ROOTED IN COMMUNITY. POWERED BY MEMBERS. SERVING WITH PURPOSE SINCE 1940 It's easy to take electricity for granted. Flip a switch, and the lights come on. But not long ago, families in rural America lived without the conveniences we now consider essential. No lights, no heat at the push of a button, and no indoor plumbing. Life was hard, and progress felt out of reach. That began to change in 1935, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 7037, establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). While investor-owned utilities and municipalities focused on cities and towns, rural residents joined forces to bring power to their communities. Newberry Electric Cooperative was born from that movement. Organized on June 17, 1940, and energized on January 7, 1941, the co-op began with just a handful of employees and a bold mission: to deliver reliable electricity to the people of rural South Carolina. Today, we're proud to serve more than 10,000 members across Newberry, Fairfield, Lexington and Laurens counties. With 43 dedicated employees and over 1,629 miles of power lines, we have grown from serving small family farms to powering homes, manufacturers and businesses throughout the region. Our mission has continued to evolve. In 2016, recognizing that access to high-speed internet is as essential today as electricity was in the 1940s, we launched Carolina Connect, our broadband initiative. Today, more than 6,000 members rely on Carolina Connect for fast, reliable internet that supports education, work and opportunities. Much has changed over the past 85 years, but our core commitment remains the same. We continue to provide safe, reliable and affordable service while investing in the communities we proudly call home. It is our honor to serve you. We look forward to the next 85 years of powering progress together. NEC NEWBERRY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. Your Touchstone Energy Cooperative CAROLINACONNECT ROOTED IN COMMUNITY . POWERED BY MEMBERS . SERVING WITH PURPOSE SINCE 1940 It's easy to take electricity for granted . Flip a switch , and the lights come on . But not long ago , families in rural America lived without the conveniences we now consider essential . No lights , no heat at the push of a button , and no indoor plumbing . Life was hard , and progress felt out of reach . That began to change in 1935 , when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 7037 , establishing the Rural Electrification Administration ( REA ) . While investor - owned utilities and municipalities focused on cities and towns , rural residents joined forces to bring power to their communities . Newberry Electric Cooperative was born from that movement . Organized on June 17 , 1940 , and energized on January 7 , 1941 , the co - op began with just a handful of employees and a bold mission : to deliver reliable electricity to the people of rural South Carolina . Today , we're proud to serve more than 10,000 members across Newberry , Fairfield , Lexington and Laurens counties . With 43 dedicated employees and over 1,629 miles of power lines , we have grown from serving small family farms to powering homes , manufacturers and businesses throughout the region . Our mission has continued to evolve . In 2016 , recognizing that access to high - speed internet is as essential today as electricity was in the 1940s , we launched Carolina Connect , our broadband initiative . Today , more than 6,000 members rely on Carolina Connect for fast , reliable internet that supports education , work and opportunities . Much has changed over the past 85 years , but our core commitment remains the same . We continue to provide safe , reliable and affordable service while investing in the communities we proudly call home . It is our honor to serve you . We look forward to the next 85 years of powering progress together . NEC NEWBERRY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE , INC . Your Touchstone Energy Cooperative CAROLINACONNECT