Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative
1096 N Waco, Van Alstyne, Texas, United States

Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative, Inc. was founded in 1937 as a result of the Rural Electrification Act of 1935, part of President Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" legislation aimed at pulling our country out of the Great Depression. The goal of the Act was to provide electric service to rural residents in the United States. Very few rural residents had electrical power at that time, due to the cost of building electrical plants and installing wire across the many miles of rural farmland.The "for profit" electric companies believed that the distance between homes and barns would drive up the cost of delivering electric service; and they would have no chance of recovering these costs, much less make a profit for their stockholders.

The Rural Electrification Act, better known as the REA, allowed farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and families to band together and start their own electric cooperatives to provide electricity to the rural countryside.

GCEC was formed for just that purpose, and through the decades that followed, provided dependable electrical service to more and more homes and farms in Grayson and Collin counties.

The era of deregulation

In the 1990s, the electric utilities in Texas were deregulated, meaning that most consumers were given the opportunity to select their own electric provider. This idea came to be known as “Customer Choice.” Cooperatives such as GCEC were given the choice of when and if to provide Customer Choice to their customers. The GCEC Board of Directors chose to let the members make this decision themselves.

In 2001, there were about 18,000 members of the Cooperative, and almost 6,000 returned a member survey expressing their wish to either “Opt In” or “Opt Out” of Customer Choice. The results: 87% voted to “Opt Out,” 11% voted to “Opt In,” and the remaining 2% voted “Don’t Have an Opinion.” The Board of Directors chose to honor the democratic process, and so GCEC has not “Opted In” to Customer Choice.

The birth of GCEC Telecom

In response to the electric deregulation and other changes in the electric industry, Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative made a strategic decision in October, 1999, to diversify its service offerings to its existing customer base and to offer services to customers who were not part of our traditional service area. In response to feedback from members, telephone, technology equipment and Internet services were added to our product/service mix. Cutter Systems, Inc., was acquired by Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative to fill the needs reflected in member requests. GCEC Telecom is now a subsidiary of Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative. GCEC Telecom currently serves the greater Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the Texoma Area of North Texas, southern Oklahoma, and other parts of the U.S.

GCEC today

A lot has changed since 1937, but not the mission of GCEC. From day one, our objective has been to provide the very best possible service at the very least possible cost. Although the services we provide have expanded beyond electrical service to encompass telecommunications and Internet services, our commitment to meeting that objective has remained unwavering. With great products, innovative services, and outstanding people, GCEC truly does connect our members with the world.

GCEC Operating Principles

The following seven principles serve as the cornerstone for GCEC’s existence:

1. Voluntary and Open Membership: GCEC is a voluntary organization, open to all persons able to use our services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership -- without regard for gender, social, racial, political or religious preferences.

2. Democratic Member Control: GCEC is a democratic organization controlled by our members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership.

3. Members’ Economic Participation: Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of GCEC. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4. Autonomy and Independence: GCEC is an autonomous organization controlled by our members. If GCEC enters into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raises capital from external resources, we do so on terms that ensure democratic control by our members and maintain GCEC's autonomy.

5. Education, Training and Information: GCEC provides education and training for our members, elected representatives, managers and employees, so they can contribute effectively to the development of the cooperative. We inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the philosophy and benefits of the cooperative concept.

6. Cooperation among Cooperatives: GCEC serves our members most effectively, and strengthens the cooperative movement, by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7. Concern for Community: While focusing on member needs, GCEC works for the sustainable development of our communities through policies accepted by our members.

What exactly is an electric cooperative?

“For Profit” electrical providers exist to provide profits to their shareholders. Municipally-owned electric companies are designed simply to serve the citizens within their city limits. In contrast, electric cooperatives like GCEC are designed to operate on a non for profit basis to serve all their members.

GCEC is a non for profit business owned and controlled by the very people we serve. 
In 1937, the initial organizers of the cooperative solicited a $5.00 membership from each farm family that wanted to receive electric power. While the cost of the membership has increased to $20.00, it still serves to make the new member an owner of the cooperative, as well. The membership fee helps pay for some of the fixed costs of doing business. When a member moves or disconnects their service, then the fee is returned and the membership is retired/cancelled.

As a GCEC member, you are an owner of the company. No matter how much electricity you consume, you still have a voice – one vote per member. This differs from an investor-owned utility, where the owner of the most stock gets the most votes – and the most power. In fact, each year, we hold an annual meeting of our members, providing them with the opportunity to be actively involved in the cooperative.

Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative has enjoyed 70 years of success, from the era of rural electrification to today’s world of digital wonders. What was once considered an unnecessary, expensive luxury for farmers and their homes is now a very vital part of our everyday lives. Many things have changed and improved since the first GCEC poles were set in 1937, but one thing will never change. Our cooperative exists for one reason – to serve our owners/members. Not a single decision is made without determining the benefit for them – after all, our mission has always been, and always will be, to provide the very best possible service at the very least possible cost.

Touchstone Energy Co-op Connections Program

Co-op Connections will help your business connect with even more customers!

If you're a business owner, to an extent you have already felt the pinch of tougher economic times these days. What better way to stimulate your business than by becoming a Co-op Connections partner! By signing up to be a local participating business in the program, your business' exposure to hundreds of thousands more new customers is guaranteed while also strengthening relationships with your current customer base.

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives is a national alliance made up of more than 660 local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives in 46 states. Touchstone Energy co-ops collectively deliver power and energy solutions to more than 30 million members every day. 

The Co-op Connections® Web site is the place for consumer-members to obtain details about online, national and local discounts offered by participating Touchstone Energy cooperatives across the country. Co-op members use the search engine to find discounts right at home - or anywhere they travel. Co-op Connections is just another benefit to being a member of Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative.

If you're in the business of providing consumer goods and services such as repairs, entertainment, florist, fitness, health and beauty, lodging, medical, pest control, restaurant, recreation, automotive, real estate, or any other type of retail, you are a prime candidate for the program. To learn more about this great opportunity, call 903-482-7100 or for more immediate participation, simply fill out the online registration fields below and hit the send application button. If you prefer submitting the application form via mail or in person, download the PDFs below and return both forms to us promptly to become a Co-op Connections partner today.