Adams Electric Cooperative, Inc.

What Adams Electric Cooperative, Inc. does

Adams Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, founded in 1940 and serving approximately 35,000 member-accounts across five counties in South Central Pennsylvania (Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, Perry, and York). The cooperative operates an exclusive franchised distribution territory through approximately 2,976 miles of line and roughly 53,500 utility poles, delivering retail electric service to residential, agricultural, and commercial members. Wholesale power is procured from Allegheny Electric Cooperative, with whom Adams and other member co-ops co-own the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station nuclear plant, providing generation and transmission scale benefits that individual members could not achieve independently.

The cooperative's technology stack centers on the SmartHub member portal for bill payment, account management, and outage reporting, complemented by a real-time outage map (adamsec.outagemap.coop), bi-directional metering for distributed generation interconnections, and the U-Shift, U-$ave load management program that uses DRU (demand response unit) switches at member premises to interrupt water heaters, air conditioning, and off-peak subpanels during peak demand. U-Shift has nearly 10,000 participants and has helped avoid over $32 million in peak power purchases. A Solar Dashboard (powered by AlsoEnergy) provides visibility into interconnected member-owned generation.

Adams Electric's business model is a pass-through cost-of-service utility structure with no externally disclosed revenue or profit. Members pay an energy supply charge (10.7¢/kWh as of February 2026, fully passed through), a distribution charge (3.3¢/kWh), a $1/month service connection fee (increased in 2026), a wholesale power cost adjustment, and a $0.25/month storm reserve. As a cooperative, any margins are returned to members as Ownership Rewards (patronage capital credits); cumulative returns exceed $58 million, including $2.8 million disbursed in March 2025. Beyond distribution, the cooperative generates additional revenue via U-Shift bill credits, the optional SurgeHELP surge protection program administered by HomeServe (since 2013), distributed generation recovery fees ($1/month) and avoided-cost buy-back, and through the Aero Energy subsidiary and partner services including PSECU and Co-op Connections discounts. GTM is exclusively direct-to-member via the SmartHub portal, member email/newsletters, the Penn Lines publication, annual meetings, and field/customer-service interactions; no third-party sales channels are used.

Name

Adams Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Legal name

Adams Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Website

https://adamsec.coop

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Adams Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving roughly 35,000 residential, agricultural, and commercial members across five counties in South Central Pennsylvania through 2,976 miles of distribution line and nearly 10,000-participant demand-response and renewable interconnection programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

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

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), Distributed Storage (Behind-the-Meter Batteries) (EUAMAJAE)

Keywords

• Electric distribution services
• Cooperative utility services
• Load management programs
• Residential electricity supply
• Renewable energy interconnection

Headquarters

HQ city

Gettysburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electric Distribution Service: Adams Electric generates revenue primarily through electricity distribution fees charged to its member-customers. Members pay for energy supply (the cost of electricity generation/purchase, passed through at 10.7 cents/kWh as of 2026), distribution charges (3.3 cents/kWh plus $1/month service connection fee), a wholesale power cost adjustment (0.1 cents/kWh), and a $0.25/month storm reserve. The cooperative is not-for-profit and returns margins to members as Ownership Rewards (patronage capital credits).
2. Energy Supply Pass-Through: The cost of electricity generated or purchased and delivered to the cooperative is passed directly through to members with no mark-up. Energy supply is priced at 10.7 cents per kilowatt hour as of 2026. This represents the largest component of member bills.
3. U-Shift Program Bill Credits: Members participating in U-Shift load management programs receive monthly bill credits ($15/month for water heater switches, $7.50/month for heat pump water heaters, $15 seasonal credit for AC) in exchange for allowing the cooperative to interrupt their devices during peak demand. The cooperative avoids purchasing expensive peak power as a result.
4. SurgeHELP Protection Program: Optional monthly surge protection program administered through HomeServe, ranging from $3.50/month (up to $1,000 protection/year) to $9.50/month (up to $5,000 protection/year). Adams Electric is the pass-through provider, with claims and administration handled by HomeServe. Program has been offered since 2013.
5. Alternative Generation / Distributed Generation Fees: Members with interconnected solar or alternative generation systems pay a $1/month DG recovery fee. The cooperative also earns from excess generation buy-back at an avoided-cost rate set by Allegheny Electric Cooperative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Adams Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative that delivers electricity to approximately 35,000 residential, agricultural, and commercial members across South Central Pennsylvania. The cooperative distributes power sourced from Allegheny Electric Cooperative, supports member-owned distributed generation (solar/wind) interconnections, and offers energy management programs such as U-Shift/U-$ave load control, surge protection (SurgeHELP), and online account self-service via SmartHub.

Product overview

Adams Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a member-owned electric distribution utility that provides a comprehensive suite of energy services rather than a single software product. The core offerings center on the SmartHub member portal for account management and bill payment, combined with the U-Shift load management program family (including Water Heating, Air Conditioning, and Off-Peak Rate sub-programs) that helps members reduce electricity costs during peak demand periods. Additional services include surge protection (SurgeHELP), renewable/alternative energy support with solar interconnection, walk-through energy audits, home energy calculators, CFL/LED recycling, and generator safety guidance. The cooperative also offers member assistance programs including Project Helping Hand, New Hope Hardship Fund, and scholarship opportunities. The company provides real-time outage tracking through an online outage map and supports alternative generation through bi-directional metering and interconnection agreements. While the cooperative leverages technology platforms for service delivery including SmartHub for member self-service and a Solar Dashboard for interconnected solar members, there is no indication of a public API or developer platform being offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartHub: Online account management and bill payment platform for members to view/pay bills, report outages, and access services
• U-Shift, U-$ave
• Ownership Rewards
• Project Helping Hand
• Penn Lines

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $58 million in Ownership Rewards returned to members over all years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAllegheny Electric Cooperative is Adams Electric's generation and transmission (G&T) supplier. Adams purchases all its power needs from Allegheny, which both generates and purchases power through owned resources and contracts. Adams and other member cooperatives co-own the Susquehanna Steam Electric Plant nuclear power station through Allegheny. Allegheny also sets the avoided-cost buy-back rate for Adams's distributed generation (solar) members and administers the IPPA (Interconnection and Power Purchase) agreements with solar members.
• Adams County Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Adams County Community Foundation administers the Project Helping Hand (PHH) program funds for Adams Electric Cooperative. PHH is a voluntary member contribution program providing limited funding to co-op members who need assistance paying their electric bills. The foundation issues acknowledgement letters at year-end for PHH donations.
• Pine Bottom AviationminorOthersContracted helicopter patrol service conducting annual aerial inspections of Adams Electric's power system. The crew consists of a pilot and one lineman. Flies an average of 6–8 hours per day in appropriate weather conditions, inspecting for broken cross arms, damaged wires, and tree interference. Based in Martinsburg, PA.
• Osmose Utility Services, Inc.minorOthersContracted pole inspection company that surveys and inspects Adams Electric's power lines and utility poles annually (~10% of 53,500 poles per year). Inspections identify damage, decay, and other issues that could impact reliability. Rejected poles are documented and scheduled for replacement; poles with lesser decay are treated to extend useful life.
• Aero EnergyminorOthersAero Energy is Adams Electric's subsidiary that provides generator-related services. The co-op refers members to Aero Energy for generator purchasing and services. Adams Electric can also check a member's permanently-installed generator and its installation free of charge.
• Adams County Dollars for Scholars (Dollars for Scholars)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdams Electric partners with Adams County Dollars for Scholars to administer its $1,500 continuing education scholarships to high school seniors whose parents/guardians are cooperative members. Scholarship applications are submitted through the Adams County DFS web portal at adamscountydfs.org.
• America's Electric Cooperatives PACminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdams Electric participates in America's Electric Cooperatives PAC, a political action committee for the electric cooperative industry at the national level, as part of its member engagement and advocacy efforts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aec_coop
• Facebookfacebook.com/AdamsEC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adams-electric-cooperative-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Adams Electric Cooperative, Inc.