We have come a long way from kerosene lanterns providing light for homes and barns, laundry being done by hand, milking cows by hand, pumping water for our family, cooking and baking on hot wood cookstoves, and the tradition of filling that old metal tub close to that wood stove for Saturday night bath time!
As time marched on some farmers installed their own Delco power-generating units, which provided only enough power for a few light bulbs. Others were lucky enough to live along the main power lines of the giant utilities and were "allowed" to purchase electricity.
On May 11, 1935, in the middle of the depression, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed executive order number 7037 - Rural Electrification Administration was born. The Norris-Rayburn Bill, known as the REA Act, was signed into law on May 20, 1936.
On Wednesday afternoon, June 15, 1938, the first energy substation in south Lancaster was energized, sending the first electricity surging through the wires of the Grant County Cooperative which allowed their first customer, the Clinton Baker family, to flip that switch for the first time!
A poem in the March 1941 issue of the Wisconsin REA News captures some of the wonder and excitement of "the day the lights came on." (Author identified only as F.W.Y.)
Cooperative Advantages
- Built upon the seven principles that follow:
- Voluntary and open membership
- Democratic member control
- Members' economic participation
- Autonomy and independence
- Education, training, and information
- Cooperation among cooperatives
- Concern for the community
- Capital credits - margins (profits) returned to members as capital credits
- Community safety program and ads
- Electric heat recommendations
- Off-peak electric heat rates
- Emergency Telephone Response System
- Energy efficient lighting program
- Investments are made within our core business and businesses directly related to enhance the quality of life
- Local presence in the communities we serve
- Member-owned business where all persons receiving electric service from us are members of the cooperative
- Members of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's Statewide Energy Efficiency Initiative. This program offers incentives to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control the state's growing demand for electricity and natural gas
- Not-for-profit, charging competitive rates and returning capital credits to our member-owners
- Options for paying electric bills
- Collection drop boxes at Piggly Wiggly
- Budget Billing
- Direct Pay
- Credit Cards/NCO
- Rebates and incentives
- Reliable service but, when in a time of need we offer a 24/7/365 call in center and on-call lineman allowing a quick response
- Rental or sale of security lights
- Response rate to service orders is contact within 24 hours
- Specialized resources with expertise in several areas including energy audits and power quality
- Stray voltage monitoring
- Tree trimming & cutting (if near power lines)
- Voltage monitoring (i.e. blinking lights)
- Water heater program
- We have access for loans through Dairyland Power Cooperative for businesses building on our lines.
- All of the above along with various other advantages
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