The Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative had its beginning
shortly after passage of the REA Act of 1936 which made loan finds
available to any company, public body, or private cooperative
interested in extending service to rural areas.
First, the rural group went to the local power company and
requested service, urging them to borrow REA funds. Told by the
power company that Rural Electrification would never be profitable
or practical, they petitioned country agents, civic service organizations
and political leaders to hold mass meetings to organize a home-owned
and operated non-profit cooperative to provide electric service
for their needs.
Such prominent local men as Aaron B. Hartwell, Henry N. Hatch,
Charles M. Davis, Harry E. Jester, William Hetzel, John J. Martin
Jr., Ralph Potter, Joseph L. Tupper and Charles J. Todd (original
Board of Directors) were instrumental in organizing Jefferson
Davis Electric Cooperative.
This group, through its combined efforts received a charter
under Louisiana law on September 17, 1941, but there was still
a long way to go before kerosene lamps would go out in Southwest
Louisiana.
The fledgling cooperative was little more than a dream, having
no office, stationery or equipment - just the determination of
a few endowed with a pioneering spirit and a fighting heart. Rural
Electrification Administration required a minimum of three members
per mile of line to insure loan feasibility. Often the organizers
paid their own expenses to solicit members using the offices of
the County Agent or Farm Bureau.
Cameron Parish, feeling the same need for electricity, tried
to form their own cooperative, but due to sparsely settled areas
which would not financially support the large investment necessary
to bring power to the area the people were advised to request
affiliation with the Jefferson Davis
Electric Cooperative which was already organized. They were readily
accepted and have been a great asset in the development of the
Cooperative.
The Cooperative Board in adding this additional territory appointed
new Board Members representing Cameron Parish. Despite the critics
and skeptics (and they are still around today), the first REA
loan in the amount of $60,000.00 was received by the Cooperative
on May 15, 1944 for
purchase of Grant Utilities in Cameron and for construction of
new lines in the Jeff Davis area. One of the most historic events
in the history of Cameron followed in May, 1944 when the first
lines of the Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative were energized.
On hand for the celebration were pioneer Board Members as follows:
Joseph L. Tupper, President; Henry N. Hatch, Vice President; Charles
M. Davis, Secretary-Treasurer; Harry E. Jester, William Hetzel,
John J. Martin Jr., C.A. Miller, Ralph Potter and C.J. Todd.
That momentous year, the members used an average of 57 kilowatt
hours per consumer per month with an average bill of $4.95 per
consumer. There were just four employees. The semi-annual payroll
was $2,584.22 the first year with only one service or maintenance
vehicle.
Today, the Cooperative has 1535 miles of modern distribution
and 103 miles of transmission lines serving 9568 meters. In 1998,
the average consumption per meter was 1525 kilowatt hours per
month. The average bill was $113.28 per meter.
As contrasted with the original REA loan of $60,000.00, today the Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative Inc. is a 32.3 million dollar enterprise, one of the largest in the area.