Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative

Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative (URECC) is a private, non-profit, member-owned electric utility headquartered in Gilmer, Texas. Incorporated on October 25, 1937, it is one of the rural electric cooperatives created in the United States to bring central-station electricity to sparsely populated areas that investor-owned utilities had declined to serve. The cooperative distributes power to member-owners across a ten-county service territory in East Texas, covering roughly 2,050 square miles. As of its own published figures, URECC serves more than 51,000 meters. Its delivery infrastructure includes 6,260 miles of overhead line, 412 miles of underground line, 297 miles of transmission line, 37 substations, and 7 metering points, representing a plant investment of about $372.9 million. The cooperative is a participant in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) regional transmission organization, and its website publishes SPP grid conditions and advisories for the East and West Balancing Authority Areas. URECC operates under the standard cooperative model: it is governed by a locally elected board of directors, each member-owner has a vote, and the co-op operates at cost, returning revenue above operating needs to members. Its stated core values are respect, professionalism, reliability, safety, efficiency, trustworthiness, adaptability, dependability, and commitment. The cooperative also runs community programs, including the Operation Round Up grant cycle, which funds local organizations. In addition to power delivery, URECC communicates with members through outage maps, forms, community and careers pages, and member surveys. In late 2025 the cooperative announced a rate change effective January 1, 2026, and published the proposed rate schedule for member review. It also issues reminders about right-of-way access, drone usage, and employee safety. The cooperative remains an active, member-directed utility focused on reliable and affordable power in rural East Texas.

Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative was incorporated on October 25, 1937, during the era when rural electric cooperatives were being formed across the United States to extend electric service to rural areas that private utilities had bypassed. The cooperative is headquartered in Gilmer, Texas, and serves a ten-county territory in East Texas. From its founding, URECC has operated as a private, non-profit, member-owned utility. Under the cooperative model, the co-op is governed by a locally elected board of directors, each member-owner has a vote, and the co-op operates at cost, returning revenue above operating needs to members. This structure is intended to provide economic benefits to local communities rather than distant stockholders. Over the decades, URECC expanded its delivery infrastructure to cover roughly 2,050 square miles. Its published figures show 6,260 miles of overhead line, 412 miles of underground line, 297 miles of transmission line, 37 substations, and 7 metering points, with a plant investment of about $372.9 million. The cooperative serves more than 51,000 meters. URECC participates in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) regional transmission organization. Its website publishes SPP grid conditions and advisories for the East and West Balancing Authority Areas, including Resource Advisories that raise awareness of potential reliability threats without requiring public conservation. In addition to power delivery, URECC engages with its member-owners through community programs such as Operation Round Up, which provides grants to local organizations. The cooperative also communicates about right-of-way access, drone usage, and employee safety, and it conducts member surveys. In late 2025, URECC announced a rate change effective January 1, 2026, and published the proposed rate schedule for member review. The cooperative remains an active, member-directed utility focused on reliable and affordable power in rural East Texas.

• Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative incorporated.

• 2026 Operation Round Up grant cycle opens for applications through October 1, 2026.

• SPP declares Resource Advisory for East Balancing Authority Area, posted by URECC.

• Rate change effective January 1, 2026, announced by URECC.

Member-owned rural electric cooperative providing safe, reliable, and affordable power to East Texas communities.

• Residential electric service

  Electricity distribution to member-owner households in the ten-county service area.

• Commercial and industrial electric service

  Electricity distribution to businesses and industrial customers in the service territory.

• Operation Round Up grant program

  Community grant program funded by member contributions, with an annual application cycle.

1. 1Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative | Trusted Power Provider in East Texasurecc.coop
2. 2About Us - Upshur Rural Electric Cooperativeurecc.coop
3. 3Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative - Wikidatawikidata.org