Overview

West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) is a non-profit Touchstone Energy® Cooperative owned by its members and locally operated. WFEC serves approximately 28,000 meters, providing dependable electricity and other services at competitive prices in Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson and Washington Counties in Northwest Florida.

Established in 1937, WFEC is headquartered at 5282 Peanut Road in Graceville, Fla., and maintains district offices in Bonifay, and in Sneads. WFEC’s service area is divided into nine districts, each represented by a member-elected trustee.

Unlike an investor-owned utility, which distributes profits from energy sales in the form of dividends to its shareholders, WFEC repays net margins to its members. Revenue derived in excess of the cost of providing electricity is returned to WFEC’s members in the form of member equity, or “capital credits.”

As a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative, WFEC is part of a national alliance of consumer-owned electric cooperatives providing high standards of service to member-owners, large and small and to their communities. WFEC is among the more than 600 Touchstone Energy® cooperatives in 40 states delivering energy and related services to more than 18 million consumers throughout the United States. Forming the nation’s largest electric utility marketing network, WFEC and other Touchstone Energy® cooperatives share technologies, resources and buying power while retaining a local presence and commitment to serve residential and industrial members with integrity, accountability, innovation and community involvement.

In addition to electricity, WFEC offers local dial-up Internet service; WildBlue high-speed Internet service; Digital Satellite Systems (DSS) for purchase or lease; the Touchstone Energy Home® energy efficiency program; portable, standby and PTO drive backup power generators; whole-house surge suppression for purchase or lease; Frigidaire, GE and Hotpoint appliances; EZ Pay Power pre-paid metering, and long distance phone service. WFEC also plays a leading role in local economic development efforts, contributing to the recruitment of new industries and expansion of existing businesses through zero- and low-interest loans and the revolving loan fund (RLF) in Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson and Washington Counties.

WFEC receives wholesale power from Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AEC), a generation and transmission cooperative, based in Andalusia, Ala. AEC is wholly owned by WFEC and the 19 other distribution cooperatives and municipalities it serves in Alabama and in Northwest Florida. Two WFEC delegates, along with representatives from AEC’s other member systems, participate in the management of AEC’s policies, rules, and regulations and the establishment of rates, terms and conditions affecting the wholesale power supply.

The cooperative demonstrates its commitment to community through its support of organizations that serve area residents, such as the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Hospice, Alzheimer’s Association and many other civic and non-profit organizations. The Co-op actively supports local schools through its annual Youth Tour competition, in which local high school juniors learn about government and cooperative operations and compete for a trip to Washington, D.C.  Other programs include: Safety City (a line-voltage electrical safety demonstration), Project Graduation sponsorships, career fair participation, Partners in Excellence in Education, and cooperative tours.