Charles McDonald Duck River EMC Interim President/CEO
Author Anthony J. D’Angelo observed, “Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.”
To a large degree, this reflects Duck River EMC’s philosophy toward our consumer-members and the broader service territory we serve. As a cooperative, we have a different “bottom line.” While our priority is always to provide reliable and safe energy, there is another equally important part of this equation. Your well-being and that of the larger community that we serve are of paramount concern.
To us, you are not just a customer; you are a member of our co-op, and without you, we would not exist.
In 1936, DREMC was founded to fulfill a vital need in our community that would not have otherwise been met. Concerned local leaders came together to build this co-op and bring electricity where there was none and no one else wanted to go.
At that time, members of the community understood that we were different because they likely knew someone who helped create DREMC. For most people, our founding and its circumstances have been long forgotten. Over time, folks in the community may have come to think of us as simply another energy provider. But we are not. We are a co-op that is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the communities we serve, and we can do this because of members like you.
Since our inception, we have sought feedback and engagement from you and that of the larger community to guide our long-term decisions. Therefore, we hold annual meetings and other events such as Meet the Candidates throughout the year. We host events like these to engage with you and obtain your feedback.
“To us, you’re not just a customer!”
We strive to find new ways to help you use energy more efficiently. We offer a variety of resources, tools, free advice, workshops and rebates to residential and commercial members alike.
DREMC members help guide important co-op decisions that improve and enrich the community. We value the perspective of our board members, who are members of the co-op and community — just like you.
As a local business, we have a stake in the community. That’s why we support local groups such as Good Samaritan organizations, chambers of commerce, Lions Clubs, our schools, fire departments and first-responders, and we help individuals in vulnerable situations with our programs like Project Help and Weatherization Wizards. When you support these efforts, you are supporting the community and making it a better place for everyone.
While times have certainly changed since we began 83 years ago, our mission and outlook have not. We view our role as a catalyst for good. Working together, we can accomplish great things for our community now and for the next 80 years.
