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April 27, 2025

As a member-owner of Pioneer Electric Cooperative, you enjoy many benefits—one of the most significant being the return of capital credits. Because we are a not-for-profit cooperative, we operate at cost. When our revenue exceeds our operating expenses, our board of directors—who are elected by you, the members—may choose to distribute, or retire, capital credits back to you based on each member’s electricity use. The board carefully determines when and how capital credits are refunded, always prioritizing the best interests of the membership. The co-op retains funds to reinvest in essential infrastructure, equipment, and system reliability, helping to keep service...

April 17, 2025



April 10, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives President and CEO Craig Grooms joined other electric cooperative leaders, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson, and dozens of coal miners for Tuesday’s White House event with President Trump as he signed four new executive orders supporting cooperatives’ promise to deliver reliable, affordable electricity. Each executive order aimed to remove barriers to: Reinvigorate America’s coal industry Lift EPA restrictions on coal plants Strengthen the reliability and security of the United States electric grid Protect American energy from state overreach The orders are part of President Trump’s promise to unleash American...

April 5, 2025

McClay’s path exemplifies lineworkers’ opportunities for growth, advancement, and leadership When Steve McClay applied for a job at Pioneer Electric Cooperative, it wasn’t because he was an experienced lineman or had extensive knowledge of the electric industry. He simply trusted his father’s word that the cooperative was a good place to work and hoped that his experience operating heavy machinery would make him stand out in an interview. At the time, he was young, had just purchased a home, and was ready to start a family. “I came to Pioneer, and when I walked in, there were probably 50 people...

April 5, 2025

Pioneer Linemen recount Project Ohio In the remote village of Barejones, Guatemala, a team of linemen from Ohio, including Pioneer Serviceman Curtis Schmidt and Manager of Safety and Construction David Overman, embarked on a life-changing mission — to bring electricity to a community that had been waiting decades for power. Through Project Ohio, they worked to turn the lights on — a testament to the cooperative spirit that first electrified rural America. The work was physically demanding, but the sense of fulfillment was unmatched. The Ohio linemen were divided between overhead work and interior electrical wiring, building upon the foundation...

March 25, 2025

Fifteen area high school seniors have been selected to receive Pioneer Electric Cooperative’s 2025 Children of Members scholarships. Each student, a child of a Pioneer member, will receive a $500 scholarship to support his or her continuing education. Pioneer received 84 applications from 26 schools in 2025, exemplifying the high quality students in our communities. Winners include: Congratulations to our scholarship winners! We wish them success in their future endeavors.