At BEMC, we're not a big electric company. We are an electric cooperative which means each and every customer is a member. Cooperatives were formed when public utilities were busy bringing electric service to customers throughout the country, but were less interested in rural areas which were less populated, and thus promised fewer customers per mile of electric line. The Rural Electrification Act, passed by Congress in the early 1900's, linked co-ops with their communities in a way that other utilities simply cannot claim. And as a result, BEMC and other cooperatives, feel confident that much of our added value can be attributed to our historically dependable and strong customer focus. BEMC plays a dominant role in each of our communities, and contributes dramatically in the local economies. Additionally, our employees live and work among those they serve, keeping the local electric cooperative, just that - local. History of Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation The Certificate of Incorporation for Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) was filed with the Secretary of State of North Carolina on March 9, 1939. In August, 1939, a contract with Melvin F. Burgess of Boone was approved for the initial construction of 138 miles of line, 113 in Brunswick County and 25 in Columbus. A metering point was established with Tidewater Power Company at Belville and 3 - 50 KVA transformers were installed for a substation. The first lines of BEMC were energized in Brunswick County in December, 1939 and in Columbus County in the early part of 1940. These lines served a total of approximately 588 members in both counties. In 1960, BEMC was in its 21st year of operation with over 10,000 member/consumers. A new 10,000 KVA sub-station was installed in 1961 to supply power over the 69 KV transmission line to Shallotte and Midway. A new 3,750 KVA sub-station was installed in Columbus County in 1964 bringing the number of sub-stations owned by BEMC to 10. The new Oak Island branch office was opened in 1968, the same year CP&L announced their proposed nuclear generating plant to be located in Brunswick County. The following year BEMC purchased all electrical facilities on Caswell Beach. BEMC expanded the meter reading program to 100% of the membership in 1981. The first Load Management Switch, which allows BEMC to monitor the amount of power being used and work at maximum efficiency, was installed in the service area on Sunset Beach in May 1984. The Rural Consumer Services Corporation, a subsidiary of BEMC was established in 1986. Brunswick EMC recognized the need for a stronger economic development program for Brunswick and Columbus counties, and as a result, began the Business Incubator program in 1989 to facilitate new and expanding businesses. There are now three incubator locations: Whiteville, Tabor City and Winnabow. June of 1991 was another milestone with the "Bringing on Line" of the Bricklanding Substation, the first built by BEMC employees. BEMC is now served by 32 sub-stations, 7 transmission and 25 distribution stations. Growth has been continuous for BEMC especially in the coastal resort areas of Brunswick County. The influx of retired and second home families has perpetuated BEMC as one of the fastest growing electric cooperatives in North Carolina. As of September, 2005, BEMC serves 70,000 locations in Brunswick and Columbus counties, and parts of Robeson and Bladen counties. It is the third largest electric cooperative in the state of North Carolina.