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  • CO-OP INFO
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      • Learn About Energy
    • SAVE ENERGY & MONEY
      • Rebates
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      • Kill-A-Watt Usage Monitor
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      • CFL Recycling
  • COMMUNITY
    • ACRE - Co-op Owners for Political Action
    • Co-op Connections Card
    • FREE Public Hotspot
    • Operation Round Up
    • Events
      • Cardinal Power Plant Tour
      • FAMILY FUN DAY
      • Hot Air Balloon
        • UW of Defiance Co. Hot Air Balloon Festival
        • Hickory Acres Campground Balloon Flights

Our History

By the mid 1930s, almost every urban area in the United States had central station electric service. However, the rural areas were still in the dark. Only about 10% of the people in these outlying regions enjoyed the convenience of electricity.

Why? Because the investor-owned utilities didn’t think they could make money by stringing lines into the countryside. Something needed to be done.

In 1936, a group of northwestern Ohio farmers decided to take advantage of a federal program offered by the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) and form an electric cooperative. They named the cooperative North Western Electric and its purpose was to provide electricity for the people of rural Williams and Defiance counties. In January of 1938, the distribution lines were energized for the first time. At that time, customers only used about 40 KWH per month. Today, that total average is nearly 1,100 KWH.

North Western serves 6,006 consumers with a system consisting of 83 miles of high voltage transmission lines, 868 miles of overhead distribution lines and 133 miles of underground distribution lines. Nine substations, ranging in size from 2,500 KVA to 10,000 KVA, keep the electricity flowing.

There are now nearly 1,000 rural electric cooperatives across the nation serving over 25 million customers.

In 2021, NWEC celebrated 85 years of excellent service to our members.

View our timeline

Membership Application #1

First membership agreement for co-op
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04125 State Route 576
Bryan, OH 43506
419-636-5051
1-800-647-6932

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©2023 North Western Electric. Serving NW Ohio for over 80 years.

  • CO-OP INFO
    • ABOUT US
      • Recent News
      • Our History
      • Location & Hours
      • Capital Credits
      • Cooperative Documents
      • Ohio Cooperative Living
      • Cooperative Principles
      • Our Affiliations
      • Employment Opportunities
    • COOPERATIVE MEMBERSHIP
      • What's the Value?
    • BOARD OF TRUSTEES
      • 2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
        • Trustee Election Page
        • Reservation Request Form
      • Meet Your Board
      • Voice Your Opinion
    • NW OHIO PROPANE
      • Your Local Propane Partner
  • SERVICE
    • MANAGE YOUR SERVICE
      • Starting Service / New Member-Owner Application
      • Stopping Service
      • Payment Options
      • Rates & Charges
      • Disconnection for Non-Payment
      • Call 811
      • Understanding Demand
      • Retail Energy Choice Explained
    • UTILITY PROJECTS
      • Tree Trimming
      • Line Maintenance
      • Line Rebuild
    • OUTAGES
      • Outage Reporting
      • Be Prepared for Storms
      • Generator Safety
    • PRODUCTS & OTHER SERVICES
      • Area Lighting
      • Outdoor Wiring
    • RENEWABLE ENERGY / DISTRIBUTED GENERATION (DG)
      • OurSolar
      • Adding Renewable Energy to Your Home
  • PROGRAMS & EDUCATION
    • JUST FOR KIDS
      • Youth Tour
      • Scholarship Programs
      • Give Us An "A" with a Twist
      • Apogee Kids' Page
    • EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS
      • Learn About Energy
    • SAVE ENERGY & MONEY
      • Rebates
      • Residential Energy Audits
      • Load Management
      • Kill-A-Watt Usage Monitor
      • Energy Efficiency
      • CFL Recycling
  • COMMUNITY
    • ACRE - Co-op Owners for Political Action
    • Co-op Connections Card
    • FREE Public Hotspot
    • Operation Round Up
    • Events
      • Cardinal Power Plant Tour
      • FAMILY FUN DAY
      • Hot Air Balloon
        • UW of Defiance Co. Hot Air Balloon Festival
        • Hickory Acres Campground Balloon Flights