TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (REC) CELEBRATES PROGRESS AND COMMUNITY AT ANNUAL MEETING

Alparon Park, Troy, PA—Tri-County REC hosted its Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Day on July 22 at the Troy Fair, bringing together members, employees, and community leaders to celebrate a year of innovation, service, and connection.

Co-CEOs Rachel Hauser and Aaron Young addressed a large crowd of engaged members, highlighting the Cooperative’s continued commitment to sustainable innovation, infrastructure improvements, and community support.

“If you can’t embrace change, you’re at risk of being left behind,” said Rachel Hauser, emphasizing the Cooperative’s proactive approach to evolving member needs. Hauser detailed major infrastructure upgrades completed in 2024, including electric line relocations in Tioga and Bradford counties, and the design of future projects in Potter and Bradford counties. These efforts will benefit nearly 3,000 members, improving reliability and reducing outage response times.

Hauser also highlighted the Cooperative’s use of an Intelligent Vegetation Management System (IVMS), which has already resulted in a 4% reduction in vegetation-related outages and a 23% decrease in high-risk line miles. “This comprehensive view of our system helps us stay ahead of potential risks in a more timely and cost-effective manner,” she noted.

In addition to system upgrades, the Cooperative completed a major overhaul of its metering system, enabling real-time energy usage data and faster outage detection. Hauser reaffirmed the Cooperative’s commitment to affordability, noting the expansion of member assistance programs and the importance of community support during times of crisis, such as the flooding in Westfield and Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.

Co-CEO Aaron Young celebrated the completion of the Cooperative’s 3,000-mile fiber optic network—a year ahead of schedule. Initiated in late 2019, the project represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure efforts since the electrification of the 1930s. With construction now complete, every Tri-County REC member in Pennsylvania has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed fiber internet.

“It isn’t every day that someone can say we built almost 3,000 miles of fiber optic infrastructure to serve the needs of our rural members and enhance our electric grid. Three thousand miles—that’s more than enough fiber to span from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean,” Young remarked.

Today, more than 8,500 members are connected to Tri-Co Connections’ high-speed fiber internet, underscoring the Cooperative’s commitment to bridging the digital divide. With 87% of subscribers actively recommending the service, Tri-Co Connections continues to far exceed industry standards and deliver an exceptional member experience.

Young also highlighted the Cooperative’s award-winning Senior 2 Senior program, which pairs high school students with senior citizens to promote digital literacy, and shared the success of Tri-Co Connections’ annual charity golf tournament, which has raised over $105,000 for local causes.

The event concluded with a thank-you to members and a call to visit the Tri-Co Connections tent for details on new offerings, including outdoor Wi-Fi solutions.

“We remain focused on our mission: to safely deliver affordable, reliable electric and related services to the communities that we serve,” Young affirmed.

To view the 89th Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting on YouTube, Click Here