Editorial

Our first 75 years of service helped grow rural Mississippi

By Michael Callahan

Michael Callahan,
Executive Vice President/CEO
EPAs of Mississippi

When a company continues to grow and improve over the course of some 75 years, that’s something to celebrate.

Eight of the 26 electric power associations in Mississippi have celebrated their 75th anniversary in recent years. Six more will join this exclusive club this year, with nine to follow next year. How many companies can you name that are still around (and still relevant) after 75 years?

It’s a point of pride for us that the electric power associations organized in this state beginning in 1934 are as vital to local communities today as they were in their early years.

Through the years, electric power associations have delivered more than electricity to rural Mississippi. They have, for example, served as catalysts for economic development by making their service areas more inviting to business and industry. No business can prosper in an area that does not have reliable, affordable electric service.

For some companies, the cost of electricity alone can determine whether they choose to build a plant in Mississippi. So we have to make sure our service is not only highly dependable but also competitively priced.

As a result, electric power associations serve some of the largest electrical loads in the state, including pulp mills, oil and gas facilities, and industrial parks.

We provide service to some of Mississippi’s premier industrial parks, such as Port Bienville Industrial Park in Hancock County and the newly created Linbrook Industrial Park in Brookhaven.

Electric power associations also have a long history as an important employer in small towns across Mississippi. An electric power association is a place where a person can work for decades and know he or she is making a real difference in the community. Our employees are devoted to providing efficient service to members. But many are also active in leadership roles in their churches, civic clubs, schools and local charitable campaigns.

I’m impressed—but not surprised—by the number of electric power association employees who retire with 40 or more years of loyal service to their credit. Our collective work force represents thousands of years of service, a real advantage in our everyday operations and especially when a major storm causes massive power outages. These employees know every detail of emergency power restoration, from communications to work force coordination to re-energizing power lines.

How does this vast experience benefit you? Simply put, you enjoy electric service that ranks among the safest, most reliable and most affordable in the world.
As more electric power associations reach their 75th anniversary, each one will celebrate in its own way. I encourage you to take the time to learn more about the history of your own electric power association. Chances are it was started by a small group of local farmers who wanted electric service for their rural homes and farms. They created an electric cooperative that would be owned and controlled by the people it served, a concept that would benefit the community beyond their dreams.

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The official publication of the ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATIONS of MISSISSIPPI