West Florida Electric Cooperative, Inc

History

During the 1930’s, investor-owned power companies would not build power lines into sparsely populated areas because it was not profitable or economically feasible to do so. President Franklin D. Roosevelt saw the need to bring electricity to rural communities and established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) on May 11, 1935. This administration was, and is a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and helped communities form electric cooperatives while providing low interest loans to finance the building of electric lines and other equipment.

West Florida Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. was formed on December 10, 1937 by 712 rural residents who banded together and borrowed $194,000 from REA to build the original 262 miles of line that was utilized to serve this area. The actual operation of the company began in 1939.

Since that historic day in 1939, West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) has grown to serve the four counties of Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson and Washington. WFEC currently has more than 4,000 miles of energized lines serving over 22,000 member-owners. Each mile of line serves approximately five consumers. The main office of WFEC is located on Peanut Road in Graceville. WFEC also has two district offices, one in Bonifay and the other in Sneads. WFEC receives the majority of its wholesale power from PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, a generation and transmission cooperative, based in Andalusia, AL.

Touchstone Energy

The Touchstone Energy brand represents a nationwide alliance of 750 local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives in 46 states.

Championing the cause for lowest-cost, democratically governed energy, Touchstone Energy provides a unified face for the small businesses that own and service rural America’s 2.5 million miles of power line.  Co-ops that become members of the Touchstone brand gain access to a wealth of advertising stock, education and training tools, member benefit programs, and web development resources.  By working jointly, the network of small cooperatives that make up Touchstone Energy generate services that would normally require the resources of a national corporation.

The Touchstone branding communicates world-class quality and consistent standards of excellence wherever it is seen.