“Our commitment to the community proudly makes us the ‘power of human connections’ in the areas we serve.” -Pee Dee Electric
In operation since 1939, Pee Dee Electric, our local touchstone energy cooperative, is a not-for-profit organization with a goal of providing reliable and dependable electric service for members, while also guaranteeing legendary customer service throughout all levels of the organization.
A “touchstone” was a tool used by miners to test the quality and authenticity of gold or silver. Today, the brand Touchstone Energy serves as the national “gold standard” for co-ops, demonstrating excellence in service, community engagement and innovation.
Cooperatives are owned by the members they serve and operate as not-for-profit organizations. Unlike conventional investor-owned corporations, cooperatives prioritize benefit for the consumer. Cooperatives operate on a democratic basis and every member has a voice in their cooperative’s governance. Cooperatives answer to their members, not to shareholders.
Pee Dee Electric is a member-owned distributor of electric power and serves more than 20,000 members within Anson, Richmond, Union, Stanly, Montgomery, Moore and Scotland counties within North Carolina. Although the corporate office for the cooperative is located in Wadesboro, the district office is in Rockingham.
On Monday, April 13, Pee Dee Electric, in concert with other electric cooperatives across the state and nation, celebrated Lineworker Appreciation Day as an annual tribute to the outstanding contributions of line workers. Unfortunately, celebratory plans were thwarted by horrific storms early Monday morning. However, all celebration is certainly not lost, as national calendars have the annual honor slated for April 18.
Regarding COVID-19 response efforts and in line with its core characteristics of dependability and perseverance, this local cooperative has certainly, as it always does in times of uncertainty and potential danger, not shied away from the storm. While it may not be producing items or materials to defend against the global threat, it is part of the foundational support to other industries that are producing front-line defense products.
Vice President of Engineering and Operations Tony Eason says they have made numerous adjustments and considerations in relation to the current pandemic. The assignment of a “critical customer” classification to essential businesses that are working to produce or provide direct relief aids ensures top priority in power maintenance and restoration.
Pee Dee Electric and the fearless linemen who work for the electric power distributor are not only COVID-19 heroes, but they are local heroes as evidenced earlier this week. We are so proud and thankful that Richmond County is served by this member-committed cooperative and for their everyday efforts in the face of danger to keep us all connected.
Meghann Lambeth is director of the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority. She is writing a series on how local industries are contributing to the COVID-19 effort, which will also be published at the Richmond Observer. You can read the original post here.
