Safety Minute: Preventing House Fires 1 – Outlet Safety

Coop CurrentsPress Releases

Electrical safety tips from Safety and Environmental Compliance Specialist David Young House fires used to be a lot more common than they are today. There are three things a fire needs: fuel, air, and a heat source. Oil lamps and candles were the heat sources that caused most house fires, so buildings in WEC’s service area became much safer in …

Shift the Power and Conserve: WEC Asks Members to Reduce Energy Use Tonight

WECNotices, Press Releases

August, 2022 Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.P.O. Box 840 Church StreetEast Montpelier, VT 05651 East Montpelier, VT—Washington Electric Cooperative encourages its members to reduce energy consumption this evening, Thursday, August 4, 2022. With such high temperatures, the demand for electricity may rise dramatically this evening. Increased demand on the electrical grid means higher costs to you on your monthly bill and …

Shift the Power and Conserve: WEC Asks Members to Reduce Energy Use 4 – 8 pm Tonight

WECNotices, Press Releases

July 20, 2022 Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.P.O. Box 840 Church StreetEast Montpelier, VT 05651 East Montpelier, VT—Washington Electric Cooperative encourages its members to reduce energy consumption this evening, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. With such high temperatures, the demand for electricity is expected to rise dramatically between 4 pm and 8 pm. Increased demand on the electrical grid means higher costs …

Annual Meeting Election Results

Coop CurrentsCoop News, Press Releases

Special announcement May 6, 2022 Farnham, Alexander, Allen elected to WEC Board of Directors Steven Farnham of Plainfield, Susan Alexander of Cabot, and Betsy Allen of Plainfield won election to Washington Electric Cooperative’s (WEC) member-led Board of Directors. Farnham was the sole incumbent running for re-election; Alexander and Allen were newly elected to the Board. The results were announced Thursday …

Then Again: How George Aiken found ways to bring electricity to the whole state

WECCoop News, Press Releases

Originally published in VTDiggerDecember 5, 2021 By Mark Bushnell To the popping of flashbulbs, Gov. George Aiken flipped a switch and started the generators at the newly founded Washington Electric Cooperative in East Montpelier. That moment, back in 1939, was a staged political event captured live on radio and by photographers for the next day’s newspapers.  Photo ops are rarely …

Washington Electric Co-op Appoints Louis Porter as General Manager

WECPress Releases

September 14, 2021 Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.P.O. Box 840 Church StreetEast Montpelier, VT 05651 Contact: Louis Porter (802) 595-3691 President Stephen Knowlton (802) 223-2230 East Montpelier, Vt: The board of the Washington Electric Cooperative (WEC) has selected Louis Porter of Calais as the new General Manager for the eight-decade-old member-owned rural electric utility. “As a cooperative, our mission is closely linked …

WEC Urges Members to Apply for VCAAP II Arrearage Grants

WECPress Releases

July 30, 2021 Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.P.O. Box 840 Church StreetEast Montpelier, VT 05651Contact: Patty Richards, 802-223-5245 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Washington Electric Cooperative Urges Members with Overdue Billsto Apply for State COVID Arrearage Grants East Montpelier, Vt: Washington Electric Cooperative (WEC), a member-owned electric utility serving rural central Vermont, strongly encourages members overdue paying their bills to apply for support …

Washington Electric Co-op General Manager Patty Richards to Depart January 2022

WECPress Releases

East Montpelier, Vt: Patty Richards, who has led Washington Electric Cooperative (WEC) as its general manager since 2013, has announced she will step down January 14, 2022. “It has been a wonderful experience leading this innovative and 100 percent renewable electric cooperative over the past eight years. It has been a privilege and honor to serve WEC’s members. I am …

Washington Electric Cooperative Recognizes Electric Utility Lineworker Appreciation Day April 18

WECPress Releases

East Montpelier, Vt: April 18 marks the national day of recognition for lineworkers: the people who keep the power on all across America. Washington Electric Cooperative (WEC) is proud to honor its hardworking line crews. The job of lineworkers requires skill, teamwork, high-stakes problem solving, physical effort and courage in the best of conditions. When outages occur, lineworkers are called …

Washington Electric Cooperative Urges Members to Apply for up to $10,000 in State Grants to Pay Past-Due Bills

WECPress Releases

East Montpelier, Vt: Washington Electric Cooperative (WEC) urges its members to apply for state assistance covering past-due electric bills and other utility bills. Grants are avail-able to households, businesses, and nonprofits unable to pay utility bills as a result of COVID-related economic hardship. Utilities may include Vermont electric; natural gas; landline; private water; municipal, community, or fire district water and …