Two electric cooperatives celebrate a shared legacy of service
May 2026
Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative substation
by Laura Emery, Staff Writer
Ninety years ago, bringing electricity to rural areas required more than wires and poles. It took determination, cooperation and a shared commitment to improving life in rural communities.
In 1936, that shared vision led to the creation of Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative and Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative to deliver reliable, affordable electric service to rural residents who had long gone without it.
SVEC, headquartered in Rockingham, holds the distinction of being Virginia’s first electric cooperative, chartered June 26, 1936. CBEC, headquartered in Newcastle, followed soon after with its incorporation on Aug. 12, 1936. Their beginnings reflect a chapter in the broader story of rural electrification across America following the creation of the Rural Electrification Administration in May 1935.
Electricity didn’t just illuminate farms, homes and businesses. It changed how people lived and worked, expanding opportunities for generations to come. What began with hand-set poles and single wires stretched across remote, rugged terrain has grown into a resilient regional electric system.
Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative Office, late 1950s
Today, CBEC maintains more than 1,300 miles of line across Southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia. “Over the past nine decades, CBEC has grown and evolved with a changing world, while staying true to our roots and our commitment to the families, farmers and communities we serve,” says Jeff Ahearn, CEO of CBEC.
SVEC serves more than 104,000 meters across the Shenandoah Valley region and maintains more than 8,000 miles of electric lines. “We’re carrying on a tradition of great service while looking forward to many more decades of powering people’s lives,” says SVEC President and CEO Greg Rogers.
Although their service territories differ in size and geography, both cooperatives are built on local ownership, community focus and a commitment to serving members, not shareholders. For nine decades, the cooperative difference has shaped how the two organizations operate — from mutual aid and infrastructure investment to supporting communities and investing in local youth.
SVEC and CBEC remain guided by the same principles that first brought electricity to rural communities. Those principles continue to shape long-term decisions, ensuring reliable, affordable electric service. The legacy the original co-op members began is carried forward in every mile of line built, every new member served and every generation still benefitting from the foundation established nine decades ago.
