CEMC to celebrate 70th anniversary in ‘08

Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation opened for business on March 3, 1938, which means in a couple of months, your cooperative will be 70 years young.

Six months after opening, the first contract was let for the construction of 300 miles of line to serve the earliest members of the cooperative. Then, on Dec. 1, CEMC began distributing electricity to 600 customers acquired from the Kentucky-Tennessee Light and Power Company.

It was not until March 19, 1939, that the first CEMC meter was set at the home of W. C. Jackson, a Cheatham county farmer and vice president of CEMC’s first board of directors. As word spread of the coming of electricity, many more rural families paid the $5 membership fee to bring lights into their homes.

From those humble beginnings, CEMC has grown into one of the largest electric cooperatives in Tennessee, serving nearly 90,000 members over approximately 8,500 miles of line.

While much has changed in the electric utility industry since the days of CEMC’s beginning, especially in technology, our commitment to providing each member with reliable service at an affordable price has not wavered.

Do you remember when electricity first came to your home? We would love to hear your story! Call Scott Shelton at (800) 987-2362 and share your memories.