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Electricity was common in U.S. cities in the early 1930s, but the countryside was left in the dark. Almost everyone in rural areas was a farmer. They had to pump water by hand; light came from coal oil lamps. Wood or coal stoves heated homes, dish water and food. It was indeed a labor-intensive life.

Despite farmers' pleas, privately owned power companies said serving rural areas would be too costly because the houses were too far apart and farmers would not use much electricity.

Then the Rural Electrification Administration was formed in 1935 to administer a program to encourage rural electrification and to lend low-interest money to any group or company that would undertake the task. Even with the offer of low-interest financing, private companies still would not get involved. Instead, farmers formed cooperatives to do the job themselves.

In this area, organizers started a drive to get electricity in 1937. HWE was founded in 1938, and the first lines were electrified in 1939.

Since then, the co-op has grown and membership has become quite diverse. We serve about 12,700 members in 10 counties, spanning across 1,800 miles of line.

Some memorable moments from our rich history:

1937

• Organizers in Hancock and Wood counties started a drive to get electricity.

1938

• Articles of Incorporation recorded by Secretary of State.
• Staking for original lines started.
• C.C. Doyle named manager.

1939

• First lines energized.
• First meter set at Ober Apples in Henry Township of Wood County.
• A.J. Phillips named manager (September).
• R.P. Luse named manager (December).

1941

• 2000th meter set.

1942

• After legal orders to divest, the General Utilities electric system was purchased jointly by HWE and several other area utilities. HWE received 330 miles of new line and 1,500 new members instantly.

1943

• HWE made its first rate reduction.

1944

• HWE received an award from State Industrial Commission for more accident free hours worked during 1943 than any other Ohio cooperative.

1952

• HWE moves to its present headquarters site in North Baltimore next to I-75.

1953

• Office function moved from the warehouse building into the brand new office facility.

1954

• HWE becomes the originators of, and first power supplier in the world to offer individual security light service.

1965

• On Palm Sunday, a tornado swept through the south and west Hancock County. Devastation was extensive.

1966

• Paul Hutchison named manager.

1967

• HWE and Lake Erie Electric Cooperative merged.

1968

• Buckeye Power, Inc. became a reality and started selling power to Ohio’s electric cooperatives.

1970

• HWE purchased 26 acres of property adjacent to the cooperative’s office for possible use as future industrial or commercial development.

1975

• Air Products opens for operation on adjacent HWE property.

1978

• The Blizzard of ’78 begins on Wednesday, January 25, creating 20 foot drifts and causing severe line damage. At one point on Friday, January 27, every member had lost power. After heroic and non-stop efforts by line crew and volunteers, the last member’s power was back on by Monday, January 30.

1980

• Terrence O’Horo named general manager.

1981

• New garage/warehouse built.
• John Cheney named general manager.

1985

• HWE celebrates 50th anniversary of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA).

1988

• HWE celebrates its 50th anniversary.

1990

• Ice storm causes 4,000 outages in February.

1995

• William Cetti named President & CEO.

1998

• HWE website unveiled.
• HWE subsidiary company, Prism Propane, is introduced.

2000

• George Walton named President & CEO.

2001

• Ohio electric industry becomes deregulated; HWE and all Ohio cooperatives choose to wait, watch and learn rather than opt-in to the program.

2003

• HWE reached 827 days of “no lost time,” a new company safety record.

2004

• HWE implements new Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system.

2005

• Winter/ice storm causes 4,000 outages in southern end of service territory from Wednesday, January 5, to Monday, January 10.
• On Saturday, September 17, HWE becomes the first-ever U.S. electric cooperative in history (possibly the world) to broadcast its Annual Meeting via the Internet.

2007

• Hancock-Wood announces plans for its new building not far from the current location, set to open in 2008.
• Ground is broken on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007 for its new facility.