Southern Pine Electric Cooperative

What Southern Pine Electric Cooperative does

Southern Pine Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned rural electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Brewton, Alabama, serving 21,144 member accounts across 3,314 miles of distribution line in portions of five southwest Alabama counties (Baldwin, Conecuh, Covington, Escambia, and Monroe). Founded on August 23, 1938, under the Rural Electrification Administration framework, the cooperative distributes electricity purchased wholesale from PowerSouth Energy Cooperative and operates four district offices (Brewton headquarters, Atmore, Evergreen, and Frisco City). The core product is electric distribution service, priced via a monthly facility charge ($16/month) plus consumption-based energy charges, with a $5 membership fee, a $28 connection fee, and credit-check-based deposits ($0, $200, or $300) on the standard monthly billing plan, alongside a $50-deposit Pre-Pay alternative.

The cooperative's product surface extends beyond basic distribution to include digital self-service channels (iOS/Android mobile apps, an online billing portal, and a Quick Pay feature), a Pre-Pay metering program, Green Power Choice renewable energy support, member-priced surge protection hardware, free home energy audits, a Solar Calculator, an Electric Vehicle resource suite, and a Distributive Generation application process for member-owned solar and wind systems. Underlying technology is conventional utility infrastructure (power lines, transformers, meters) augmented by a customer-facing web portal at billing.southernpine.org; no AI/ML, proprietary platforms, or APIs are disclosed. Member financing is offered through a Heat Pump Loan program in partnership with Regions Bank and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.

Southern Pine's go-to-market is community-led, anchored by an elected nine-person board of directors representing geographic districts, an Annual Membership Meeting drawing more than 3,000 attendees, the Member Task Force program (operating 44+ years with over 600 couples participating), Youth Tours to Montgomery and Washington D.C., an Electric Cooperative Foundation Scholarship program awarding $1,000 to 20 graduating seniors per year, Operation Round-Up charitable giving (averaging about $6 per member per year through the Southern Pine Electric Trust), and a Co-op Connections discount program with 40+ partner businesses. Marketing channels include the Alabama Living magazine, Facebook, and Touchstone Energy Cooperative national branding. The customer base is segmented primarily into residential member-owners (the primary segment) and commercial/industrial non-residential members, with a horizontal segmentation approach and pricing varying by service type and class.

Name

Southern Pine Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Southern Pine Electric Cooperative

Website

https://southernpine.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Southern Pine Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned rural electric distribution cooperative founded in 1938, serving 21,144 accounts across 3,314 miles of line in five southwest Alabama counties through community-led engagement and member programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Electric Distribution Utility

NAICS

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

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)

Keywords

• Rural electric distribution
• Member-owned cooperative
• Energy efficiency programs
• Renewable energy support
• Utility member services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brewton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electric Distribution Service: Core revenue from providing electric distribution service to over 21,000 residential and commercial member accounts. Revenue generated through facility charges ($16/month), energy consumption charges, and various service fees including connection fees ($28) and membership fees ($5).
2. Service Connection and Facilities: One-time and recurring charges for new service connections, facility charges, line extensions, and security light rentals.
3. Member Programs: Heat pump loan program facilitated through partnership with Regions Bank and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, generating interest income from affordable financing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Southern Pine Electric Cooperative distributes electricity to over 21,000 member accounts across portions of five southwest Alabama counties via 3,314 miles of distribution line. Member-facing programs include Pre-Pay metering, Green Power Choice renewables, surge protection equipment, free home energy audits, electric vehicle resources, a solar calculator, Distributive Generation interconnection for member solar/wind, and a Heat Pump Loan program in partnership with Regions Bank and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.

Product overview

Southern Pine Electric Cooperative operates as a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution utility serving over 21,000 accounts across five Alabama counties. The cooperative's core product is electricity distribution, supported by digital self-service platforms including a customer billing portal, Quick Pay feature, and mobile app. Member-facing programs include Pre-Pay metering, Green Power Choice renewable energy support, Surge Protection Equipment sales, free Energy Audits, a Solar Calculator tool, and Electric Vehicle resources. Financial assistance programs include the Heat Pump Loan (offered with Regions Bank) and Operation Round-Up charitable giving. Community programs encompass Youth Tours to Montgomery and Washington D.C., Scholarships through the ECF program, and the Co-op Connections discount card program. Infrastructure services include Distributive Generation support for member-owned solar and wind systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Core electricity distribution service providing reliable power to more than 21,000 member accounts across portions of five southwest Alabama counties via 3,314 miles of distribution line, with a $5 one-time membership fee, $28 connection fee, credit-check-based deposit, and $16/month facility charge plus energy consumption charges.
• Pre-Pay Program Prepaid electricity program allowing members to pay for electricity in advance of usage with a $50 deposit and $50 electric credit upon enrollment, eliminating the need for monthly billing cycles.
• Green Power Choice Renewable energy program allowing members to support and pay a premium for renewable generation sources feeding the cooperative's power supply.
• Surge Protection Equipment Physical surge suppressor products sold to members: meter socket suppressors ($125 installed on 200-320 amp meters), multimedia power strips ($68), two-outlet suppressors ($50), compact single suppressors ($15), and two-outlet plug-in suppressors with video ($57).
• Home Energy Audits Free in-home energy audits performed by Member Services to identify energy efficiency improvements and cost-saving opportunities for residential members.
• Distributive Generation (Member-Owned Solar/Wind Interconnection) Grid interconnection program for member-owned distributed generation systems (rooftop solar and wind), with application packets available for download and bi-directional metering to credit members for excess generation.
• Heat Pump Loan Program Affordable fixed-rate financing for heat pumps and weatherization improvements offered in partnership with Regions Bank and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, with low annual interest rates for member energy efficiency upgrades.
• Electric Vehicle Program Educational and planning resources for members on EV adoption, including charging cost calculators, available EV models, and applicable federal, state, and local incentives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 21,144 accounts across 3,314 miles of line in 5 southwest Alabama counties since 1938
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 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 core and minor.

• PowerSouth Energy CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPowerSouth Energy Cooperative serves as the generation and transmission facility for Southern Pine. The relationship provides wholesale power supply and economic development partnership. Southern Pine has a strong relationship with PowerSouth's economic development representatives.
• Touchstone Energy CooperativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of electric cooperatives providing resources, brand identity, and partnership leverage. Southern Pine is one of more than 700 Touchstone Energy Co-ops in 46 states. The network delivers power and energy solutions to more than 22 million members.
• Regions BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing affordable financing for heat pumps and weatherization through the Heat Pump Loan program. Low annual interest rates offered to members for energy efficiency improvements.
• D.W. McMillan HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free health fair services at the Annual Membership Meeting including blood pressure checks, AccuChecks, glucose and cholesterol testing vouchers.
• Alabama Development Office (ADO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level economic development organization that Southern Pine monitors through PowerSouth partnership to stay informed on industrial development opportunities.
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic and community affairs organization that Southern Pine monitors for development activities in their service area.
• Electric Cooperative Foundation Scholarship ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation created by Alabama electric cooperatives in 1997 providing scholarships for dependents of member cooperatives. Southern Pine awards 20 scholarships of $1,000 annually through this program.
• Co-op Connections Program PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor40+ local and national businesses participate in the Co-op Connections discount program offering savings on products, services, and prescriptions to member cardholders.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PowerSouth Energy Cooperative: PowerSouth Energy Cooperative is the generation-and-transmission partner that supplies wholesale power to Southern Pine and several other Alabama distribution co-ops. Operating under the same Touchstone/RUS cooperative framework, it is the most directly comparable Alabama-based electric cooperative entity engaged with Southern Pine's operations.
• Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corporation: Joe Wheeler EMC is a member-owned distribution electric cooperative serving north Alabama under a similar RUS/Touchstone framework. While larger in meter count, it is a directly analogous rural distribution co-op with overlapping technology stack (online portal, prepaid programs, energy audits, surge protection).
• Cullman Electric Cooperative: Cullman Electric Cooperative is an Alabama Touchstone Energy distribution co-op providing electric service to residential and commercial members. It operates with the same cooperative governance model, member programs, and SmartHub-style self-service portal as Southern Pine.
• Baldwin County Electric Membership Corporation: Baldwin EMC is a distribution electric cooperative serving Baldwin County and adjacent areas in southwest Alabama - overlapping Southern Pine's service territory in Baldwin County. It is the most geographically proximate direct distribution peer.
• Tombigbee Electric Cooperative: Tombigbee Electric Cooperative is a rural distribution co-op serving parts of northwest Alabama. It is comparable in size and structure to Southern Pine and operates within the PowerSouth/statewide co-op ecosystem.
• Clarke-Washington Electric Membership Corporation: Clarke-Washington EMC is a southwest Alabama distribution electric cooperative with a comparable rural service profile and member-owned Touchstone Energy structure identical to Southern Pine's.
• Pea River Electric Cooperative: Pea River Electric Cooperative is a southeast Alabama Touchstone Energy distribution co-op with similar rural cooperative characteristics, member programs, and rural electric distribution infrastructure comparable to Southern Pine's.
• Central Alabama Electric Cooperative: Central Alabama Electric Cooperative is a member-owned distribution cooperative providing electric service across central Alabama counties, operating with the same co-op governance and Touchstone Energy affiliation as Southern Pine.
• Black Warrior Electric Membership Corporation: Black Warrior EMC is an Alabama rural distribution electric cooperative serving Tuscaloosa and surrounding counties. It is comparable to Southern Pine in scale, member-owned governance, and Touchstone Energy/Touchstone-aligned programs.

Others

• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA): NRECA is the national trade association representing 900+ member-owned electric co-ops including Southern Pine. It is the closest industry-body peer and provides governance, advocacy, and operational resources consumed by Southern Pine and similar distribution co-ops.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100057568445270

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Southern Pine Electric Cooperative