What Bartholomew County REMC does

Bartholomew County REMC (legal name: Bartholomew County Rural Electric Membership Corporation) is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative headquartered at 1697 West Deaver Road in Columbus, Indiana. Founded in 1937, the cooperative distributes electricity to 10,600 members across 12,227 meters and maintains 1,249 miles of energized power lines within Bartholomew County. As a Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC), it operates under an exclusive service-territory franchise — the regulatory equivalent of a utility monopoly — and is not publicly traded.

The cooperative's core product is electric distribution service, billed monthly under published residential, commercial, agricultural, and irrigation rate schedules (including a Time-of-Use option). Members can manage accounts, pay bills, and report outages through the SmartHub web portal and mobile app (iOS and Android), with a separate real-time Outage Map for service-status visibility. Adjacent member-facing offerings include Surge Protection, GenerLink generator connection, Security Lighting, a Life Support medical-priority program, the Co-op Connections discount card, and Operation RoundUp community giving.

Revenue mechanics are dual-layered. The cooperative earns recurring electric-distribution revenue from monthly billing, with margins retained and allocated back to members as Capital Credits proportional to usage; these allocations are typically retired approximately 25 years later as cash refunds. In 2024, BCREMC retired $1.4M in capital credits and refunded $3.4M in wholesale power-cost relief; in 2025, it retired $1.25M and refunded $2.7M. Wholesale power is sourced from Hoosier Energy, and BCREMC participates in the Touchstone Energy cooperative network. The cooperative is led by CEO Courtney Metzger (since March 23, 2020) and operates with 36 full-time employees, achieving a 93/100 ACSI member-satisfaction score in Q1 2026 — top-5 among all Touchstone Energy cooperatives.

Name

Bartholomew County REMC

Legal name

Bartholomew County Rural Electric Membership Corporation

Website

https://bcremc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bartholomew County REMC is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving 10,600 members across 12,227 meters and 1,249 miles of line in Bartholomew County, Indiana, with monthly recurring service revenue and member Capital Credits retirements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Distribution Utility

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Utilities (22)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) / Regulated Distribution Companies (Ring-fenced DSOs) (EUADABAH)

Keywords

• Electric distribution services
• Member-owned cooperative
• Residential electricity service
• Capital credits program
• Outage management tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electric Distribution Service: Bartholomew County REMC generates revenue primarily through electricity distribution fees charged to its 10,600 member-customers across 12,227 meters served. Revenue is collected through monthly billing for electric service.
2. Capital Credits Retirements: As a member-owned cooperative, margins remaining after expenses are allocated to members as capital credits. After approximately 25 years, these allocations are retired and returned as cash refunds to members. The co-op retired over $1.25 million in capital credits and refunded over $2.7 million in wholesale power cost relief in 2025.
3. Wholesale Power Cost Relief Refunds: Refunds passed back to members reflecting savings on wholesale power costs, including special capital credit refunds for members who received service during specific years.
4. Products and Services (Surge Protection, Security Lighting, GenerLink): Additional fee-based products and services including surge protection programs, security light programs, GenerLink generator security, and the Life Support Program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bartholomew County REMC is a member-owned electric cooperative that distributes electricity to 10,600 residential, commercial, and agricultural members across Bartholomew County, Indiana through its own infrastructure of 1,249 miles of energized power lines and 12,227 meters. The cooperative sells core electric distribution service on monthly billing, complemented by value-added products and programs including surge protection, security lighting, GenerLink generator connection devices, Life Support priority service, the SmartHub member portal, and Time-of-Use rate options. Margins remaining after expenses are allocated to members as capital credits and periodically retired as cash refunds.

Product overview

Bartholomew County REMC is a member-owned electric cooperative providing electricity distribution services to 10,600 members across Bartholomew County, Indiana. The cooperative operates 1,249 miles of energized power lines and serves 12,227 meters. Its product portfolio centers on core electricity service delivered through the SmartHub member portal, complemented by value-added programs including Time-of-Use rate options, Capital Credits (member ownership returns), GenerLink generator safety products, Life Support medical priority service, surge protection, security lighting, and the Operation RoundUp community assistance program. Additional services include outage management tools, renewable energy options, EV charging resources, and the Co-op Connections discount card. The cooperative has been recognized for high member satisfaction, ranking among the top 5 Touchstone Energy cooperatives with an ACSI score of 93 in 2025-2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Core electricity distribution service to 10,600 residential, commercial, and agricultural members across Bartholomew County, Indiana, delivered through 1,249 miles of energized power lines and 12,227 meters, billed monthly.
• SmartHub Member Portal Mobile app and web portal enabling members to manage accounts, view bills, make payments, start/stop/transfer service, and report outages 24/7.
• GenerLink Generator Security Generator safety and connection product allowing members to safely connect standby generators to their homes during power outages.
• Surge Protection Program Equipment protection service guarding home electronics and appliances against power surges, offered to members as a subscription add-on.
• Security Light Program Outdoor security lighting service installed on member properties for safety and security purposes, billed as an add-on to monthly electric service.
• Life Support Program Priority restoration and notification service for members dependent on electrically powered life support equipment.
• Time-of-Use Rate Program Variable electricity rate structure that better reflects the true cost of electricity during production and peak demand periods, allowing members to save by shifting usage to off-peak hours.
• Real-Time Outage Map Interactive map service showing current power outages and restoration status across the BCREMC service territory for member transparency.

Quantifiable outcome

• ACSI member satisfaction score of 93/100 in Q1 2026, ranking in the top 5 of all Touchstone Energy cooperatives and 21 points above the average electric investor-owned utility score of 72
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hoosier EnergycoreOthersHoosier Energy is the wholesale power provider for Bartholomew County REMC. Capital credits retired from Hoosier Energy (for years 1994 and 1995) were refunded to BCREMC members as part of the cooperative's capital credit retirement program.
• Touchstone EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouchstone Energy is a national network of electric cooperatives. BCREMC participates in Touchstone Energy cooperative programs including Youth Tour, Touchstone Energy Camp, and is recognized among the top 5 Touchstone Energy cooperatives for ACSI member satisfaction.
• Indiana 811minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana 811 is the state's call-before-you-dig service that BCREMC directs members to use prior to any digging projects, as part of the cooperative's vegetation management and safety program.
• Indiana Youth TourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana Youth Tour is a program that sends high school juniors on a trip to Washington D.C. BCREMC sponsors local students to participate in this cooperative youth program.
• Touchstone Energy CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouchstone Energy Camp is a summer camp program for 6th graders that BCREMC promotes and sponsors for local elementary school students.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Hoosier Energy: Generation and Transmission (G&T) cooperative that is BCREMC's wholesale power supplier. Not a direct competitor but a critical counterpart; BCREMC's capital credit allocations include those passed through from Hoosier Energy, making it an ecosystem-defining relationship.
• Touchstone Energy: National network and brand of 750+ member-owned electric cooperatives. BCREMC is a Touchstone Energy member and is benchmarked against other Touchstone cooperatives for ACSI rankings, making the network a meaningful operational and reputational peer set.

Direct peers

• RushShelby Energy: Indiana electric cooperative formed by the merger of Rush County and Shelby County REMCs. Highly comparable as a Touchstone Energy-affiliated Indiana distribution cooperative with similar member-owned capital credit structure.
• Southern Indiana Power: Indiana electric distribution cooperative serving multiple rural counties in southern Indiana. Comparable scale and cooperative model, also operating in the same regional energy ecosystem as BCREMC.
• Jennings County REMC: Indiana rural electric membership cooperative serving Jennings County. Adjacent geographic peer operating under the same cooperative, regulatory, and wholesale framework as BCREMC, with similar member count and operational scope.
• Jackson County REMC: Indiana-based rural electric membership cooperative serving Jackson County. Most comparable peer to BCREMC given the same REMC structure, similar scale, contiguous Indiana geography, and membership in the Hoosier Energy G&T network.
• Harrison REMC: Indiana rural electric membership cooperative serving Harrison County. Closely comparable as a fellow Indiana REMC with similar territory size, member-owned governance, and capital credit program.
• Decatur County REMC: Indiana rural electric membership cooperative serving Decatur County. Directly comparable as a fellow REMC operating in central/southern Indiana within the same Hoosier Energy footprint with similar size and service characteristics.

Broad incumbents

• Duke Energy Indiana: Large investor-owned utility serving Indiana with overlapping service territory in some parts of the state. Broader incumbent offering regulated distribution at much greater scale; relevant for benchmarking on rates, reliability metrics, and customer experience, but does not directly compete with BCREMC in its exclusive territory.

Regional players

• Kenergy Corp. Kentucky electric distribution cooperative where BCREMC's CEO previously worked. Comparable as a Touchstone Energy cooperative of similar scale, but operates in a different state and serves a different wholesale power supplier (Big Rivers Electric).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bcremc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bartholomew-county-remc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Bartholomew County REMC