Adams Rural Electric: Powering Homes and Businesses in West Union, Ohio

Adams Rural Electric is the local electric cooperative serving West Union, Ohio and the surrounding rural communities. Founded in 1940, it provides reliable electricity to member-owners across Adams, Brown, Highland, Pike, and Scioto counties. The cooperative focuses on keeping the lights on for homes, farms, and local businesses.

Business Overview

Adams Rural Electric serves approximately 7,500 members. It maintains over 1,300 miles of power lines across rolling hills and rural landscapes. The cooperative handles everything from routine service to emergency outages. A team of local linemen and staff is dedicated to the community's power needs.

The focus is primarily residential, supporting the many homes and farms in the area. They also provide service for local businesses, schools, and municipal buildings in West Union, OH.

Key Services

Adams Rural Electric manages the complete electric service for its members. Key areas include:

• Electric Service Provision: Delivering power to homes, farms, and commercial properties.
• Outage Management & Response: Addressing power interruptions quickly, supported by an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system for faster detection.
• Line Construction & Maintenance: Building and maintaining the extensive network of distribution lines.
• Member Account Services: Handling billing, connections, and member inquiries.

Areas Served

Adams Rural Electric proudly serves multiple communities in the region. Their service area includes Unity, Rome, West Union, Ripley, Nile, Manchester, New Market, Sprigg, Peebles, and Lake Waynoka in Ohio.

Their crews have a deep working knowledge of the local terrain, from older farmhouses to newer developments. This familiarity helps them provide efficient and effective service tailored to the area.

Company History

The cooperative was established in 1940, a time when many rural areas lacked electricity. Its formation was made possible with support from the federal Rural Electrification Administration (REA). This helped fund the initial construction of power lines to bring electric service to farms and homes.

From those first lines, Adams Rural Electric has grown into a stable local institution. It has continually upgraded its systems, most recently implementing the AMI technology to improve outage management for members.

Leadership

Adams Rural Electric is governed by a board of trustees. These trustees are elected from the membership, meaning they are local residents and co-op members themselves. This structure ensures the cooperative is directly accountable to the people it serves in West Union, Ohio and the surrounding counties.

The board and management team are involved in the community, making decisions with the local member-owners' interests in mind.

Specialties & Highlights

Several features set Adams Rural Electric apart:

• Member-Owned Cooperative: Customers are member-owners with a voice in governance through board elections.
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI): Uses modern technology for more efficient outage detection and response.
• Deep Rural Expertise: Over eight decades of experience serving the specific challenges of rural electrical distribution.
• Local Governance: Decisions are made by a locally elected board, not a distant corporate office.

Why Locals Choose Adams Rural Electric

Residents and businesses in the area trust Adams Rural Electric for consistent, reliable power. Their long history since 1940 shows a commitment to the community's growth and needs. The cooperative model means service comes with a focus on member value, not just profits.

The combination of local control, investment in modern systems like AMI, and a dedicated workforce makes Adams Rural Electric a foundational part of life in West Union, Ohio. For dependable electric service rooted in the community, members rely on their local cooperative.