What Wiregrass Electric Cooperative does

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative founded in 1939, headquartered in Hartford, Alabama. It serves approximately 20,000 members across a 1,040-square-mile service territory in Southeast Alabama through 3,200 miles of distribution lines, 55,000 utility poles, 15 substations, and 27,000 meters. The cooperative distributes wholesale electricity purchased from PowerSouth Energy Cooperative to residential, commercial, and industrial members, operating as an at-cost provider with margins retired and returned to members as capital credits.

The cooperative's core technology stack includes SCADA systems for remote grid monitoring and control, advanced smart meters that report 24/7 to a communications center, and GPS-equipped field tablets used by plant specialists for work order creation and asset mapping. Operational features include remote breaker control and outage isolation without truck dispatch. Complementary product offerings include PrePay billing, outdoor lighting, Community Solar (Green Power Choice), energy conservation programs (rebates, audits, efficiency loans), outage management with real-time outage mapping, Generac generator partnerships, and the Operation Round Up charitable foundation.

Revenue is generated through monthly service charges, energy consumption charges, and demand expense charges based on peak electricity usage during winter months (6-9 a.m., November through February), with the demand rate recently raised from $2.50/kW to $4.00/kW. Members are organized across nine geographical districts with elected Board of Trustees providing democratic governance. Distribution occurs through four district offices (Hartford headquarters, Dothan, Ashford, Samson), an online portal, mobile app, and 24-hour outage hotline. The cooperative employs 56-58 people and is actively pursuing industrial load diversification through economic development partnerships, including the Houston County Industrial Park project with seven regional banks and South Alabama Electric Cooperative.

Name

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Website

https://wiregrass.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility founded in 1939, serving approximately 20,000 members across 1,040 square miles of Southeast Alabama with 3,200 miles of distribution lines. It distributes wholesale power from PowerSouth Energy Cooperative to residential, commercial, and industrial members at cost, governed by an elected Board of Trustees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)

Keywords

• Rural electric distribution
• Electric utility service
• Energy conservation programs
• Outage management services
• Community solar program

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Electric Distribution Service: WEC purchases wholesale power from PowerSouth Energy Cooperative and distributes electricity to members. As an at-cost provider, the cooperative charges rates designed to cover costs with any margin or capital credits eventually retired and returned to members. Revenue is generated through monthly service charges, energy consumption charges, and demand expense charges based on peak electricity usage during winter months (6-9 a.m. November through February).
2. Demand Charges: Members pay a demand expense charge determined by the highest level of electricity required at any given moment between the hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. during winter peak season. This charge is increasing from $2.50 per kW to $4 per kW in March. The demand charge is designed to cover rising capacity costs associated with peak demand events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative distributes electricity to approximately 20,000 residential, commercial, and industrial members across 1,040 square miles of Southeast Alabama, purchasing wholesale power from PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. As a member-owned cooperative, it operates at-cost and offers prepaid billing, demand-based billing, energy conservation rebates and audits, outdoor lighting, community solar, outage management, and the Operation Round Up charitable foundation program.

Product overview

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility providing electricity distribution services across Southeast Alabama. The cooperative operates a platform-based model with core electricity distribution services as the primary product, supported by a suite of complementary modules including billing and payment services (PrePay, demand billing), energy conservation programs (rebates, audits, efficiency loans), outage management (outage map, generator programs), outdoor lighting, community solar (Green Power Choice), and community engagement (Operation Round Up charitable foundation). The cooperative also provides digital tools including a mobile app and online member portal. Founded in 1939, the cooperative serves nearly 20,000 members across 1,040 square miles with 3,200 miles of distribution lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Operation Round Up: A charitable foundation program where members voluntarily round up their monthly electric bills to the next dollar, with funds used for community grants, scholarships, and the Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass recognition program.

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Core electricity distribution service providing power to approximately 20,000 residential, commercial, and industrial members across 1,040 square miles in Southeast Alabama. Members apply for service and become part owners of the cooperative.
• Payment and Billing Services Billing and payment services including online billing portal, payment assistance programs, late payment policies, and one-time payment options for cooperative members.
• PrePay Prepaid electricity payment option allowing members to pay for electricity in advance and manage usage proactively.
• Outdoor Lighting Outdoor lighting service for streets, yards, and security lighting including maintenance and installation options for members and communities.
• Community Solar (Green Power Choice) Community solar program allowing members to support renewable energy without installing individual solar panels on their property.
• Energy Conservation Rebate Program Cash rebates for members who purchase energy-efficient appliances and make energy-saving improvements to their homes.
• Home Energy Audit Home energy assessment service that identifies areas where members can reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency.
• Energy Efficiency Loan Financing program helping members afford energy-efficient upgrades and improvements for their homes.
• Outage Management and Outage Map Comprehensive outage management services including outage reporting, real-time interactive outage map, weather center, and power restoration updates for members across the service territory.
• Generac Generator Program Partnership program offering standby Generac generators to help members maintain power during outages.
• Operation Round Up Charitable Foundation Charitable foundation program where members voluntarily round up their monthly electric bills to fund community grants, scholarships, and emergency assistance in the Wiregrass region.
• Demand Billing Billing structure based on peak electricity demand during winter peak season (6-9 a.m., November through February), encouraging members to reduce usage during peak hours to lower costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Peak demand of 142 MW managed in January 2025, 2 MW less than previous record despite extreme cold and snowfall, demonstrating effective demand management through member participation in peak alerts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• South Alabama Electric CooperativeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Partnered with WEC on a $3.26 million Growing Alabama tax credit project for Houston County Industrial Park sewer line. Both cooperatives committed $300,000 each in tax credits for the project that opens 240+ acres for industrial development.
• Houston County CommissionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Government partner contributing $385,000 in engineering fees for the Houston County Industrial Park sewer line project as part of the Growing Alabama economic development initiative.
• Dothan Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Key partner in economic development projects including the Growing Alabama tax credit initiative, working to recruit new businesses to the Wiregrass area.
• Dothan UtilitiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Partnered on the Houston County Industrial Park project, operating the Cypress Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant that will receive wastewater from the new sewer line.
• Houston County Water AuthorityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Partnered on the Houston County Industrial Park project, contributing $190,000 for water line extension as part of the economic development infrastructure improvements.
• PowerSouth Energy CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEC's wholesale energy provider based in Andalusia, AL. PowerSouth generates and transmits electricity to WEC and other distribution members. As a member-owned cooperative, WEC shares in PowerSouth's fixed generation and transmission costs. PowerSouth recently expanded membership to 22 distribution members serving 500,000+ end-users across 51 Alabama counties and 10 Florida Panhandle counties. PowerSouth is planning a 400+ MW generating facility scheduled online by 2030.
• Alabama ONE Credit UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership providing new member services and making it easier for members to do business with WEC, developed as part of WEC's strategic partnerships initiative.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association representing electric cooperatives. WEC CEO and leaders attend NRECA Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. to advocate for cooperative members and discuss issues affecting electric cooperatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Joe Wheeler EMC: Electric membership cooperative serving north Alabama members through TVA-supplied wholesale power. Comparable as a member-owned rural distribution cooperative with similar AMI, demand-billing, and community solar programs.
• Central Alabama Electric Cooperative: Member-owned distribution electric cooperative serving central Alabama communities. Comparable on governance model, USDA-RUS regulation, SCADA/smart-meter investments, and rural community engagement through programs analogous to Operation Round Up.
• Tombigbee Electric Cooperative: Member-owned distribution electric cooperative in western Alabama. Comparable on cooperative governance, rural service area, and reliance on PowerSouth/Tennessee Valley generation sources.
• Cullman Electric Cooperative: Alabama distribution electric cooperative serving a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial members north of Birmingham. Comparable on cooperative structure, AMI/SCADA modernization, and member-driven demand management programs.
• Pea River Electric Cooperative: Rural distribution electric cooperative serving southeast Alabama counties adjacent to WEC's territory. Directly comparable as a member-owned cooperative operating under the same USDA-RUS framework and PowerSouth wholesale supply arrangement.
• South Alabama Electric Cooperative: Adjacent Alabama distribution electric cooperative that recently co-invested with WEC on the Growing Alabama Houston County Industrial Park project. Comparable as a member-owned rural distribution co-op serving residential, commercial, and industrial members in southern Alabama.
• Covington Electric Cooperative: Alabama distribution electric cooperative serving rural members in southern Alabama, also a PowerSouth member. Directly comparable on cooperative structure, distribution-only operations, and residential-heavy rural load.

Others

• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA): National trade association representing electric cooperatives including WEC. Comparable as the policy, advocacy, and cooperative-services umbrella that shapes WEC's regulatory environment and provides shared services/financing programs.

Broad incumbents

• PowerSouth Energy Cooperative: Generation-and-transmission (G&T) cooperative that supplies WEC's wholesale power and serves 22 distribution members across Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Directly comparable as a member-owned cooperative in the same regulatory ecosystem and as WEC's single upstream supplier.
• Alabama Power: Investor-owned electric utility serving the broader Alabama territory that borders WEC's service area. Comparable as the dominant electric service provider in the same state and as a counterparty for retail competition/cooperative service-area boundary dynamics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wec2
• Facebookfacebook.com/wiregrasselectric
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wiregrass-electric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wiregrass Electric Cooperative