On February 1, 1938, R.E. Meek, H.D. Madsen, A.E. Schoeneberg, J.B. Putman, A.E. Berndt, Alfred N. Nilson, and Victor T. Jurasek met in the Wharton law office of Edwin Hawes, Jr. and adopted the Articles of Incorporation. They made application to the State of Texas for a Charter and Wharton County Electric Cooperative was born!
WCEC is an electric distribution system and is a member-owned businesss; incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas; chartered by the Secretary of State; and regulated by a locally elected Board of Directors.
There are 77 other electric cooperatives in Texas and over 1,000 electric cooperatives nationwide. WCEC is a member of the Texas Electric Cooperatives headquartered in Austin, Texas and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Arlington, V.A.
Mission Statement:
The mission of Wharton County Electric Cooperative, Inc. is to provide economical and reliable electric energy service to our members and to provide products, services, and leadership that will have a positive influence on the economy of the area that we serve.
Cooperative Principles
Voluntary and Open Membership
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.
Members’ Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
Education, Training, and Information
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
Concern for Community
While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.
Our Power Supply
South Texas Electric Cooperative was formed in 1944 to provide wholesale electric power to member cooperatives. Presently the South Texas Electric Cooperative serves eight distribution cooperatives; Karnes, Wharton County, Victoria, Jackson, San Patricio, Nueces, Magic Valley and Medina electric cooperatives. These cooperatives provide service to over 170,000 members in 65 South Texas counties.
The cooperative’s headquarters are located in Nursery Texas, at the Sam Rayburn generating plant. One hundred and sixty employees are based at the Sam Rayburn plant while another twenty-two are based at the Pearsall generation facility.
STEC’s power is generated utilizing a variety of fuels, including lignite, natural gas, diesel, wind and hydro. These resources include the San Miguel Electric Cooperative lignite generation plant located in Christine Texas; the Sam Rayburn facility which is a combination of resources including dual-fuel, combined-cycle generation; and the Pearsall facility, a gas-fired unit located in Pearsall Texas. Renewable resources include the output of the Amistad-Falcon hydro project and output from Iberdrola Renewable's Penascal 1 and 2 wind projects.
South Texas Electric Cooperative’s Mission Statement:
South Texas Electric Cooperative’s mission is to provide the infrastructure and services to deliver reliable and economical electric power to a diversified membership.
Member