Our Mission
Provide safe, reliable, affordable, and innovative power solutions through empowering our people and commitment to the Cooperative Principles.
Our Vision
Powering prosperity in Southside Virginia through community enrichment and a trusted power-delivery experience.
SEC is Here For You
“SEC’s promise is to work each day to strengthen the partnership with our member-owners and the communities we power. Together, we will keep Southside Virginia a growing and vibrant place.”
Jason Loehr
President and CEO
About SEC
58535
Connections
8441
Miles of Power Lines
18
Counties in Virginia
Service Territory
LEGEND
- District 1
- District 2
- District 3
What's my district?
Understanding the Seven Cooperative Principles
1. Open and Voluntary Membership
Membership in a cooperative is open to all people who can reasonably use its services and stand willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, regardless of race, religion, gender, or economic circumstances.
2. Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Representatives (directors/trustees) are elected among the membership and are accountable to them. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote); cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.
3. Members’ Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the cooperative. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative; setting up reserves; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
4. Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control as well as their unique identity.
5. Education, Training, and Information
Education and training for members, elected representatives (directors/trustees), CEOs, and employees help them effectively contribute to the development of their cooperatives. Communications about the nature and benefits of cooperatives, particularly with the general public and opinion leaders, help boost cooperative understanding.
6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives
By working together through local, national, regional, and international structures, cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies, and deal more effectively with social and community needs.
7. Concern for Community
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by the membership.
The History of Electric Cooperatives Video
SEC Affiliates
Power Supplier – ODEC
The electricity that REC distributes to its members is supplied by Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC)
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
As the national service organization that represents America’s electric cooperatives, NRECA works to empower co-ops and to help ensure their long-term success.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cooperative is an organization that is owned by those who receive its services. An electric cooperative produces and/or distributes electrical power to its members across a designated geographic area.
Generation/transmission cooperatives produce electricity using a variety of sources, including coal, natural gas, nuclear power, and renewables, and sell it to distribution cooperatives.
A local example is Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, which produces electricity and sells it at wholesale rates to distribution cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, including Southside Electric Cooperative. These cooperatives then distribute the electricity to their members. SEC does not produce electricity.
America has about 900 generation/transmission and distribution electric cooperatives. Operating in more rural areas, electric cooperatives serve 42 million Americans in 48 states.
SEC was founded in 1937 as part of a nationwide effort to power rural parts of America. SEC is headquartered in Crewe and has district offices in Altavista, Crewe, Dinwiddie, and Powhatan.
A not-for-profit, member-owned energy provider, SEC exists to provide safe, reliable, affordable and innovative electricity to its members and to enhance the quality of life in the communities it serves. Over 8,441 miles of line, SEC provides electricity to homes, farms and businesses in portions of 18 counties: Amelia, Appomattox, Bedford, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George and Sussex; six towns: Altavista, Blackstone, Crewe, Hurt, Kenbridge and South Hill; and the city of Petersburg. The Cooperative has 47,906 members with 58,535 active services.
Those who receive electricity from SEC are member-owners of the Cooperative. That is a special designation and affords them certain opportunities, including running for and electing the Board of Directors at the late-September annual meeting. SEC’s board is composed solely of member-owners.
One of the unique advantages of being a SEC member is capital credits. Unlike other businesses that return excess revenue to shareholders, at SEC, revenue left after expenses are paid, called margins, is returned to the members at the end of each year.
A nine-member Board of Directors leads SEC. Directors serve three-year terms. A chief executive officer and executive team oversees daily operations at SEC and carries out policies of the board. SEC employs about 140 people. SEC’s directors, executives, and employees live in the communities that receive electricity.
Certain principles are at the heart of SEC’s foundation and help guide decisions and the provision of electricity to members. These Seven Cooperative Principles are: Open and Voluntary Membership; Democratic Member Control; Members’ Economic Participation; Autonomy and Independence; Education, Training and Information; Cooperation Among Cooperatives; and Concern for Community.
- SEC was started by residents who wanted to improve their communities by having electricity. That commitment to enhance their communities remains integral to SEC today.
- SEC sponsors events that residents and visitors enjoy, and the cooperative makes financial donations to groups working to improve quality of life.
- SEC employees get involved in their communities, spending nearly 300 hours in 2022 volunteering during work time.
- SEC takes students to Washington, D.C., through the nationally acclaimed Youth Tour program to experience the federal government and see many of the national capital’s attractions.
- The Cooperative’s Southside Opportunity Fund has provided 171 scholarships totaling $199,000 since 2016 to high school graduates in SEC’s service area.
- Looking out for communities, SEC hosts students at its offices for a popular career program, Day in the Life of a Lineworker, and participates in school and community job fairs.
- SEC funds and provides instructors for the Power Line Worker Training School and supports local governments as they work to recruit new jobs to their communities.
Call (800) 552-2118 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and talk to a member service representative. A wealth of information, including tips for storm preparation and ways to reduce your electric bill, can be found on our website. Keep an eye on social media channels for SEC posts.
SEC is committed to keeping the power flowing to members. Crews do that by having an active vegetation management program, maintaining and installing new equipment, and responding to members. However, there is no way to prevent every power outage.
If you have an outage, text or call (866) 878-5514. SEC crews work as safely and quickly as possible to get power restored. They do not stop until every member has electricity.