Milestone Anniversaries

Two CIPCO Member-owners will celebrate milestone anniversaries in 2025: East-Central Iowa REC and Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative. 

East-Central Iowa REC was formed 30 years ago when the former Benton County Electric Cooperative Association and Buchanan County REC consolidated. The two co-ops had been operating under one manager, Martin Gardner, since 1990. 

Melvin Neil, who represented Buchanan Co. REC on the CIPCO Board of Directors, resigned his position. Eldo Meyer, formerly representing Benton Co. ECA on the CIPCO Board, remained as the representative for East-Central Iowa REC. The original vote to consolidate was overwhelmingly approved by the memberships of both co-ops Jan. 31, 1995, and the new organization became official Oct. 1, 1995, with 5,898 members according to the Iowa Secretary of State. 

Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative is celebrating its 90th anniversary! The co-op was organized Dec. 27, 1935, thanks to local county agent Carl Smith who pulled together 16 farmers from each Jones County township to form what is now Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative. Each person was asked to give $10 to start the cooperative and attract a loan from the REA. 

In April 1937, Edgar Beach was hired as the first manager. The first member to receive power from MVEC was E. M. Scott who lived just south of Baldwin in Jackson County. A few years later, Beach would be instrumental in forming Central Iowa Power Cooperative.