2024 WIRE Scholarships Available for Kentucky College Students

The Kentucky Chapter of Women in Rural Electrification (WIRE) is offering three $1,000 scholarships to Kentucky college students.  The scholarships are open to any applicant who meets the following criteria: • Student or Student’s family must be served by a Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative. • Student…

The historic start of the Electric Cooperative Caucus 

For the first time in the 87-year history of electric cooperatives in Kentucky, lawmakers in Frankfort have made the historic move to form the Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative Caucus, advocating for the interests of local co-op consumer-members across the commonwealth.  “Electric cooperatives are a vital and…

Jim Gooch and Brandon Smith recognized for energy leadership

For their leadership on issues affecting the ability of electric cooperatives to deliver reliable electricity as efficiently as possible, two veteran lawmakers are the recipients of the 2023 Kentucky Electric Cooperatives Power Partner Award.  Sen. Brandon Smith, of Hazard, and Rep. Jim Gooch, of Providence, received…

Big Rivers names Don Gulley new CEO

Succeeds Bob Berry after nationwide search  After an extensive, nationwide search, the Big Rivers Electric Corporation board of directors has named Don Gulley as the organization’s next president and chief executive officer. Gulley has been president and CEO of Southern Illinois Power Cooperative (SIPC), a generation and…

‘Cleaning Up Kentucky’ Recognized as the 2023 Beautify the Bluegrass Governor’s Award Winner

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 29, 2023) – Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Chris Perry, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives President and CEO, presented the 2023 Beautify the Bluegrass Governor’s Award to Whitney Lewis of Cleaning Up Kentucky today. For the seventh year in a row, the Governor’s office, Kentucky’s…

$12M in broadband funds to Pennyrile Electric

The broadband expansion efforts in the Pennyrile Electric service territory are getting a $12 million boost from the Kentucky Broadband Deployment Fund. In 2021, the Kentucky General Assembly allocated $300 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to the fund for the construction of high-speed internet infrastructure…

Tim Farmer Honored as 2023 Distinguished Rural Kentuckian

Kentucky Co-ops Present Award at 77th Annual Meeting that Emphasized Grid Reliability Kentucky Electric Cooperatives recognized outdoorsman and television host Tim Farmer as its 2023 Distinguished Rural Kentuckian during the co-op association’s 77th Annual Meeting in Louisville. As the host of “Kentucky Afield” for 20…

Eight million transformers | UUS cheers ERMCO

Kentucky-based United Utility Supply Cooperative (UUS) is congratulating its sister cooperative and strategic partner ERMCO, Inc. upon the manufacture of its eight-millionth transformer since the company was founded in 1972. At a ceremony at ERMCO's Dyersburg, Tennessee plant on June 29, ERMCO President and CEO…

Biden’s War on Affordable Energy

Column by U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell “I want you to look me in the eyes,” President Biden told a young woman during his 2020 presidential campaign. “I guarantee you. We’re going to end fossil fuel.” Well, the President is making good on that…

Big Rivers HQ officially open

Congratulations to Big Rivers Electric Corporation as it officially opened its new headquarters with a ribbon cutting in Owensboro on Tuesday. The cooperative's board and staff were joined by representatives from member-owners Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative, Kenergy Corp and Meade County RECC, as well as city officials,…