We take electricity for granted. It’s hard to imagine life without power at the flip of a switch. Yet, not so long ago, the convenience of electricity was a luxury that many could only dream of. In 1930, the rural areas of west central Ohio were still largely in the dark, with only “city folk” enjoying the benefits of electricity. 
It was during this time that a group of local residents took the lead to establish Midwest Electric. Our founders’ first meeting took place at the Barr Hotel in Lima on March 17, 1936 — marking the beginning of a new era for our community. (Our original name that evening was Farm Bureau Electric Co-op District #3, Inc. ... More on that later.)
These local, forward-thinking individuals began by sharing their ideas with others in the community. They organized small town meetings and visited individual farms, advocating for the benefits of electricity. The possibilities were undeniable. Soon farmers began signing up for membership and the maps of electric lines began to take shape. It did not take long for the benefits of electrification to spread and soon Auglaize, Mercer, Van Wert, and Allen County rural residents and farmers were eager to join the movement. Financing came from low-interest loans from the federal government. It’s important to note that these were loans — not grants — complete with principal and interest. 
Our first electric project went from East Shelby Road (east of St. Marys) north to Glynwood Road, then east to Glynwood Saint Patrick Church, and west to St. Marys River Road and then north to Noble School. Today, Glynwood Saint Patrick Church remains our longest continuously served member in the same name.
By 1938, 440 homes and farms had electricity from the early cooperative, with 167 miles of line. (Today we have 1,600 miles of line.) Yet we had only two employees: Carl Presar was the first general manager, and Isabelle Goodwin managed office duties. Contractors took care of the line construction. By August 1938, we hired our first lineman, Prentiss Tomlinson. And we were off and running…
At our second board meeting, in April 1936, the directors changed the name to Western Farm Bureau Electric Co-op. By 1939, the connection with the Ohio Farm Bureau would be dropped and our name would become Midwest Electric. 
Our first office was in downtown Lima, the site of today’s Lima-Allen County Chamber of Commerce. The early leaders moved our office to St. Marys by mid-1937 in order to be centrally located. We bounced around three different offices in downtown St. Marys before landing in the mid-1960s at our current spot east of the city.
Our 90th anniversary is March 17, 2026. Much has changed since our beginning, but our core principles haven’t. Our commitment to member service, community development, financial stewardship — those, and more, are woven into our DNA.
Safety protocols have advanced significantly since the early days. Initially, lineman worked with bare hands and uninsulated tools, making every job labor-intensive and hazardous. Today, we prioritize safety, and our employees lead a strong safety culture. 
While the cost of electricity has increased from an average of 5 cents per kWh in the 1930s to 14 cents today, this change is quite modest compared to the price increases of other consumer goods such as milk, eggs, homes, cars, and health care. When considering these factors, electricity remains an incredible value for the money, offering an essential service at a reasonable cost. 
We’ve advanced in many ways from the early days of bringing electricity to rural areas without technology and with paper maps or just someone’s memory as a guide. We have embraced innovation with tools such as Distribution Automation, allowing us to remotely monitor and control our electric grid; Geographic Information Systems, allowing us to map our infrastructure digitally; Advanced Metering Infrastructure, providing outage notification and other power reliability benefits; and SmartHub, which allows members to manage their accounts online, offering convenience and transparency in energy usage and billing.
Through our network with Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives and our generating company, Buckeye Power, we have expanded our energy portfolio. We continue to own and operate our power generating plants, providing us with electric rate stability compared to the wild power market swings that many other utilities are struggling with today. 
By investing in cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices, we remain committed to meeting the evolving energy needs of our members. Beyond providing electricity, we have actively contributed to the social and economic development of our communities. Through scholarships, generous contributions from our members through the Community Connection Fund program, the return of more than $45 million in patronage cash back, and our economic development revolving loan fund, we have lived our motto of being Built By the Communities We Serve. 
As we commemorate this 90th anniversary, we express our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated members and employees. And we have a humble appreciation for the groundbreaking and backbreaking work of our founders and early employees. It is their support that has propelled us forward, enabling us to overcome challenges and embrace opportunities. Together, we have built a legacy of cooperation, reliability, and empowerment. Here’s to the next 90 years of illuminating the way together.