IN JULY, for the first time in more than 50 years, Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative held its annual meeting of the members indoors. This was the meeting’s fourth-ever location change, and Van Alstyne Independent School District graciously allowed the co-op to host its 87th annual meeting in the brand-new Panther Arena, located at Van Alstyne High School.
The July 21 event was a time for members to hear updates from cooperative leaders, vote in the board of directors election, have a meal together and win door prizes.
The team at GCEC refers to ourselves as a co-op family, whether that’s rallying around one another when disaster strikes or spending more time working together than we sometimes get with our own families. However, day in and day out, we take great pride in powering your homes and serving you, our members.
As the years have come and gone and with a few location changes, the co-op’s mission has remained the same: keeping our linemen safe, taking care of members and providing the best service at the lowest possible cost.
“We still operate like a small cooperative—we are members first, employees second and community third,” said David McGinnis, CEO and general manager.
GCEC has been successful in fulfilling that mission thanks to its board of directors, who ensure the co-op is running safely and efficiently. This year, the District 1 seat was up for election on the board. With a quorum of over 2% of members met, McGinnis announced that David Ellis of Tom Bean ran unopposed and will continue to serve District 1.
McGinnis also shared that GCEC is the second-fastest growing electric cooperative in the nation, growing at a rate of 12.7%, and has added more than 50,000 meters in seven years.
“At the end of 2024, we served 90,207 meters, and the week before the annual meeting, we set the 100,000th meter,” McGinnis said. “This meter was set at the new Van Alstyne Police and Fire station located next to the old GCEC headquarters.”
Despite the rapid growth, McGinnis said, 807 out of 815 electric cooperatives in the nation have a higher controllable cost per member than GCEC. The cooperative strives to provide the best and lowest cost possible.
Board President Steve Robinson told members the co-op makes every effort to control costs without limiting the quality of service and that its policies and practices are continually analyzed and studied to ensure that the co-op’s mission isn’t forgotten.
Robinson said GCEC staff make decisions based on what’s best for members,
as the employees know that the co-op is owned by those it serves. As the years have progressed, GCEC has implemented new technologies to improve its operations.
“We know that sometimes old-fashioned member services are the answer,” Robinson said. “That’s why you will almost always talk with one of our friendly member services representatives when you call the office for assistance. We know this is the service you prefer, as these employees answer about 750 calls per day.”
Robinson reported the co-op is financially strong and continues to do
very well.
“One reflection of this financial stability is the ability to hold electricity rates steady for the past few years and to be able to continue to retire capital credits,” Robinson said. “We have returned almost $40 million to the members in recent years, and we are pleased to report that another $4 million will be returned in 2025.”
McGinnis also shared updates on the financial condition of the cooperative.
“We have almost $750 million in assets,” McGinnis said. “$650 million in ‘plant’, meaning our wire, poles, transformers and equipment. We have a little under $250 million in revenue and spent about $216 million and left us with approximately $40 million in operating revenue.”
McGinnis went on to explain that yes, that number can sound like a lot, and is an 8% return on investments. However if GCEC were a for-profit, it would not be doing well, as for-profits typically operate at a 20% return on investment.
The co-op continuously works to provide the very best service possible at the lowest cost possible.
The co-op spends about $20 million a year on maintenance and system improvements, McGinnis said. Nationally, 784 co-ops have higher operations and maintenance costs than GCEC, and 736 have higher administrative and general costs. GCEC is in the top 4% in operations cost per member and the top 10% in lowest cost per member.
McGinnis did not shy away from the issues the cooperative is facing, namely growth, costs and inflation. The co-op also faces supply chain issues and the potential impacts of new tariffs.
However, McGinnis assured members that the board of directors himself and all employees are here to serve you, the members, and to continue to provide the best possible service at the lowest possible cost.
GCEC has made strides to ensure we’re moving forward with the times. McGinnis said member services representatives can log on to their computers when an outage begins to start fielding calls and aiding members, most times before crews can get to the outage location.
There are multiple online options and forms available to help bridge the gap between members who would prefer to handle all business online and via email.
“We get compared to 815 other cooperatives in the nation. With that, in comparison, our average outage is 189 minutes,”
McGinnis said. “Yes there are some that are longer and some that are much shorter. However, the nationwide average is 269 minutes.”
With that comparison in mind, he encouraged members to thank the co-op’s lineworkers for all that they do each and every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow—to ensure you, the members, are taken care of.
McGinnis recognized the vendors, contractors and others who have assisted the co-op in ensuring all business and construction run smoothly. GCEC would like to thank Lydia Binion and Paula Hixon on the custodial team at Van Alstyne, who helped set up and ensure the school and Panther Arena were in pristine condition for the annual meeting; Apex Tree Trimming; the Order of the Eastern Star; Techline; Vaquero Underground Services; staff members from Rayburn Electric Cooperative; NorthStar construction; Chief Tim Barnes of the Van Alstyne Police Department; Mikeal Miller, Van Alstyne athletic director; and David Brown, Van Alstyne ISD superintendent.
GCEC would also like to extend thanks to the members of the nominating committee who met May 3 to nominate candidates for the director of District 1. The nominating committee members were Jay Cooke, Curtis Helton, Les Key, Joe Merritt and Colby Pennell.
Grayson-Collin EC plans the annual meeting with the entire family in mind. This year, the co-op displayed its Safety Town demonstration, which relays the importance of taking precautionary measures to ensure safety around electricity and high voltage areas.
In the same area of the meeting, members and minimembers could receive vibrant and elaborate face paintings as well as detailed and meticulous drawings from caricature artists who brought portraits to life.
The weekend leading up to the GCEC annual meeting was spent the way many such weekends have been spent in past years—slow-smoking brisket for barbecue sandwiches for all to
enjoy at the meeting. The Order of the Eastern Star, Leah Elliott Chapter No. 1119, sold their homemade ice cream to support its scholarship fund again.
As co-op members and employees mingled before the business meeting, all in attendance heard Clayton Gardner perform covers of songs made famous by country music legends as well as several original songs.
Mary Clare, a powerhouse singer active in Grayson County 4-H and Sherman High School volleyball and powerlifting teams, sang the national anthem at the start of the meeting. Clare has sung all over Texas and across the nation.
After McGinnis finished his report, which was approved by a motion and vote of the members, the meeting finished with door prizes.
GCEC congratulates Betty Williams on winning the $500 bill credit and also extends congratulations to the grand-prize winners of the $1,000 bill credit, Frankie Ann and Thomas Tamplen.
Thank you to our members for joining us at the 87th annual meeting, and we look forward to seeing you again next year.
To view a video of the annual meeting, visit Grayson-Collin EC’s Facebook page.
