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Co-op History

Decades of Making Lives Better with Safe, Affordable, Reliable Electricity

Cooperatives - the Early Years

In the early thirties, cooperatives were founded for one purpose: to improve life for their members. And, decades later, that purpose remains the same. America’s electric cooperatives played a crucial role in revolutionizing the way rural Americans live, work and play.

A century ago, as the first homes and businesses began using electricity, it became clear that access to affordable, reliable power would vastly improve people’s lives. It began with such innovations as electric lights, motors and refrigeration, and soon lit a short fuse to revolutions in transportation, manufacturing, communications, health care, computing and many, many other areas. “R.E.C.C. has played its role in the social transformation of America’s rural scene. This cooperative has provided hundreds of benefits, both social and economic, to the people in this area.” (The Anderson News, December 12, 1963).

By the late 1930’s, 9 out of 10 rural homes in Kentucky were still in the dark. Faced with the prospect of spending lots of money to build facilities to serve relatively few customers, most utilities didn’t want to extend their power lines beyond cities, towns and major roadways.

But farmers and rural residents saw how electricity improved the lives of their city brethren. They were willing to put up their own money to gain access to it. They took advantage of Roosevelt’s New Deal government programs to start member-owned electric cooperatives and build power lines to their homes and farms.

Our Cooperative—1937-1998

In 1937, Blue Grass Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation received its first loan from the Rural Electrification Administration in the amount of $120,000. The first lights of the cooperative were illuminated on June 15, 1938. In 1958, a new headquarters was built on Lexington Road in Nicholasville. In 1964, a Madison district office was opened at 2099 Berea Road—a current district office. Fox Creek R.E.C.C. was first organized in 1938. The first office was located on Main Street in Lawrenceburg. Construction of a new headquarters building began in 1962 at 1200 Versailles Road in Lawrenceburg—a current district office. Harrison R.E.C.C. was also organized in 1938 with their first lines energized in 1939. The first office was located in downtown Cynthiana. A headquarters building was built in 1942 on Oddville Avenue. In 2006, a new district office was constructed on Sea Biscuit Way. In 1998, Blue Grass R.E.C.C. joined with Fox Creek R.E.C.C. in Lawrenceburg to form Blue Grass Energy. In 2002, Blue Grass Energy combined workforces with Harrison R.E.C.C.

Our Cooperative—Today

Blue Grass Energy serves over 61,000 members in 23 central and north-central Kentucky counties stretching from Berea to the Ohio River. Our job is still the same today as it was in 1937—to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy services to our members.

Summarized Timeline

1937—Blue Grass RECC, Nicholasville, Ky. established.

1938—Fox Creek RECC, Lawrenceburg, Ky. and Harrison RECC, Cynthiana, Ky. established.

1942—Harrison RECC headquarters built on Oddville Avenue, Cynthiana.

1958—Blue Grass RECC headquarters built on Lexington Road, Nicholasville.

1962—Fox Creek RECC headquarters built on Versailles Road, Lawrenceburg.

1964—Blue Grass RECC Richmond district office opened.

1991—Blue Grass RECC new Richmond office opens on Berea Road.

1995—Blue Grass RECC new headquarters office in Nicholasville opened.

1998—Blue Grass RECC combined with Fox Creek RECC to form Blue Grass Energy, increasing service area to 14 counties.

2002—Blue Grass Energy joined with Harrison RECC, increasing service area to 23 counties.

2006—Blue Grass Energy new Cynthiana district office opens on Sea Biscuit Way.

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  • My Account
    • Access My Account
    • Payment Options
    • Start Service
    • Stop Service
    • About My Bill
    • Capital Credits: Questions & Answers
    • Residential Outdoor Lighting
    • Tree Trimming
    • Member Bill Of Rights
    • Member Privacy Policy
    • Rates
    • New Member Info
    • New Construction Specifications
    • Electric Inspector Contact Information
    • My Business Account
      • Start Service - Business
      • Stop Service - Business
      • Builders & Developers
      • Economic Development
      • Commercial Outdoor Lighting
      • Load Data Form
  • Programs
    • SimpleSaver
    • Envirowatts
    • Home Energy Analysis
    • Air Sealing Rebate
    • Duct Sealing Rebate
    • Net Metering
    • Replacing Resistance Heat
    • New Manufactured Homes
    • Touchstone Energy Home - New Construction
    • Commercial & Industrial Services
    • 811 - Free Utility Locating
    • Electric Vehicles
    • Solar Information
      • Solar 101 Booklet
      • Cooperative Solar
      • Solar Education Project
    • Energy Saving Tools & Resources
      • Simple Energy Tips
      • Energy Library
      • Together We Save
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Trees can make your home more energy efficient
      • Videos On Energy Efficiency
      • Television Calculator
      • Appliance & Home Electronics Calculator
  • Our Community
    • Annual Meeting
    • Co-op Connections
    • Power of Membership
    • Pennies For Purpose
    • Blue Grass Living
    • Scholarships
    • Washington Youth Tour
    • Educational Programs
    • Contribution Application
    • Economic Development
    • Kids' Activities
    • Kid's Korner
  • Safety & Education
    • Surviving The Winter Season
    • Safety
      • Safety Quiz
    • Outage Central
    • How Power Is Restored
    • Downed Power Lines
    • Food Safety
    • Safe Electricity
    • Generator Safety
  • About Us
    • Careers
    • Blue Grass Energy Territory
    • Cooperative Profile
    • Purpose & Values
    • Hours of Operation
    • Office Locations
    • Co-op History
    • About Touchstone Energy
    • Cooperative Principles
    • Media Information
    • News/Events
    • Contact Us
    • Your Co-op Directors
    • Your Co-op Staff
    • Non-Discrimination Statement
    • Affiliates