Southeastern Indiana Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) was formed in April 1939 by a handful of rural residents who wanted to have the electric conveniences their city neighbors had experienced for decades. A loan of $200,000 from the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) program was used to build 240 miles of distribution line in 1939. By the end of 1939, the REMC had 290 members with electricity. A membership fee of $4.00 was charged to anyone wanting electricity in the rural area. Families would painstakingly set aside bread money to purchase a washing machine, an iron, or a reading lamp. Members who did not have the money for the fee would help crews dig holes for the electric poles or string wire, in exchange for the membership fee. The REMC coverage area spans all or parts of seven counties, including Dearborn, Franklin, Jefferson, Jennings, Ripley, Ohio, and Switzerland counties. It is ranked the second largest cooperative in the state of Indiana. The REMC has had five General Managers since 1939. Frank Ratts was General Manager from 1939 to 1962, Cranor Smith was General Manager from 1962 to 1971, Dean Veatch was General Manager from 1971 to 1991, Robert Mackey was General Manager from 1991 to 2014, and Bryan K. Mathews is the current General Manager. Some of our biggest challenges include:
Restoring electricity in a timely manner when the electricity goes off;
Constructing distribution electric lines in hard to reach places;
Drilling holes in areas where it’s mostly rock;
Funding line extensions and replacing aging lines;
Collecting money from people who don’t pay their electric bill;
Keeping up with technology changes, environmental issues, and government mandates. We feel our future depends on our ability to treat people with respect and take care of their needs in a timely manner. In addition, we believe our future is based on honesty, integrity, commitment to our community, being innovative and accountable.
