WHEN SAM HOUSTON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE WAS CREATED IN 1939, every Co-op member could fit into one small room. In the mid-1960s, there were just 15,000 meters. How did we grow to 73,000 meters since then? By adhering to our core values: Accountability, Innovation, Integrity, and Commitment to Community.
Sam Houston Electric Cooperative’s more than 73,000 meters stretch across parts of 10 East Texas counties.
County Meters
Angelina 1,590
Hardin 3,238
Jasper 41
Liberty 9,897
Montgomery 11,264
Polk 22,816
San Jacinto 12,861
Trinity 1,962
Tyler 6,040
Walker 3,345
Total 73,054
We were founded because of the challenges of powering rural America. It took ingenuity and careful planning to bring power to our members’ homes. Although our system has grown from a handful of founding members to more than 54,000, we’re serving more with less. In fact, we diligently serve our membership with fewer employees than just 30 years ago. As a not-for-profit business, every penny from your bill is put to use.
When compared to other commodities, electricity remains a great value. Over the past 10 years, the price of gasoline has shot up 10.9 percent on average each year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The cost of a loaf of white bread has increased 4.2 percent, and a dozen eggs has increased 6.5 percent per year. The cost of electricity, on the other hand, has increased just 3.7 percent.
The people who work at Sam Houston EC call the communities they serve home, too. We live here. Our members are our friends and neighbors. With those connections comes pride in the service we deliver and a sense of duty to do our best. Today and tomorrow, Sam Houston Electric Cooperative is here for you.
We have fewer meters per mile than other utilities, so we must operate very efficiently. The average investor-owned utility has 34 meters per mile, and the average municipality has 48 meters per mile.
There are nearly 170,000 power poles dotted along Sam Houston Electric Cooperative’s power lines. Each one is inspected every 10 years on average and repaired or replaced, if needed.
Sam Houston Electric Cooperative maintains roughly 5,554 miles of power lines. How far is that, exactly? The Cooperative’s power lines could stretch from Houston, Texas, to Rome, Italy.
Sam Houston Electric Cooperative is continuing an upward trend of growth. And with technology, improved efficiencies and a stronger awareness of energy conservation, the average residential consumption continues to decrease. We love to see you save!
MILES OF POWER LINES
POWER POLES
METERS PER MILE
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