In The News – July 2026

Community Is What Powers Us

As we move into the heart of summer, one of my favorite things about this time of year is seeing our employees out in the communities we serve. Whether it's a local parade, county fair, community celebration, or another hometown event, summer gives us the opportunity to connect with our members outside of restoring power or answering questions at the office.

Community events remind us that Nobles Cooperative Electric is more than poles, wires, and substations. We are part of the communities we serve. Many of our employees live here, volunteer here, coach youth activities, serve on local organizations, and raise their families here. Those local connections are one of the things that make serving our members so rewarding.

Behind the scenes, our line crews continue making steady progress through our 2026 Work Plan. While much of this work may not be visible from the road, every pole replaced, every section of line upgraded, and every piece of equipment maintained helps improve the reliability of our electric system. These projects require careful planning and a great deal of hard work, and I appreciate the dedication our employees bring to the job every day, no matter the weather.

At the end of the day, though, our work has always been about more than maintaining an electric system. It's about the people and communities we serve. Sometimes we're reminded of that in unexpected ways.

A few weeks ago, as I was leaving the office one afternoon, I noticed a vehicle pull into our parking lot. I stopped to see if they needed assistance before we closed. Instead, the individual simply told me they wanted to make an anonymous donation to help pay someone else's electric bill this summer. They didn't want recognition or thanks—they simply wanted to help someone.

That simple act of kindness has stayed with me ever since.

It can sometimes feel like the world is filled with negative headlines that leave us wondering where kindness has gone. But moments like that remind us there is still a tremendous amount of good in our communities. Every day, we see neighbors helping neighbors, volunteers giving their time, families supporting local events, and people quietly stepping forward to help someone they may never even meet.

That spirit of caring for one another is at the heart of what cooperatives have always been about. We were founded on the idea that communities are stronger when people work together, and 90 years later, that principle continues to guide everything we do.

We're also already looking forward to our Grab-N-Go events this October. Over the past several years, those evenings have become a favorite tradition. They give our employees the opportunity to visit with hundreds of members, catch up with familiar faces, and spend time together outside of our normal day-to-day work. Those conversations remind us that we're not just providing electricity—we're serving neighbors and communities we genuinely care about.

As you enjoy the rest of your summer, I hope you'll stop and visit with us if you see our crew at a parade or community event. We always enjoy hearing your ideas, catching up with familiar faces, and spending time in the communities that make this cooperative such a special place to call home.

Thank you for your continued support of Nobles Cooperative Electric. Have a safe and enjoyable summer.