Cuivre River Electric Cooperative entered 2026 with a clear priority: deliver safe, reliable, and affordable electricity while preparing for rapidly changing member needs.
As Missouri’s largest electric distribution cooperative, CREC continues to serve more than 75,000 individual, family, and business members across Lincoln, Montgomery, Pike, St. Charles, and Warren counties.
During the year, the cooperative progressed its multi-year system construction program, supported regional generation expansion, returned capital credits to members, and strengthened its long-term capacity to meet rising demand driven by housing growth, electrification, and new technologies.
Reliable electricity is no longer simply a convenience — it is essential to modern life, economic opportunity, and public safety. Throughout this year, Cuivre River Electric Cooperative remained focused on the mission that has guided the organization for decades: providing reliable service at the lowest possible cost. That commitment shaped major investments in distribution infrastructure, continued coordination with generation and transmission partners, and careful financial stewardship in an environment of rising materials, labor, and power supply costs.
CREC’s service territory continues to grow, and the demands placed on the electric system are changing quickly. Increased adoption of electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, digital technologies, and higher overall energy usage are reshaping the way cooperatives plan for the future. In response, CREC is investing in reliability, grid modernization, and system capacity while maintaining its cooperative commitment to members. The result is a stronger system today and a more resilient foundation for the years ahead. Two new power plants are scheduled to come online in the next few months. This increased capacity will help ensure the reliability that our members have come to expect.
All of these investments into increased reliability have put upward pressure on the rates CREC members pay. It’s important to note that these investments in grid infrastructure are due to organic member growth in the demand for electricity. These investments are not due to any large-scale loads. With nearly 70% of the total expenses CREC pays, power and transmission cost increases make it necessary for CREC rates to increase. However, due to growth and financial management, CREC can absorb a significant portion of these costs. As such, CREC continues to be one of the lowest-cost electricity providers in the Midwest.
CREC believes that being a member of a cooperative is different than being a customer. As such, each member is eligible to receive capital credits. During the past year, the Board of Directors approved returning over $7.3 million to the membership. With this total, nearly $50 million has been returned to members over the past seven years.
Community commitment remains central to the mission of CREC. Our Operation Round Up program continues to give back to community organizations and individuals. The Cuivre Cares program engages employees to help with service projects. Employees visit schools for safety courses, job fairs, and equipment demonstrations. CREC helps train first responders on electric safety when arriving on the scene of an accident. These are just a few of the ways CREC demonstrates the cooperative principle of Concern for Community.
The electric industry is changing rapidly. The future will require disciplined investment, planning, and a continued commitment to member value. At CREC, we are prepared to do just that, as we are positioned well to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. It is truly our pleasure to serve you.