Adams' Timeline

Adams' Timeline highlights the key milestones and achievements of Adams Electric Cooperative since its founding. Explore the cooperative’s history of growth, innovation, and community service through the years.

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1950s HQ

Timeline of Adams' History

Timeline
June 17, 1940

 

A handful of farmers meet at the Gettysburg Farm Bureau office to explore the formation of a co-op.

August 20, 1940

 

Adams Electric Cooperative is incorporated. A meeting is held at the Farm Bureau building, where the new Adams Electric co-op rented an office space. Nine incorporators are named as the first directors and Cecil Dunbar is elected as the first president.

October 10, 1940

 

Adams Electric receives its first REA loan. Calvin Cluck from McKnightstown is hired as the first manager.

December 11, 1940

 

The co-op's first district office opens on South Earl Street in Shippensburg.
 

January 29, 1941

 

The Battle of the Pole Holes" occurs as a non-violent battle involving local residents who refill pole holes dug by Pennsylvania Power and Light Company, in order to try to prevent the invading electric company from taking over the territory.

May 2, 1941

 

Substations at Gettysburg and Shippensburg are energized and begin to bring power to Adams Electric for the first time.

October 10, 1941

 

Lack of a quorum turns first scheduled annual meeting at Caledonia State Park into a social function.

April 30, 1942

 

Adams Electric buys property for headquarters at 153 North Stratton Street, Gettysburg. The co-op moves to its new location in 1943.
 

February 14, 1948

 

The co-op invests in a radio system in order to communicate with trucks out in the territory area, after approval from the board for the $5,819 project.

September 16, 1949

 

Florence H. Finger is hired as a home economist to help with marketing awareness of electricity. The co-op builds a model kitchen at the Headquarters in Gettysburg to help the marketing efforts.

February 17, 1951

 

The co-op reaches 5,000 accounts. The average monthly bill is $6.67, based on monthly use of approximately 230 kWh and cost of $.029 per kWh.

November 19, 1954

 

Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association is incorporated and Director Howard Schwartz is named as Adams’ first representative.

July 24, 1957

 

The first meeting of the Membership Educational Board, which is later called the "Minutemen" in 1962. Today the group is known as the Membership Advisory Committee or MAC.

July 13, 1959

 

"Penelec, the neighboring investor-owned utility, sends a dinner invitation, which Adams Electric turns down. The invitation was requesting dinner with the directors, the president of Penelec, and the local manager of Met-Ed, in order to discuss “items of mutual interest.”
 

May 10, 1960

 

The 25th anniversary of Rural Electrification Day. This is also the same year of Adam Electric's 20th anniversary year.

October 31, 1960

 

Calvin Cluck resigns as manager after twenty years of service.

February 19, 1961

 

John Kershaw begins as general manager.

March 16, 1961

 

Employees vote to be represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (ALF-CIO), Local 126. Negotiations take six months before the contract takes effect on Oct. 1, 1961.

June 17, 1963

 

The Board makes the movement to bring the problem of the harassment by investor-owned utilities, attempting to extend their service to Adams Electric, be brought to the attention of PREA.

December 31, 1963

 

Adams Electric makes its first patronage capital retirement of $51,782.

June 11, 1964

 

Adams Electric sends three students to Washington D.C. on the first national Rural Electric Youth Tour. It was part of twenty-three student delegation from Pennsylvania.
 

July 19, 1965

 

Adam Electric’s largest commercial power contract is signed with Charnita, Inc. (Ski Liberty).

September 28, 1966

 

The Board receives a letter from J. Franklin Smith, the Vice President of Penelec, addressed to William F. Matson, the PREA manager. The letter outlines a buy-out offer, which the Board declines with the authorization of President Trout.
 

October 9, 1966

 

The first issue of Penn Lines, the monthly newsmagazine sent to co-op members in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is published.

October 17, 1967

 

Another large commercial account is added with allowing service to the Lake Meade community and Valley Quarries.

December 31, 1969

 

The co-op reaches 10,000 accounts. A member’s average monthly bill is $16, based on monthly use of approximately 800 kWh and a cost of $.02/kWh.

March 31, 1971

 

Charlie Overman is hired as general manager.

October 31, 1973

 

The pole inspection program begins and new techniques are used to extend the life of poles, in order to avoid the high cost of pole treatment.
 

May 9, 1974

 

The new Stewartstown District office opens.
 

June 26, 1975

 

A third new district office opens on West King Street in Shippensburg.

July 29, 1975

 

The Territorial Protection Act, which protects utility service territories, is signed by Governor Milton Shapp.
 

January 6, 1982

 

The for-profit TV cable company SCATCOM is incorporated.
 

December 27, 1982

 

The York District office on Trinity Road opens, replacing the office in Stewartstown.
 

July 22, 1984

 

Charlie Overman resigns as the general manager and Joe Cole, the manager of finance and management services, is named acting general manager.
 

January 31, 1985

 

Project Helping Hand is started to assist members who are having trouble paying their electric bills.
 

April 30, 1985

 

Dan Murray is hired as general manager. The annual meeting is moved from Fairfield Road to South Mountain Fairgrounds.
 

February 22, 1987

 

Adams Electric sells SCATCOM to PA Classic Cable.
 

September 30, 1986

 

The co-op installs load control units for coordinated load management system at Gettysburg substation. By 2005, over 10,000 members volunteer to have load control receivers installed.
 

August 31, 1987

 

There are 20,000 accounts comprising the co-op. Average monthly bill is $93, based on monthly use of approximately 990 kWh and a cost of $.094/kWh.
 

August 20, 1990

 

Adams Electric celebrates its 50th anniversary with the dedication of a historical plaque honoring rural electric cooperatives. The plaque is located along Route 34 near the Gettysburg District office.
 

December 31, 1995

 

The first Adams Electric website is launched at www.adamsec.coop.
 

December 31, 1996

 

25,000 accounts are reached. Average bill is $97, based on a monthly use of 1,050 kWh and a cost of $.093/kWh.
 

December 7, 1998

 

Adams Utility Services Co. (AUSCO) acquires Aero Oil. The name is changed to Aero Energy soon after.
 

December 31, 1998

 

This is the first full year of power supply deregulation. Adams Electric is fully deregulated, but no electric generation suppliers choose to serve co-op members.
 

May 31, 1999

 

Judy Queitzsch of New Freedom joins the Board, becoming the first female director.
 

December 31, 2002

 

Director David Cowan is elected as president of NRECA.
 

August 13, 2003

 

Blackout of 2003 leaves 50 million without power. Only northwestern section of Pa. is affected. 

 

December 31, 2004

 

General Manager Dan Murray announces his retirement. The Board reviews cooperative succession plan.
 

January 31, 2006

 

The 5th CEO and general manager Steve Rasmussen, begins employment.
 

December 31, 2006

 

New generation of automated meters and load control devices installed.
 

October 31, 2008

 

One of the nation’s first hybrid electric bucket trucks is put into service at Adams Electric.

December 31, 2009

 

Solar panels are installed and put into operation behind the Headquarters building in Gettysburg.
 

May 31, 2010

 

The launch of the Facebook page, in order to keep members up-to date on restoration and service on outages during major storms. In 2012, a Twitter page was also created.
 

October 2010

 

Adams named one of “The Best Places to Work in PA” and CEO Steve Rasmussen named among Central Penn Business Journal top “40 Under Forty”

August 2011

 

Adams interconnects 100th member-owned renewable energy connection to its lines

2019

 

Adams Energy Resources, LLC is created to help install Level II electric vehicle charging stations throughout the co-op’s service territory and around the state. 

March 2020

 

COVID-19 shuts down all in-office operations, work from home and hybrid work become options based on job responsibilities, member visits become appointment only

March 2022

 

Adams surpasses $50 million retired in Ownership Rewards (patronage capital credits)

October 2022

 

Member Engagement Group (MEG) is formed to replace Member Advisory Committee (MAC)

2023

 

Co-op starts five-year meter replacement program to change-out all meters on co-op system.