VolunteerEnergyCoop

📢 Attention VEC Members! 📢 This year’s Annual Membership Meeting will be held in Crossville, TN—not Decatur! Join us on Saturday, October 4, at Stone Memorial High School for this important event. 🗓️⚡ More details coming soon, but be sure to mark your calendar and spread the word!

In rain, sleet, snow, or hail, our lineworkers are always keeping the lights on. Thank a lineworker today! 💡

Did you know? Electric co-ops serve 56% of the U.S. landmass but only about 13% of the population! Because they were created to bring electricity to rural areas that investor-owned utilities ignored, co-ops cover vast territories with fewer consumers per mile (sometimes as low as 8 consumers per mile), compared to 32 per mile for investor-owned utilities. That’s a lot of line to maintain for a small but important group of people! ⚡🏡

At VEC, we’re more than just your power provider–we are your neighbors, friends, and fellow community members! When you call VEC, you’re talking to someone local, not someone overseas. Our dedicated employees live and work right here in the same towns and communities we serve. Whether it’s keeping the lights on during a storm or volunteering at local events, we’re here for you. Because at VEC, it’s not just about electricity; it’s about connection.💙 #LocallyOwned #CommunityPowered #WeAreYourNeighbors

VEC offices will be CLOSED Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

Meet Kenny, one of our Jamestown linemen. He’s been helping keep the lights on at VEC for nine years and enjoys hunting, coaching his kids’ ball games, and spending time with family. #WeAreYourNeighbors

Throwback to the first lines energized August 6, 1936, in Meigs County. For the first month of operation, 5,019 kilowatt-hours of electricity were distributed with a total income of $183.16. #TBT

SmartHub allows you to stay up to date with your energy usage, report service issues, and view and pay your bills.

Did you know? Electricity can be "trapped" in natural materials for thousands of years! For example, amber, fossilized tree resin, can hold an electric charge when rubbed; this is actually where the word "electricity" comes from. The Greek word “electron” means amber, and ancient Greeks noticed that rubbing amber with cloth would make it attract small objects like dust and feathers. This was one of the earliest observations of static electricity!

Thanks to programs like the Washington Youth Tour and Youth Leadership Summit, #CoopsConnect young people with unlimited opportunities. These programs reflect the fifth cooperative principle—education, training, and information—empowering the next generation with knowledge and leadership skills to shape the future. #YouthPrograms #CooperativePrinciples

Did you know that by rounding your electric bill up to the next whole dollar, you can help make a difference in your community? Through the VEC Customers Share grant program, your spare change adds up to fund local nonprofits—just like Rhea of Sunshine, a nonprofit organization in Rhea County dedicated to providing services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. On average, members contribute about $6 per year—never more than $11.88 annually—but together, we create a huge impact! Join us in making a difference! Sign up today and help support local organizations that keep our communities strong. #VEC #CustomersShare #CommunityFirst #CooperativePrinciples

SmartHub goes beyond bill payments and usage tracking. This online and mobile app allows you to be in the know with alerts for service work and other important notifications. 📈📱

VEC Jamestown employees Michael Cook, Gabe Durham, and Nick Hurley recently visited South Fentress Elementary School for Career Day, where they spoke with students about the vital role electricity plays in our lives and how to stay safe around it.💡⚡️ This reflects the Fifth Cooperative Principle: Education, Training, and Information, a cornerstone of VEC’s mission. By teaching the next generation about electrical safety, we're building a brighter, more informed future. 🌟 #ElectricalSafety #CooperativePrinciples

We were honored to host the Meigs County-Decatur Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast at our corporate office this morning. Thank you to Senator Adam Lowe and Representative Dan Howell for joining us and sharing valuable updates from the most recent legislative session, as well as insights into upcoming priorities for our region and state. VEC is proud to support conversations that keep our community informed and engaged in the decisions shaping Tennessee’s future.

⚡️ Lunch with a Lineman 🍽️👷 We had a great time hosting students from Trinity Academy at our Crossville VEC office for Lunch with a Lineman! These bright young visitors got the chance to meet our hardworking linemen, enjoy lunch together, and learn all about the important work they do to keep our communities powered. They also got a hands-on look at electrical safety and what it takes to work on the line. Thank you to Trinity Academy for joining us—it was a great day of learning, connection, and fun! 💡🔌

🤝The Sixth Cooperative Principle: The Power of Cooperation At VEC, we believe in the strength of working together! The Sixth Cooperative Principle: Cooperation Among Cooperatives means that electric co-ops support one another, especially in times of need. When severe storms strike and outages occur, co-ops come together, sending crews and resources to restore power quickly and safely. Whether it’s helping a neighboring co-op or receiving aid, this cooperative spirit ensures reliable service for our members. It’s what makes co-ops unique. We’re not competitors; we’re partners in powering our communities! ⚡️💙 #CooperationAmongCooperatives #CooperativePrinciples

🎉 Congratulations to TVA’s Power Play Scholarship winner, Annie Moser! 🎉 We’re proud to share that Annie Moser, daughter of VEC employee Jill Lingerfelt, has been selected as a winner of Tennessee Valley Authority Power Play Scholarship! 🏆 Annie was recently honored at a special luncheon hosted by TVA, where she was recognized for her academic achievements and bright future. Annie’s family and VEC representatives, including President and CEO Dion Cooper, joined her at the celebration to show their support for this outstanding young lady. We’re thrilled to see the next generation of leaders in our VEC family being recognized for their hard work and potential. Way to go, Annie! 💙⚡️ #PowerPlayScholarship #FutureLeaders

🌟 Cooperative Principle 7: Concern for Community 🌟 At VEC, being part of a co-op means more than just keeping the lights on. The Concern for Community principle is something our employees take to heart—not just on the clock, but in their own time too. Before and after work, you’ll find VEC folks out in the community helping with disaster relief, delivering food to families, pitching in at local charities, and just being good neighbors. They do it because they care, not because they have to. That’s what being part of a co-op is all about—looking out for each other. #ConcernForCommunity #CooperativePrinciples