Manager Articles

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

JULY 2026

Your Cooperative in the Community

Summer is one of the busiest and most rewarding times of the year at Darke Rural Electric Cooperative. It is a season filled with county fairs, youth activities, community events, and opportunities to connect with the members we proudly serve every day. 

While our employees work year-round to provide safe and reliable electricity, summer gives us a chance to step outside the office and into the communities that make our cooperative special. Whether it is talking with members at a local event, supporting area youth programs, or simply seeing familiar faces at the fair, these moments remind us what being a cooperative is all about. 

One event we always look forward to is the Preble County Jr. Fair Exhibitor Picnic, which we host alongside Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. Supporting local youth and agriculture has long been important to both of our cooperatives. The picnic is a simple way to show appreciation to the young people and families who work so hard throughout fair season. Agriculture remains a vital part of our rural communities, and we are proud to support the next generation through events like this. 

We are also excited for another year at the Great Darke County Fair. This year’s fair booth will carry special meaning as we continue celebrating Darke REC’s 90th anniversary. For 90 years, our cooperative has been powered by the members and communities we serve. What began in 1936 as a mission to bring electricity to rural homes has grown into a continued commitment to improving quality of life throughout our service area. 

As part of the celebration, we will have giveaways throughout all 9 days of the fair and invite members to stop by the booth to visit with employees and trustees, learn more about the cooperative, and celebrate this milestone with us. Events like the fair allow us to connect with members in ways that go beyond providing electricity. They remind us that we are more than a utility, we are your local cooperative. 

That local connection also comes with a responsibility we take seriously. Our members count on us to provide power that is there when they need it, while also keeping rates as affordable as possible. That balance is at the center of every decision your board of trustees and employees make. 

Providing reliable electricity takes ongoing planning, maintenance, and investment behind the scenes. Crews work year-round maintaining lines and equipment, improving our system, preparing for storms, and responding when outages occur. Many of those efforts are not always visible day to day, but they are critical to keeping the lights on for the homes, farms, and businesses we serve. 

At the same time, we understand affordability matters to our members and families. We know every dollar counts, and we recognize that our members expect us to manage the cooperative responsibly. As a member-owned cooperative, our focus is not on generating profits for shareholders. Our responsibility is to make decisions that serve the long-term best interests of the people who rely on us every day. 

Over the coming months, your board of trustees will continue discussions focused on balancing affordability with the reliable service our members expect. Those conversations are never taken lightly. The goal remains the same as it has been for the last 90 years: to provide dependable electricity at the lowest possible cost while continuing to meet the needs of our growing and changing system. 

As summer continues, I encourage you to take advantage of the many community events happening throughout our area and to stop by and see us at the fair. On behalf of all of us at Darke REC, thank you for allowing us to serve your families, farms, homes, and businesses for the past 90 years. We look forward to continuing that commitment for generations to come.