Most days, flipping a switch feels so ordinary that we hardly pause to appreciate it. Light comes on, appliances hum to life, and our routines continue without interruption. But when something doesn’t work, we’re jolted into awareness, reminded that electricity, though ever-present, is still a modern marvel.
My father understood this better than most. He spent his early childhood on a farm without electricity and vividly recalled the excitement as poles rose across the countryside and lines stretched to homes like his. The moment that first bulb glowed in their kitchen wasn’t just a convenience; it was a symbol of possibility. Remembering his stories reminds me that what we take for granted today was, not so long ago, a life-changing step forward.
Serving as a cooperative director has opened my eyes to how much work, planning, and collaboration make that simple switch possible. Electric cooperatives are unique: unlike investor-owned utilities that operate for profit, cooperatives exist solely for their members.
Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC) is one of 26 not-for-profit electric cooperatives in North Carolina, all working together through North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC), a network that includes power genereation, power purchasing, materials procurement, and shared governance. It is truly a cooperative of cooperatives, united in the mission to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable electricity.
And we never do this work in isolation. Power is generated in many ways, including natural gas, coal, nuclear, solar, wind, and hydro, and then moves across the vast, interconnected grid. This system of substations, transformers, poles, overhead and underground lines, and digital controls spans counties, states, and regions. Every utility in the country depends on this network, and every utility contributes to its strength. Reliability, quite literally, is a shared effort.
Looking ahead, the planning required to keep the lights on is immense. A major project that becomes operational today often started more than a decade ago. And even now, planners are working on what our communities will need in the 2040s and beyond.
With rapid population growth, new industries, and advances in technology, demand is increasing faster than ever. A new facility built several counties away, or even in another state, can influence power needs right here at home. It’s a powerful reminder that the grid is one interconnected system, and success depends on constant communication, cooperation, and foresight.
At CCEC, we’re investing in projects designed to strengthen the grid, improve resilience, and prepare for the growing demands of the future. These efforts help ensure that our system remains dependable during severe weather, continued growth, and emerging challenges.
Members also play an essential role. Programs like Connect My Thermostat and Beat the Peak help manage energy use during high-demand periods, ensuring grid stability, and assist in keeping costs lower for everyone.
Today, when I drive through our communities or walk through my neighborhood, I catch myself looking at power lines and substations with a sense of appreciation. In just eighty-five years, we’ve gone from a single lightbulb in a farmhouse kitchen to an electric grid that powers modern life in ways early generations could never have imagined. And I can’t help but wonder what the next few decades will bring.
One thing is certain: the cooperative spirit that once brought electricity to rural America is still guiding us. It’s alive in our planning, in our partnerships, and in the everyday choices we make together. And it will continue to light the way forward—to a stronger, more reliable energy future for all of us.