a non-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Quitman, Texas. It was formed in 1938 by local leaders to bring electricity to rural East Texas, a region where power was then a rare luxury. With support from the federal Rural Electrification Agency, the co-op enrolled its first 1,100 members at $5 each and built its first 100 miles of power lines. Today WCEC serves more than 42,000 meters across nine counties in East Texas, maintaining over 5,354 miles of line. As a cooperative, it is owned by the members it serves and operates on a not-for-profit basis, returning margins to members. Its mission is to provide safe and reliable electric service while improving the communities where it operates. The co-op offers services including new service connections, new construction support, vegetation management, metering, and security light programs. It also operates Operation Round Up, a charitable program funded by members rounding up their bills. WCEC communicates with members through its website, a mobile app, outage texting, and the Texas Co-op Power Magazine. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors elected from the membership.

Wood County Electric Cooperative was established in 1938, when electric power was still a rare luxury in rural Texas. Local leaders formed the cooperative to make electricity a reality for residents, with the goal of providing affordable power. With support from the federal Rural Electrification Agency, the first leaders enrolled 1,100 members at $5 each. The co-op then built its first 100 miles of power lines to deliver electricity. Over the decades, WCEC expanded its service territory and infrastructure. By the late 1930s and beyond, it continued to grow, eventually serving more than 42,000 meters across nine counties in East Texas, with over 5,354 miles of line. As a member-owned, non-profit cooperative, it has remained focused on its mission of safe and reliable electric service and community improvement. The co-op operates programs such as Operation Round Up, which collects voluntary rounded-up contributions from members to support local charities. It also engages members through annual meetings, a board of directors, and publications like Texas Co-op Power Magazine.

• 1938

  Wood County Electric Cooperative founded by local leaders to bring electricity to rural East Texas.

• 1938

  First 1,100 members enrolled at $5 each with support from the federal Rural Electrification Agency.

• 1938

  First 100 miles of power lines built to deliver electricity.

Non-profit, member-owned electric cooperative focused on safe, reliable, and affordable power for rural East Texas.

• Residential electric service

• Commercial and industrial electric service

• New service connections

• Vegetation management

• Security lighting

• Metering services

1. 1Wood County Electric Cooperativewcec.org
2. 2Who We Are – Wood County Electric Cooperativewcec.org
3. 3Company Documents – Wood County Electric Cooperativewcec.org
4. 4Services – Wood County Electric Cooperativewcec.org
5. 5Wood County Electric Cooperativewikidata.org