Nobles Cooperative Electric Celebrates 90 Years!
In 2026, Nobles Cooperative Electric will celebrate 90 years of serving our members and communities. When the cooperative was formed in 1936, local neighbors came together with a shared belief that rural families deserved the same opportunities as those in larger cities.
Bringing electricity to farms and homes wasn’t easy, but it was worth it — and that decision changed daily life across our country.
Those early years took determination and cooperation. Members invested in their own future, power lines were built mile by mile, and electricity slowly began lighting homes, barns, and shops for the first time. Simple things we take for granted today — electric lights, refrigeration, milking equipment, and household appliances — transformed daily life and helped rural communities thrive.
Today, electricity is woven into nearly every part of daily life. From charging cell phones and staying connected through the internet, to powering home offices, camera and security systems, farm operations, and businesses, we rely on electricity more than ever before. We’re constantly on the go — streaming, communicating, monitoring, and managing our lives in real time. Many of the things we now consider “everyday” would have seemed unimaginable to those early cooperative members in 1936, yet they all depend on a safe, reliable electric system working quietly in the background.
Over the past nine decades, so much has changed. The electric system has grown and modernized, technology has advanced, and energy needs continue to evolve. Through it all, the cooperative spirit of neighbors helping neighbors has remained at the heart of what we do.
While we reflect on where we’ve been, this anniversary is also about looking ahead. The work we do today — planning, investing, and adapting — helps ensure reliable service for future generations. Ninety years from now, what will people say about the choices we made? Our hope is that they’ll see a cooperative that honored its past, embraced change, and always put its members first.
Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing stories and memories as we celebrate this milestone. Thank you for being part of our cooperative — yesterday, today, and into the future.