Manager Articles

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

AUGUST 2025

Rooted in Community, Ready to Help
 

One of the things that makes me proud to lead Darke Rural Electric Cooperative is how deeply rooted we are in our local communities. When we say we’re member-owned, that’s not just a slogan—it’s how we operate. Everything we do comes back to serving the people who live and work right here in our own backyard. I wanted to share just a few of the ways we’ve been showing up for our communities.

Through Operation Round Up, our members round up their electric bills to the next dollar, and those extra cents go straight back into the community to support local causes—like first responders, youth programs, and food banks. It’s a simple idea, but it adds up to a big impact. What some folks may not know is that employees also donate to Operation Round Up—not because they have to, but because they believe in it. Just like our members, they want to give back and be part of something that makes a real difference right here at home. It’s one more way our team shows they care about the people we serve. 

This summer, we continued some traditions that mean a lot to us. We partnered with our neighbor, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, by firing up the grill again for the Exhibitor Picnic at the Preble County Fair. We served 800 hotdogs to 4-H and FFA families as they moved in and started a busy week of fair. We’re proud to support these young leaders and the hard work they put into their projects.

During the school year, we’ve loved being part of Cooperative Night at National Trail, and we’ll be back again soon. Our team also continues to bring powerline safety demonstrations to area schools—one of the most impactful things we can do to keep our young people safe around electricity.

That same passion for safety will be on display this coming November, when we’ll host a First Responder Powerline Safety Workshop right here at our office. These men and women are first on the scene in emergencies, and we want to make sure they have the knowledge to keep themselves—and others—safe when electricity is involved. It’s one more way we can support those who protect us.

You’ll also see us at the Darke County Fair this month with a booth focused on something that’s important to every household: energy efficiency. We’ll have tools, resources, and advice to help you make your home more efficient. 

And if you want to take it a step further, join us for our Energy Efficiency Member Education Event on September 30. We’ll offer real solutions for lowering your energy use, and our team will be available to schedule an in-home energy audit to help you find the best path forward.

At the end of the day, it’s not just about keeping the lights on—it’s about being a trusted partner. Whether we’re at a fair, a school, or just on the other end of the phone, we’re here to serve you with integrity, transparency, and care.

Thanks for being part of our cooperative family. We’ll see you at the fair!