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About AEC
Powering Our Community Since 1947
Arab Electric Cooperative (AEC) was founded on a simple but powerful vision — to bring reliable electricity to every home and business in our community.
In the mid-1940s, electric service was limited to the city of Arab and a few nearby rural homes. Recognizing the need for broader access, a dedicated group of local citizens came together with one goal: to create a member-owned cooperative that would serve everyone in the region, not just a few.
12,686
residential accounts
2,557
small commercial accounts
191
large commercial accounts
157
lighting accounts
That’s a total of 15,591 members connected by over 1,247 miles of electric distribution lines across Marshall, Morgan, and Cullman Counties.
We remain committed to our founding mission — delivering safe, affordable, and reliable electric service while staying locally owned and member focused.
Our Beginnings
In 1946, local leaders — including W.H. Griffith, Robert Mason, J.D. Medlock, L.H. McDaniel, J.M. Taylor, J.W. Rowe, John McCutcheon, L.A. Hyatt, and Joe Kelley, along with Mayor Woodrow Hinds — began working with the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Through Rural Electrification Administration support, Arab Electric Cooperative was officially incorporated and secured its first loan to purchase existing electric facilities from Alabama Power. In 1947, the Cooperative began serving 1,322 members from its first office on North Main Street in Arab, Alabama. Power was purchased wholesale from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) — a partnership that continues to this day.
Growth Through the Years
Demand quickly grew as word spread and electricity extended across Brindlee Mountain and beyond. By 1950, Arab Electric Cooperative had nearly 3,000 members and over 379 miles of power line. Continued expansion and upgrades led to the construction of a new headquarters building in 1968, marking a major milestone in the Cooperative’s progress.
Under the leadership of our early presidents — Dr. Walter Griffith, Ernest Spiegle, and Dempsey Isom — AEC modernized its systems, rebuilt critical infrastructure, and expanded service to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community.