VMDAEC News
Virginia Co-ops Represented at Agribusiness Banquet
Representatives of Virginiaelectric cooperatives were among the participants at the annual legislative banquet of the Virginia Agribusiness Council.
Electric Cooperative Frida Restoration End is in Sight
Electric cooperatives in Virginia had restored power to more than 100,000 accounts within 72 hours of Winter Storm Frida, using all available resources and out-of-state mutual aid.
Electric Cooperatives Make Progress on Frida Restoration
Nine of the 13 electric cooperatives in Virginia had restored power to approximately 71,000 member accounts within less than 48 hours and had just scattered outages remaining.5,000.
Electric Cooperatives Restore Power in Wake of Winter Storm
Winter storm Frida brought another shining example of mutual aid, as electric cooperative lineworkers came from out of state to help put the power on in affected Virginia co-op territories.
Virginia Co-ops Are Major Part of Historic Broadband Funding
Virginia electric cooperatives are a major player in broadband grants and financing as they continue to make headway into closing the digital divide in the state.
Electric Cooperative Leaders Meet with Incoming Youngkin Team
Several electric cooperative CEOs recently met in Richmond with representatives of incoming Gov. Glenn Youngkin to outline the co-op stance on important issues of the day,
Gov. Northam Honors CVEC’s Gary Wood
During his latest broadband announcement in Goochland County, Va., Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam honored Gary Wood, president and CEO of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative and Firefly Fiber Broadband.
BARC Broadband Project to Air on VPM/PBS
BARC Electric Cooperative’s broadband project will be featured on “Life in the Heart Land,” a new series airing on VPM/PBS. The show explains how organizations are generating unique solutions to rural America’s toughest challenges.
Electric Cooperative Training Center Receives Dogwood Award
The Fluvanna Garden Club presented its biannual Dogwood Award on Oct. 28 to the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Electric Cooperative Training Center in Palmyra, Va., in a socially distanced ceremony.
2022 Scholarship Program to Open
Electric cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware are preparing to accept applications for their popular educational scholarship program from high school and homeschooled seniors who intend to pursue higher education studies in 2022.
Lineworker Training Program Opens on the Eastern Shore
The VMD Association of Electric Cooperatives and Choptank Electric Cooperative are teaming up to bring lineworker training to Delmarva.
Firefly Celebrates 10,000th Customer Mark
In three years, Firefly Fiber Broadband, a subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, has connected 10,000 customers as it seeks to bring high-speed internet to all 38,000 members and beyond.
Delaware Electric Cooperative Lineworker Honored for Life-saving Effort
The Sussex County EMS and Volunteer Ambulance Association has honored Delaware Electric Cooperative lineworker Sheron Sturgis for saving a driver’s life in 2020 following a horrific 2020 accident.
Firefly Helps Powhatan County in Broadband Effort
Firefly Fiber Broadband is working with officials in Powhatan County, Va., and Dominion Energy to seek funds to build out high-speed internet in the county.
Northern Neck Electric Co-op Donates Equipment to First Responders
Upper Lancaster Volunteer Fire Department is benefitting from a donation of a critical IT device from Northern Neck Electric Cooperative in honor of 9/11 first responders.
Electric Cooperatives Sponsor First Girl Power Camp
Eleven girls from six Virginia electric cooperatives attended the first Girl Power Camp, organized by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.
Lineworkers Graduate from Electric Cooperative Training Center
Twelve apprentice lineworkers are on their way to journeyman status after completing studies at the Electric Cooperative Training Center in Palmyra, Va.
VMD Association Hosts NRECA Regions 1&4 Meeting
The Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives hosted the NRECA Regions 1&4 meeting in September 2021.
REC’s Brian Wolfe Umpires Little League Softball World Series
Brian Wolfe of the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative communications team umpired the Little League Softball World Series.
PGEC Helps Surry County Achieve Universal Broadband
Prince George Electric Cooperative’s Ruralband subsidiary has helped rural Surry County, Va., achieve universal broadband coverage.
Community Electric Reelects Directors at Annual Meeting
Community Electric Cooperative members reelected three directors at the 2021 annual meeting.
REC Member-Owners Elect 3 Board Members at Annual Meeting
Members of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative elected three directors at the 2021 annual meeting.
SVEC Holds Successful 85th Annual Meeting
Larry Howdyshell was reelected as a director at the 2021 annual meeting of Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative.
Firefly Fiber Broadband Receives $14.1 Million Grant from USDA
USDA has provided a $14.1 million grant to Firefly to build broadband in unserved Central Virginia counties.
For the VMD Family, Virginia Beach Was the Place to Be
The Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives held its 77th annual meeting in late July in Virginia Beach.
Former Gov. McAuliffe Visits Va. Electric Cooperatives
Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe spent a tour touring electric cooperative facilities and learning about the cooperative business model.
Northern Neck Electric Cooperative Holds Successful Annual Meeting
Northern Neck Electric Cooperative held its annual meeting on Aug 4, 2021, with two board members reeelected,
BARC Holds In-Person Annual Meeting July 21
BARC Electric Cooperative held an in-person annual meeting on July 21, explaining its broadband and solar programs to members.
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Takes Key Role in Broadband Expansion
Hanover County, Va., has announced the “Connect Hanover” initiative to make broadband services available to residents living in unserved areas of the county with the help of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. County Administrator John A. Budesky announced that after a...
MEC and Youth Sports Are a Match
Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative and an anonymous donor are helping to upgrade youth sports facilities in Clarksville, Va.
REC Names Watson as Director of Government Affairs
Lindsey Watson is Rappahannock Electric Cooperative’s new director of government affairs.
Greg White Honored for Decades of Co-op Leadership
Greg White, who has held a variety of leadership posts, received the 2021 Electric Cooperative Leadership Award from the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.
New Leaders for Electric Cooperatives Association
Fred Garber of Mt. Jackson, Va., is the recipient of the Electric Cooperative Leadership Award from the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.
Fred Garber Receives Top Electric Cooperative Award
Fred Garber of Mt. Jackson, Va., is the recipient of the Electric Cooperative Leadership Award from the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.
High Margins, Continuing Broadband Progress Mark CVEC Annual Meeting
On June 23, the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and staffers held its 84th Annual Meeting, announcing that 2020 saw CVEC’s highest margins ever, partly due to its wholly owned subsidiary, Firefly Fiber Broadband. The meeting began with...
Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative Holds Successful Annual Meeting
Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative’s 2021 annual meeting was limited in scope because of health and safety protocols, but the co-op did have a successful 84th annual session on June 5 at its headquarters in New Castle. J.C. Winstead, president of the board of...
Northam Celebrates Groundbreaking on Northern Neck Broadband
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam visited Northern Neck Electric Cooperative on July 8 to celebrate the groundbreaking on the first phase of a project that will deliver fiber-optic broadband access to approximately 7,200 currently unserved households and businesses. Northam...
Community Electric Cooperative Hosts Del. Jenkins
Electric cooperatives not only serve members’ needs through the delivery of safe, reliable and affordable electric service; they also provide legislative advocacy. “State legislators are elected to serve the same group of people that make up our membership,” said...
Northern Neck Electric, Sen. Kaine Talk Rural Broadband
Northern Neck Electric Cooperative hosted U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine on June 30 for a regional discussion about broadband. Kaine visited the Northern Neck region to better understand the unique issues facing broadband deployment in rural areas. “As I work in the Senate on a...
Members Connect with Rappahannock EC through Telephone Town Hall
Member-owners of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative were able to connect directly with President and CEO John Hewa during a Telephone Town Hall event, which was held on Thursday, June 24. REC invited a random sample of 50,000 member-owners to participate in the call....