South Central Power Company Overview
South Central Power Company is a member-owned electric cooperative serving more than 125,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in 24 Ohio counties. We maintain more than 12,000 miles of energized power lines that traverse 24 counties in Ohio.
The Cooperative was founded in 1936 with the idea that by working together, we could improve the lives of those who live in our communities – both then and into the future. We are proud to be owned by the consumers that we serve, our members, who elect an 11-member Board of Trustees that govern the co-op.
The Board is tasked with:
Establishing policies
Reviewing co-op activities
Making essential decisions
Hiring a President and CEO who in turn hires a staff of employees to carry out the policies and operate and maintain the co-op’s lines and equipment.
Cooperative Principles
Cooperatives of all types and sizes abide by seven unifying principles,
which differentiate them from other types of companies:
Voluntary & open membership
Democratic member control
Member economic participation
Autonomy and independence
Education, training, and information
Cooperation among cooperatives
Concern for community
Mission & Vision
Vision
Our cooperative strives for organizational excellence. We will be recognized for our pursuit of a zero-injury workplace, dependable service, superior value, and as a strong partner in the communities we serve.
Mission:
Our cooperative exists to add value to the lives of our members by delivering safe and dependable service.
We Value
Integrity, professionalism, and accountability
Responsible financial management
Engaged employees
Health and safety of employees
Dependable service
Communication
Quality of life in the community
Annual Meeting & History
Typically held the third Thursday of August, the Annual Meeting is your opportunity to vote on any Code of Regulations amendments, learn the results of the Board of Trustees election, hear reports on co-op status and meet fellow members.
Founding and Early Years
In 1936, nine farmers from rural Fairfield, Perry and Pickaway counties came together with the idea that an electric cooperative could serve the needs of rural communities in central and southern Ohio, providing electricity at a not-for-profit basis and at a reasonable cost. The cooperative held its first board meeting in May, 1936, with new members paying a $5 membership fee, and the cooperative set its first pole in Fairfield County in September 1936, allowing the cooperative to begin providing power to 288 members at Christmas of that year, when the first lines were energized.
World War II delayed the cooperative’s progress, but soon after, the cooperative opened a new office in Circleville, and was able to expand its territory by purchasing Guinsler Electric, bringing in consumers in Perry County and Junction City, as well as shares in what was then the Ohio-Midland Light and Power Company in the Canal Winchester area.
Growth and Expansion
By the 1950s, the cooperative saw sales growing up to 10% each year, and for the first time, the company’s lines were serving more than farmers.
Commercial and industrial growth moved into the cooperative’s service territory.
This brought new opportunities for the communities.
Fostered a culture of service excellence still upheld today.
The 1960s brought more change and growth – the size of the Cooperative doubled after the eventual merger with Ohio-Midland in 1962 and increased by 50 percent again following merger with Intra-County Electric in the Hillsboro area. In 1978, the cooperative’s financial position had matured to a point where members received patronage capital, or a refund of a portion of their capital credits previously paid to the organization, a practice the cooperative still routinely continues to this day.
Modern Evolution and Diversification
In the 1990s, the cooperative merged with Belmont Electric in the Barnesville area, stretching the cooperative’s service territory from nearly one end of the state to the other, from just outside of Cincinnati, to the southern suburbs and major commercial areas of Columbus, including the Rickenbacker International Airport, to the banks of the Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia.
Today, the Cooperative has diversified offerings that go beyond our electric service – from a home security division to fiber internet. The cooperative invests in these services to stay true to our mission of adding value to our members, bridging the digital divide that exists between urban and rural communities, and helping to deliver a brighter tomorrow.
Partnerships & Additional Information
In 1959, South Central and the other electric distribution cooperatives in Ohio formed Buckeye Power Inc. as a non-profit generation and transmission cooperative. This process guaranteed a source of affordable power for cooperative members. Today, Buckeye Power owns more than 2250 megawatts of power generation capacity fueled by coal and natural gas and another 88 megawatts of renewable power generation from wind, hydro and bio-digester projects.
South Central is also a member of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.