Much has changed since May 18, 1938 when the Cooperative was first organized by rural residents of Coles and Moultrie counties, but the goals and interests of those early leaders are still important today. The delivery of reliable and affordable electrical energy to meet the needs of our members is still our primary objective.

Prior to May 18, 1938, attempts had been made to bring electrical energy to the sparsely populated rural areas, but were mostly unsuccessful. The existing power companies were mainly investor-owned utilities that were not interested in building the lines into the rural areas where only a few farmsteads per mile would use minimal amounts of electricity and where profits for stockholders would be hard to achieve. An individual rural resident had to either pay for the cost of installing the lines, or be fortunate to live near an existing line, in order to receive service. Under the terms of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, rural residents and farmers could join together to form electric cooperatives and borrow funds from the Rural Electrification Administration (R.E.A.) for the purpose of constructing electrical lines and facilities.

With the leadership of farm advisors Paul Krows and W. S. Myers, and the support of the Moultrie and Coles County Farm Bureaus, Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative was formed and incorporated. Three men from Moultrie County-John G. Waggoner, Carl McKown and Austin Shields- were named to serve on the incorporating board of directors with C. I. Campbell, Walter Daily, Lillian Cottingham and Leland Hallock from Coles County.

The initial loan from R.E.A. was for $355,000 to be used to build 338 miles of lines to serve 753 members in Coles and Moultrie Counties. The desire to have electricity was so great that many members cleared rights-of way and helped set poles in order to get the lines built more quickly. Those lines were first energized on October 20, 1939.

Today, Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative (CMEC) has more than 9,500 members and an electrical distribution system stretching more than 1,900 miles, with a net utility plant value of more than $54, 000,000. Members are served in Clark, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Piatt and Shelby Counties in addition to the two original Counties of Moultrie and Coles. We provide electrical service to more than 8,000 residential members, 850 small commercial members, and large commercial members such as Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, manufacturing facilities such as Mattoon Precision, Inc. and Mid-State Tank Company, plus educational facilities such as Lake Land College and the Arland D. Williams, Jr. School in Mattoon.

A 7-member board of directors represents the members of the cooperative. Each director has a term of three years and must reside within the boundaries of his or her respective district.

We have 30 local employees and annually pay more than $13,000 in property taxes to the counties we serve. Our annual total direct and indirect tax payments to local, state and federal units of government exceed $920,000.

We have repaid our debt to the R.E.A. (now known as RUS) in the amount of $10,667,536 in principal and $4,450,002 in interest and are no longer borrowers of RUS.

As a not-for-profit cooperative, all margins are allocated to our members in the form of capital credits that are paid as the financial condition of the cooperative allows, and as the board of directors determine.

CMEC is an active and integral part of the community we serve. We remain committed to the same goals and interests set forth by those early leaders-the delivery of reliable and affordable electrical energy to meet the needs of our members.

CMEC believes that no function is of greater importance than the safety and health of our employees, members/consumers, and the general public.  We believe that no operating condition or urgency of service can ever justify the destruction of property or the endangerment of life.

INDOOR SAFETY

• Never use electric appliances close to water.
• Walk through your home and search for potential electric hazards. Many hazards are easily identified and corrected.
• Never put items into electric outlets that are not intended for them.
• Make sure electric outlets aren’t overloaded.
• Check all electric and extension cords to make sure they aren’t cracked, frayed, or covered by rugs or furniture.
• Use the correct wattage light bulb for lighting fixtures.
• Keep electric appliances away from damp or hot surfaces, and make sure they have appropriate air circulation.
• Signs of potential hazards that should be examined by a qualified electrician include dim or flickering lights, arcs or sparks, sizzling or buzzing sounds from your electric systems, odors, switch plates hot to the touch, loose plugs and damaged insulation.

OUTDOOR SAFETY

• Never use electric power tools in the rain or wet conditions.
• Electric lawnmowers should never be used when grass is wet.
• Inspect power tools and electric lawn mowers before use for frayed power cords, broken housings or broken plugs.
• When using tools or extension cords outdoors, make sure they are marked for outdoor use.
• Unplug all portable power tools when not in use. Don’t leave power tools unattended, even briefly.
• Metal ladders conduct electricity. Be aware of overhead wires and power lines.
• Stay away from electric utility equipment and substations.
• If you see a downed power line, stay away from it, then call 911.
• Contact Coles-Moultrie at 217-235-0341 or toll free at 888-661-2632 if you know about a fallen or leaning power pole.

BEFORE YOU DIG, CALL 811

At least 48 hours before you plan to dig on your property for any reason, call 811 to find out if there are underground utility lines in your work area. CMEC will be contacted in order to locate primary power lines nearby. If you outline the excavation area in white paint beforehand, it will help our representative to find the dig site.

CMEC will identify the location of all power lines connected to meters. You’re responsible for locating any power lines that go from the meter to your home or other buildings.

BE PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER

The Coles-Moultrie region is within an area prone to thunderstorms and other severe weather conditions, such as tornadoes and flash floods. When you know the risks and what actions to take, you can better protect your family and property.

THUNDERSTORMS

• Unplug electronic equipment before the storm arrives.
• Avoid contact with corded phones and devices, including those plugged in for recharging.
• Unplug appliances and other electric items such as computers, and turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.
• Avoid contact with plumbing and bathroom fixtures. They can conduct electricity.
• Stay away from windows and doors and stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.
• Avoid natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area.
• Avoid hilltops, open fields, the beach or a boat on the water.
• Avoid contact with anything metal — tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf carts, golf clubs and bicycles.

FREEZING WEATHER

• Have your heating system inspected by a qualified service professional once a year. This inspection should include cleaning and lubrication, replacing filters, checking belts and thermostats and clearing vents of obstructions, as necessary.
• Turn off and unplug electric blankets if not in use. Never tuck in electric blankets.
• Use electric products only for their intended purposes. Hair dryers and space heaters, for example, aren’t intended to thaw frozen pipes, dry clothing or warm bedding.
• Keep flammable materials, such as bedding, clothing, drapes, furniture or rugs, a minimum of 3 feet from portable electric heaters, even ones with safety features such as cut-off switches or heating element guards.
• Don’t use space heaters where children may be unsupervised.
• Turn off and unplug space heaters when they’re not in use.

FLOODING

• Make sure the electric circuit breakers or fuses are clearly marked for each area of your home or business.
• If high water is approaching and the floor is dry, turn off the electricity at the main circuit breaker or fuse box.
• Unplug appliances — but again, only if you don’t have to stand in water. If possible, move larger appliances such as washing machines to a higher floor, or place them on concrete blocks.
• If you use a generator, only connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home’s electric system.
• Don’t go into any room or basement if water is covering appliance cords that are plugged in or if water has reached the wall outlets.
• Don’t enter a room if you hear popping or buzzing, or if you see sparks.
• If you see downed power lines, call Coles-Moultrie or 911. Be careful around downed tree limbs. They can conduct electricity from wet or broken power lines.
• Remain a safe distance from all ground-level electric boxes to avoid a hazard.
• Before entering a flooded building or basement, make certain the electricity is off.
• If the electric panel is covered by water, the resident or business should contact an electrician to determine the safety of the unit.

CMEC believes that no function is of greater importance than the safety and health of our employees, members/consumers, and the general public.  We believe that no operating condition or urgency of service can ever justify the destruction of property or the endangerment of life.

INDOOR SAFETY

• Never use electric appliances close to water.
• Walk through your home and search for potential electric hazards. Many hazards are easily identified and corrected.
• Never put items into electric outlets that are not intended for them.
• Make sure electric outlets aren’t overloaded.
• Check all electric and extension cords to make sure they aren’t cracked, frayed, or covered by rugs or furniture.
• Use the correct wattage light bulb for lighting fixtures.
• Keep electric appliances away from damp or hot surfaces, and make sure they have appropriate air circulation.
• Signs of potential hazards that should be examined by a qualified electrician include dim or flickering lights, arcs or sparks, sizzling or buzzing sounds from your electric systems, odors, switch plates hot to the touch, loose plugs and damaged insulation.

OUTDOOR SAFETY

• Never use electric power tools in the rain or wet conditions.
• Electric lawnmowers should never be used when grass is wet.
• Inspect power tools and electric lawn mowers before use for frayed power cords, broken housings or broken plugs.
• When using tools or extension cords outdoors, make sure they are marked for outdoor use.
• Unplug all portable power tools when not in use. Don’t leave power tools unattended, even briefly.
• Metal ladders conduct electricity. Be aware of overhead wires and power lines.
• Stay away from electric utility equipment and substations.
• If you see a downed power line, stay away from it, then call 911.
• Contact Coles-Moultrie at 217-235-0341 or toll free at 888-661-2632 if you know about a fallen or leaning power pole.

BEFORE YOU DIG, CALL 811

At least 48 hours before you plan to dig on your property for any reason, call 811 to find out if there are underground utility lines in your work area. CMEC will be contacted in order to locate primary power lines nearby. If you outline the excavation area in white paint beforehand, it will help our representative to find the dig site.

CMEC will identify the location of all power lines connected to meters. You’re responsible for locating any power lines that go from the meter to your home or other buildings.

BE PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER

The Coles-Moultrie region is within an area prone to thunderstorms and other severe weather conditions, such as tornadoes and flash floods. When you know the risks and what actions to take, you can better protect your family and property.

THUNDERSTORMS

• Unplug electronic equipment before the storm arrives.
• Avoid contact with corded phones and devices, including those plugged in for recharging.
• Unplug appliances and other electric items such as computers, and turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.
• Avoid contact with plumbing and bathroom fixtures. They can conduct electricity.
• Stay away from windows and doors and stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.
• Avoid natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area.
• Avoid hilltops, open fields, the beach or a boat on the water.
• Avoid contact with anything metal — tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf carts, golf clubs and bicycles.

FREEZING WEATHER

• Have your heating system inspected by a qualified service professional once a year. This inspection should include cleaning and lubrication, replacing filters, checking belts and thermostats and clearing vents of obstructions, as necessary.
• Turn off and unplug electric blankets if not in use. Never tuck in electric blankets.
• Use electric products only for their intended purposes. Hair dryers and space heaters, for example, aren’t intended to thaw frozen pipes, dry clothing or warm bedding.
• Keep flammable materials, such as bedding, clothing, drapes, furniture or rugs, a minimum of 3 feet from portable electric heaters, even ones with safety features such as cut-off switches or heating element guards.
• Don’t use space heaters where children may be unsupervised.
• Turn off and unplug space heaters when they’re not in use.

FLOODING

• Make sure the electric circuit breakers or fuses are clearly marked for each area of your home or business.
• If high water is approaching and the floor is dry, turn off the electricity at the main circuit breaker or fuse box.
• Unplug appliances — but again, only if you don’t have to stand in water. If possible, move larger appliances such as washing machines to a higher floor, or place them on concrete blocks.
• If you use a generator, only connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home’s electric system.
• Don’t go into any room or basement if water is covering appliance cords that are plugged in or if water has reached the wall outlets.
• Don’t enter a room if you hear popping or buzzing, or if you see sparks.
• If you see downed power lines, call Coles-Moultrie or 911. Be careful around downed tree limbs. They can conduct electricity from wet or broken power lines.
• Remain a safe distance from all ground-level electric boxes to avoid a hazard.
• Before entering a flooded building or basement, make certain the electricity is off.
• If the electric panel is covered by water, the resident or business should contact an electrician to determine the safety of the unit.