Annual Meeting

United Electric Cooperative, Inc. hosts an Annual Meeting to engage members and provide updates on the cooperative’s operations and achievements.

The meeting includes reports from leadership, financial summaries, and the election of board members.

It offers members an opportunity to participate, ask questions, and stay informed about the cooperative’s direction and plans.

United Electric Celebrates 90 Years at 2026 Annual Meeting

2026

United Electric’s 2026 Annual Meeting of the Members drew an especially strong turnout as the cooperative marked its 90th anniversary in Luthersburg on Wednesday, May 20. The evening began with a high-voltage safety demonstration at 6:30 p.m., giving members an up-close look at the dangers of electricity and drawing an attentive crowd. At 7 p.m., Board Chairman Stephen Marshall called the meeting to order and welcomed more than 375 members, family members, and guests. He also recognized fellow board members and extended a warm welcome to special guests Steve Brame, president and CEO of Allegheny Electric Cooperative (Allegheny) and the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association (PREA), as well as Michael Crawford, senior technical editor for Penn Lines magazine.

Board Secretary/Treasurer Eileen Pisaneschi read the official Annual Meeting Notice published in the May issue of Penn Lines, which was mailed to all United Electric members on May 1, 2026. “The Annual Meeting will be held May 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Brady Township Community Center in Luthersburg, PA,” she read. “At the time of the mailing there were 16,302 members of the Cooperative.”

Following motions from the floor to approve the 2025 Annual Meeting minutes and 2025 financial reports, Chairman Marshall reflected on the retirement of two longtime board members: Shanelle Hawk of District 1 and Arden Owens of District 7, both of whom served for 30 years. “It’s hard work. A lot was accomplished at United together with you both,” he said. He also thanked members for their continued support, adding, “Thank you for sticking with us and helping us get to where we are today in our 90th year.”

President and CEO Len Hawkins then addressed the audience with a special message of appreciation for Hawk and Owens. “Thank you for your leadership. This cooperative is stronger today because of your contributions,” he said. “Your willingness to ask questions has directly contributed to the health of United Electric.” The two retiring board members were then presented with bronze plaques in recognition of their dedication and years of service.

Hawkins followed with a photo slideshow tracing the story of United Electric Cooperative back to 1936. He reminded attendees that the cooperative was founded in response to a challenge others had overlooked: bringing electricity to rural communities. “On Christmas Eve in 1937, electricity reached the first 95 members of Central Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Clearfield. That organization later became Clearfield Electric Cooperative under the leadership of A.L. Orner. Jefferson Electric Cooperative, known as Jeffco, held its first meeting in Brookville in 1939. In 1966, the two cooperatives merged to form United Electric, uniting their shared commitment to service.” Hawkins noted that the newly formed cooperative had 46 employees and 9,090 meters, compared with 51 employees and 19,128 meters today—an example of how technology and efficiency continue to support the delivery of safe, reliable, and affordable power. United’s early years were also highlighted in the March and April 2026 editions of Penn Lines.

Hawkins then introduced Steve Brame, president and CEO of the PREA, United’s statewide service organization, and Allegheny, the cooperative’s generation and transmission supplier.

Brame echoed Hawkins’ remarks in honoring Hawk and Owens and shared that central Pennsylvania will always feel like home to him. He also reflected on the significance of the 90th anniversary, “Rural electrification remains one of the nation’s most important development achievements. Pennsylvania cooperatives and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) have a special relationship: 10 percent of NYPA’s hydropower continues to be used by Pennsylvania cooperatives under the original conditions established for the Niagara and St. Lawrence hydroelectric project. Roughly one out of every 10 kilowatt-hours used in your home comes from that source. Morris Cooke of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the architect of the NYPA plan, later became the first administrator of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), now the Rural Utilities Service (RUS). The governor of New York brought Cooke to Washington, D.C. with him. Why? Because Franklin Delano Roosevelt believed that Cooke’s model of ensuring neighboring states and rural people benefit from electrification had merit.”

Brame continued, sharing a copy of a Western Union telegram from Cooke announcing a $310,000 loan to Clearfield Electric Cooperative for the construction of distribution lines in Clearfield County. This moment carried special significance, as the REA was signed into law on May 20, 1936—exactly 90 years ago on this day.

Patrick Lavelle, Judge of Elections, reported the results of the director elections for Districts 1 and 7, “In accordance with cooperative bylaws, incumbent directors are automatically nominated unless they decline, while new nominations require at least 25 member signatures from the candidate’s district. Because both races were uncontested, no vote was necessary. In District 1, Terry Rapp of Mayport was elected following the incumbent Shanelle Hawk’s declination to run due to retirement. In District 7, Richard Owens of Frenchville was elected following the incumbent Arden Owens’ declination to run also due to retirement. Congratulations to the new directors.”

With the cooperative’s business concluded, Chairman Marshall said he looks forward to the contributions of the new board members as they continue strengthening the cooperative. He also took time to wish Hawk and Owens well and offered heartfelt thanks for their unwavering support, leadership, and dedication to United Electric’s continued success.

Annual Meeting

United Electric Celebrates 90 Years at 2026 Annual Meeting

2026

Mailing Address

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Member Support

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United Electric Celebrates 90 Years at 2026 Annual Meeting

2026

Official Business Begins

Honoring Service, Reflecting on History

A Message from a Special Guest

Election Results

Mailing Address

Contact Information

Member Support

Quick Links