2025 Annual Meeting: Event Brings NAEC Members Together

North Alabama Electric Cooperative (NAEC) opened its first office in 1940 in downtown Stevenson and finished its first year of operations with 126 miles of power lines and 1,026 members.

As state Representative Mike Kirkland reminded cooperative members and employees during the 2025 Annual Meeting, NAEC has come a long way in the past 85 years. Today, the cooperative maintains more than 2,300 miles of power lines and serves more than 19,000 members with electricity and fiber.

“It is more than a utility — it is an integral part of the community,” Kirkland says. “From providing reliable, affordable electricity to fostering local economic development and supporting sustainability efforts, you make a real difference. As we all know, the cooperative model isn’t just about providing a service. It’s about creating a sense of shared purpose where each member has a voice and a stake in the outcome.”

Members gathered August 16 at the Stevenson Park Amphitheater for the 2025 meeting, hearing from cooperative leaders, state legislators, and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who is running for the U.S. Senate. Marshall is running for the seat currently held by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor.

Others who spoke during the Annual Meeting included state Sen. Steve Livingston and Jackson County Schools Superintendent Jason Davidson.

While 257 members attended the meeting, a quorum requires 655 members. The lack of a quorum means current trustees will continue to serve for districts 3, 4, and 9.

The grand prize was a 75-inch smart TV. Other prizes included freezers, motion-sensor outdoor security lights, an air fryer toaster oven, multiple smart TVs, vacuum cleaners, and routers. Members 80 and older received NAEC stadium cushion seats, and also received numerous electric bills and fiber credits.