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Cooperative History

Grundy Electric Cooperative’s story began with a vision to bring electricity to rural homes and farms. Perhaps one of the boldest accomplishments in the 1930s was rural electrification. Grundy Electric was incorporated on October 22, 1938 with the original incorporates being: Vergil Robertson, Clem Cleeton, Roy Fox, Dr. C.H. Cullers, J.M. Webster, Everett Dixon, Roger Williams, George Drury, John Moore, William Howard, Clyde Brown, and Frank Lynch.

Grundy Electric crews began construction of the first electric lines in January 1940. By December that same year, the Cooperative had built 325 miles of line and served 498 member-owners. The first Cooperative headquarters was located at the “Five Points” intersection, 1004 Main Street in Trenton, Missouri. In 1950, the Cooperative moved its facility to 201 W. 8th Street. The Cooperative continued to construct line and acquire new members in the rural area. In June 1942, Grundy Electric purchased a Lineville, Iowa generating plant and a transmission line from the Iowa Utilities Company. This purchase allowed Grundy to serve member-owners in Lineville and Clio, Iowa and Mercer, Missouri and in the surrounding area.

In April 1949, Grundy Electric Cooperative became a member of NW Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., for the purpose of purchasing wholesale power. This allowed Grundy to offer more economical power to its members, while allowing for load growth. In April 1963, Grundy Electric received a loan from the REA to acquire a portion of a line from the Consumers Public Service Company. The Cooperative expanded once again in 1977 by adding the entire City of Princeton to its service area.

Grundy’s neighbor-helping-neighbor business employs 37 individuals, which are a vital part of the Cooperative and community. You will find the employees of Grundy Electric to be committed citizens of their communities. Their participation, involvement and service in a variety of areas include school boards, fair boards, United Way, rural fire departments, 4-H, and members of Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Kiwanis, Scouts and churches, just to name a few.

The Cooperative also feels a strong commitment to community. In 1997, Grundy Electric utilized the USDA Rural Development Revolving Loan Fund program in assisting North Central Missouri College with construction of the Ketcham Community Center. Revolving loan funds are available for rural development, deferments for economic development, water and waste-water loans/grants. In 2006, loan funds were also awarded to North Missouri Logistics, LLC to construct a warehouse facility in Trenton.

Grundy’s national organization located in Arlington, Virginia, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) represents the nations’ 1,000 non-profit, consumer-owned rural electric systems. NRECA provides the Cooperative with training, research, assistance with legislative issues, and a variety of resources.

As a distribution cooperative, Grundy Electric is part of a three tier-system. The first tier includes the 51 distribution cooperatives in Missouri, southern Iowa and northeast Oklahoma. Grundy provides electric service directly to member-owners, including businesses, farms, and households. Generation and transmission cooperatives (G&Ts) are the second level of the system. NW Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. located in Cameron, Missouri, serves as the G&T for Grundy Electric and six other cooperatives in this area. NW Electric works on a regional level as construction agents and also owns and maintains all electrical systems above 69-kilovolts. Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. located in Springfield, Missouri, forms the third tier. Associated is responsible for generation of electricity and power procurement. The entire three-tier system benefits from the economy of scale, and since each tier can react quickly to change; the overall competitiveness of the system is improved.

Today, Grundy Electric serves members throughout 12 counties including Grundy, Harrison, Mercer and portions of Linn, Livingston, Daviess, Gentry, Putnam and Sullivan Counties in Missouri and Wayne, Ringgold and Decatur Counties in Iowa. The Cooperative serves 6,616 meters. Grundy Electric has 2,237 miles of overhead distribution line and 44 miles of underground line. The current headquarters building was constructed in 1975 and is located at 4100 Oklahoma Avenue in Trenton. Grundy Electric Cooperative is currently governed by an eight-member board of directors. Local control, local ownership and local involvement are the cornerstones to the Cooperative structure.

In 1998, Grundy Electric became a Touchstone Energy Cooperative. Touchstone Energy represents a national brand among the nation’s cooperatives. Overall, the Touchstone Energy brand’s goal is to build and communicate the value of the Cooperative to the community and to members, while establishing ties to our communities as expressed in integrity, accountability, and innovation.

Grundy Electric Cooperative entered into a partnership with the Public Water Supply District #1 of Grundy County in 1998 and the Public Water Supply District #4 of Livingston County in May 2005. The billing service contracts were agreed upon in an effort to provide convenience and excellent customer service to their customers, while fulfilling the overall goals and objectives of the water districts.

In 2004, Grundy Electric established the GEC Community Foundation, Inc. The Foundation is governed by an eight-member board of trustees representing the cooperative’s service territory. The Foundation assists qualifying schools and organizations with grant monies in the areas of education, health and rural development. The funds are open to eligible entities within Grundy Electric Cooperative’s 12 county service area. The Foundation, which is operated on a volunteer basis, is primarily funded through Grundy Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round-Up Program. This program allows GEC members to voluntarily “round up” their electric utility bill to the next even dollar. For an average of $6.00 per year, participating members assist in funding local community projects at schools, healthcare organizations and in the communities in which they live and work.

Grundy Electric Cooperative is committed to the communities it serves. The establishment of two new companies during 1999 has demonstrated this commitment. Mid-States Services, LLC is a multi-service company that offers Maytag and Whirlpool appliance sales and service, Alltel cellular service, DirecTV programming, high-speed wireless and dial-up internet access and computer accessories to business and residential customers. The company currently employs seven individuals. Mid-West Propane & Refined Fuels, LLC employs five individuals, delivering propane, gasoline, diesel, ethanol blends, bio-diesel fuel, and Castrol Oil Products to farms, homes and businesses. The locally owned and operated company has bulk facilities located in Trenton, Bethany, Eagleville, Gilman City and Princeton, Missouri.

The heritage of the Cooperative is that of leadership and cooperation. The Cooperative’s work is as vital today as it was 67 years ago when electricity was first brought to the rural area. This leadership is now needed in making certain that the interest of the rural area in the technological world and changing energy environment are not only protected but also brought the same value and affordability that the high-density metro areas are given.

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