Manager's Message
POINT OF VIEW: Grateful to Give Back
From the desk of CEO & General Manager, Eddie Oldham
"We are grateful for the trust you place in us and for the opportunity we have to serve this community."
The Thanksgiving season is a natural time to reflect on what we’re grateful for and look for ways to help others. At Central Electric, that spirit of giving is not limited to one season. It is part of who we are as a cooperative and how we serve our communities throughout the year.
Our mission is safe, reliable and affordable power, but our purpose is people. That means serving our members with dependable electricity while also finding meaningful ways to support the communities we call home.
Throughout the year, our employees and members put the cooperative spirit into action by giving back to the communities we serve. From community service projects and partnerships with local organizations to Operation Round Up®, where participating members round up their monthly bills to help others in need, we’re proud of the difference we can make together.
We also invest in the future of our communities through classroom programs, scholarships and opportunities such as the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Whether we’re putting books in the hands of children, supporting local families or opening doors for students, these efforts reflect what being part of a cooperative is all about.
As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, giving back also means returning money to the members we serve. Each year, we track the amount of business each member does with the cooperative. After operating expenses are paid, remaining margins are allocated to members as capital credits. When the co-op’s financial condition allows, our Board of Directors may vote to retire a portion of those capital credits. Members then receive their share as a bill credit or check.
In 2026, Central Electric will retire capital credits for the 18th consecutive year. With this year’s retirement, more than $20 million will have been returned to our members over that period.
Capital credits are one of the many things that make the cooperative business model different. Instead of generating profits for outside investors or shareholders, we exist to serve you, our members.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m grateful for the trust you place in us and for the opportunity we have to serve this community. You are more than a customer. You are a member, an owner, and an important part of our cooperative.
From all of us at Central Electric, I wish you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Until next time,
