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History

  • 1950
  • 1951
  • 1952
  • 1953
  • 1954
  • 1955
  • 1956
  • 1957
  • 1958
  • 1959 - 1988
  • 1989-2003
  • 2004-Present

The Southwest News was published and mailed to STEMC members from 1950-2003. It is an interesting history of your electric cooperative and how far we have come in the past 70 years.

April 1950     July 1950     August 1950

August-1950-photo.png

March 1951     August 1951

March 1952     May 1952     August 1952     December 1952

March 1953     June 1953     August 1953

March 1954     June 1954     August 1954     October 1954

February 1955     August 1955     December 1955

February 1956     June 1996     August 1956     December 1956

February 1957     August 1957     December 1957

February 1958     May 1958     August 1958     

August 1959     August 1960     August 1961     August 1962     August 1963     August 1964

August 1965     August 1966     August 1967     August 1968     August 1969     August 1970

August 1971     August 1972     August 1973     August 1974     August 1965     August 1976

August 1977     August 1978     August 1979     August 1980     August 1981     August 1982

 August 1983     August 1984     August 1985     August 1986     August 1987     August 1988

August 1989     August 1990     August 1991     August 1992     August 1993     August 1994

August 1995     August 1996     August 1997     August 1998     August 1999     August 2000

August 2001     August 2002     August 2003

August 2004     August 2005     August 2006     August 2007     August 2008     August 2009

August 2010     August 2011     August 2012     August 2013     August 2014     August 2015

August 2016     August 2017     August 2018     August 2019     August 2020

RURAL BEGINNINGS

During the early and middle 1930′s, there virtually was no electric service in rural areas. In 1936, a group of rural citizens from Madison, Tipton and Haywood Counties met in Jackson, Tennessee in order to develop a plan for “getting electricity” for their homes and farms and for those of their neighbors.  The business was incorporated on July 1, 1936.  A temporary Board of Trustees was elected for the purpose of obtaining a charter for a new electric cooperative from the State of Tennessee.

In October of 1936, the charter was received, and shortly thereafter, the fledgling cooperative applied to the Rural Electrification Administration for a loan in the amount of $290,000 to begin construction of electric lines. The first construction contract was awarded in January, 1937.

Southwest soon purchased the West Tennessee Power and Light Company, which added 125 miles of line and 1,280 customers. This purchase included Mason, Stanton, Munford, Atoka, Brighton, Covington, Gallaway, Whiteville, Mercer, Pinson and Henderson.

Growth was steady until World War II, during which time all materials were in short supply, as was the labor supply. However, growth accelerated rapidly after the war’s end, and has continued at an almost steady pace to the current time.

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©2022 Southwest TN EMC. Keeping the lights on for you

  • Home
  • My Account
    • Member Portal
    • My New Service
    • My Billing Options
    • My Payment Options
    • Collection & Payment Arrangements
  • My CO-OP
    • 2022 Annual Meeting
    • History
    • What is a Cooperative?
    • Management Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Rates
    • Bylaws & Policies
    • Safety
    • Contact Us
    • Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
  • Outage Center
    • Outage Center
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Report an Outage
    • Texting Outage Notification System
  • Tree Trimming
  • Member Services
    • Electrical Permits
    • Engineering
    • Lighting
    • Products
    • Programs
  • Internet
  • Together We Save
    • Home Energy Adventure
    • EnergyRight
    • Business and Industry
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Renewables
    • New Home Construction
  • Careers & Community
    • Careers
    • Education
    • The Tennessee Magazine
    • Washington Youth Tour
    • Southwest Members Care, Inc.
    • Youth Leadership Summit