Celebrating National Co-op Month

October is National Co-op Month, a time to celebrate what makes cooperatives different and recognize the members and communities they serve.

Electric cooperatives were created to bring reliable, affordable electricity to rural communities that traditional utilities were unwilling or unable to serve. Choptank Electric Cooperative was incorporated in 1938 following the passage of the Rural Electrification Act. Our first 78 miles of line were energized in Caroline County in 1939, serving 184 members. Today, we proudly serve more than 57,000 members across nine counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

As a cooperative, Choptank Electric is owned by the members we serve. Our decisions are made locally, by people who live and work in the communities we serve.

Being a co-op also means our focus is on our members, not shareholders. The money members spend on electricity helps power and strengthen our local system, improve reliability and support the communities we call home.
One of our seven Cooperative Principles is “Concern for Community.” We live out this principle by supporting local organizations, scholarships and initiatives that help our communities thrive.

During National Co-op Month, we’re proud to celebrate the cooperative difference and, most importantly, the members who make Choptank Electric what it is today. For more than 85 years, we’ve been committed to powering our communities and serving the people who call the Eastern Shore home.