First Electric Cooperative
| Company type | Non-profit cooperative |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric utility |
| Founded | April 26, 1937 in Jacksonville, Arkansas, United States |
| Headquarters | Jacksonville , United States |
Area served | Portions of 18 counties in central and southeastern Arkansas |
| Products | Electricity distribution |
Number of employees | 3 (at founding) (1938) |
First Electric Cooperative is a non-profit rural electric utility cooperative located in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Established on April 26, 1937, it holds the distinction of being Arkansas' inaugural electric cooperative formed under the federal Rural Electrification Act of 1935. The cooperative energized its initial power lines near Jacksonville on April 15, 1938, starting with three staff members and serving 150 members.
Serving portions of 18 counties in central and southeastern Arkansas, First Electric's primary headquarters in Jacksonville is complemented by district offices situated in Bryant, Heber Springs, Perryville, and Stuttgart. Each district office manages service for designated counties: Bryant oversees Garland, Grant, southern Pulaski, and Saline counties; Heber Springs covers Cleburne, Independence, Stone, and White counties; Jacksonville manages Faulkner, Lonoke, Prairie, northern Pulaski, and White counties; Perryville supervises Conway, Perry, western Pulaski, and Yell counties; Stuttgart is responsible for Arkansas, Jefferson, Lonoke, Monroe, and Prairie counties.
As reported in July 2023, First Electric maintains 10,373 miles of distribution lines supported by 50 substations and provides electricity to over 103,440 member accounts. It ranks as the second-largest rural electric cooperative within Arkansas and stands among the top 30 of approximately 900 rural electric cooperatives across the United States.
First Electric is affiliated with the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC), a generation and distribution cooperative headquartered in Little Rock that delivers wholesale power to First Electric along with 16 other cooperatives throughout Arkansas. Additionally, it is a member of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, representing more than 900 not-for-profit rural electric cooperatives nationwide.
The cooperative emphasizes fuel diversity by maintaining a balanced energy mix that includes renewable sources, nuclear energy, natural gas, and clean coal. This strategy supports the provision of cost-effective and dependable electricity to its members.
Community service
Among First Electric's community programs are Operation Round-Up, a mission initiative in Guatemala, college scholarship offerings, and an annual youth tour to Washington, D.C.
The Guatemala mission involves contributions of materials, labor, and financial support from the cooperative. Since its inception in 2013, the project has extended electrical service to more than 450 residents in rural areas. In 2018, linemen returned to assist with constructing electric distribution systems and training local personnel.
Operation Round-Up enables members to round their monthly bills up to the nearest dollar. The accumulated funds form a trust overseen by a nine-member board appointed by First Electric’s directors. Since 1998, this program has distributed over $1.07 million to nonprofit organizations and granted more than $100,000 in scholarships for college students.