Powering Communities Since 1937
Our story began when most rural families in America still lived without electricity. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) to bring power to underserved rural areas.
In 1937, 10 local farmers and community leaders from Major, Woods, and Alfalfa counties formed the M.W.A. Co-op to deliver reliable, affordable electricity across northwest Oklahoma. Within a year, more than 660 meters were energized, transforming life for families and farms across the region.
By 1939, the cooperative became Alfalfa Electric Cooperative, Inc. — built on the First Cooperative Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership. This means anyone who uses our service and accepts the responsibilities of membership is welcome, no matter their background. From the start, AEC has been about neighbors helping neighbors, owned and guided by the people we serve.
What is a Cooperative?
Electric cooperatives are private, not-for-profit businesses governed by their members — the very people who use their services. This member-driven structure ensures that decisions are made locally, with the community’s best interests at heart.
Alfalfa Electric Cooperative is committed to providing the people and communities of Oklahoma with safe, reliable, and affordable electricity. We also strive to connect modern technology, economic development, community awareness, and environmental stewardship in ways that enhance the lives and ensure the future of our members and their communities.
Looking Ahead
Over the decades, Alfalfa Electric has grown from a few hundred members to thousands across northwest Oklahoma and southern Kansas. We’ve strengthened our system, embraced new technology, and stayed true to our cooperative roots. Today, we continue to honor our founders’ vision, investing in innovation, supporting our communities, and keeping the cooperative spirit alive.
Our History
This grassroots effort embodied the First Cooperative Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership, the belief that anyone who needs electricity and accepts the responsibilities of membership should be welcome, without discrimination
In the Beginning
Mid 1930s
Life in rural northwest Oklahoma was marked by long days, hard work and darkness. Fewer than 1 in 10 rural homes had electricity. Investor owned utilities refused to extend service to the countryside, claiming the cost was too high and the demand too low. But local farm families knew better. They believed that affordable electricity could transform their homes, boost farm production, and strengthen their communities.
1935
President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) to finance electric systems in areas private companies had left behind. With access to low-interest loans, rural citizens began forming cooperatives member-owned utilities created to do for their communities what they could not achieve alone.
Founding
1937
It was from this spirit of determination that Alfalfa Electric Cooperative (AEC) was born. Led by 10 visionary founders, AEC energized more than 660 meters in its first year, bringing light, comfort, and opportunity to families and farms across Alfalfa, Woods, and Major counties.
1939
Originally called M.W.A. Co-op, the organization was renamed Alfalfa Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Today
From those humble beginnings, AEC has grown into a modern electric utility serving close to 8,300 meters across 3,500 miles of line in 5 Oklahoma counties and 2 Kansas counties. Our headquarters in Cherokee, Oklahoma is home to a dedicated team of 50 full-time employees who work each day to keep the lights on, maintain our lines, and carry the cooperative mission forward. Governed by a member-elected board of trustees, we operate as a not-for-profit returning margins to members through capital credits and staying true to the cooperative principle of member ownership.
We are also proud to serve our members in new ways through our subsidiary business, AEC Services, which offers HVAC installation and service, licensed electrician services, and cellulose blown insulation. This extension of our cooperative helps meet critical home and business needs while keeping jobs and economic benefits local.
Mission
At Alfalfa Electric Cooperative, our mission is simple to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power while supporting the growth and well-being of the communities we serve. Every decision we make and every action we take is guided by our responsibility to our members and our commitment to cooperative principles. We believe in the power of connection the idea that when we work together, we can do more, reach further, and build stronger communities.
Values
Integrity
We are honest, transparent, and accountable in all that we do.
Innovation
We look ahead, embracing new technologies and ideas that strengthen our cooperative future.
Community
We invest in the people and places that make our region home.
Service
We exist to serve our members, not profit from them.
Your Cooperative Numbers
7 Counties in OK & KS
Alfalfa
Grant
Garfield
Woods
Barber
Harper
Major
33.9%
Residential Meters
22.6%
Commercial Accounts
43.6%
Farm Accounts
65926
Poles
3449
Miles of Line
8299
Meters
Connected Locally & Nationally
We are proud members of: Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC) Kansas Electric Cooperatives (KEC) National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
These connections give us a strong voice in energy policy and help us bring valuable resources and support back to our members.
7 Cooperative Principles
Open and Voluntary Membership
Membership in a cooperative is open to all persons who can reasonably use its services and stand willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, regardless of race, religion, gender, or economic circumstances.
Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Elected representatives (directors/trustees) are elected from among the membership and are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote); cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.
Members’ Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the cooperative. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative; setting up reserves; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
Autonomy & Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control as well as their unique identity.
Education, Training, & Information
Education and training for members, elected representatives (directors/trustees), CEOs, and employees help them effectively contribute to the development of their cooperatives. Communications about the nature and benefits of cooperatives, particularly with the general public and opinion leaders, helps boost cooperative understanding.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
By working together through local, national, regional, and international structures, cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies, and deal more effectively with social and community needs.
Concern for Community
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by membership.
These principles continue to shape every decision we make and every service we provide. What began as a bold dream in 1937 has become a lasting promise: to power our members’ lives and strengthen the communities we call home.
Additional information can be found in our AEC Member Handbook (PDF).