Adams Electric Cooperative held its 86th Annual Meeting of Members Wednesday, September 9, at the Brown County Fairgrounds in Mt. Sterling, IL, highlighting investments in renewable generation, system reliability and new metering technology.
A total of 550 members registered for the Annual Meeting, and they were invited to tune in to the co-op’s radio broadcast of the event. Members voted to approve the 2025 annual meeting minutes and treasurer’s report. Alison Armstrong, a new candidate for District 5, was elected to a three-year term on the board. Directors Jim Ward, District 4 and Tom Travis, District 6, were re-elected for three-year terms.
During his manager’s report, General Manager Jim Thompson updated members on three major projects underway at the Cooperative, including a 2-megawatt solar project planned near the Sugar Grove substation in Schuyler County.
Construction on the solar project is expected to begin this fall, with completion anticipated by the second quarter of 2027. A $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy will cover the cost of the facility, which is expected to produce 4.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually — enough to serve the annual energy needs of approximately 350 homes.
Thompson also reported progress on joint transmission and distribution projects between Adams Electric and Prairie Power, Inc. designed to connect the Cooperative’s distribution substations and improve reliability.
Transmission and distribution lines connecting the Ursa and Big Neck substations have been completed. According to Thompson, the Cooperative has already seen reliability benefits from the project, with the last three transmission outages not affecting members served by the Big Neck substation.
Projects connecting Camden to Rushville and Rushville to Sugar Grove are currently under construction.
The Cooperative is also preparing to replace its Automatic Meter Reading technology after receiving a grant to assist with the project. Adams Electric began using its current technology in 2001. The new system, which will also include upgrades to load control technology, is expected to be implemented over the next five years.
“The Cooperative continues to seek opportunities to provide affordable and reliable power to you, our members,” Thompson said.
Board Treasurer Jim Ward reported that Adams Electric met all required financial ratios in 2025 and ended the year with an equity level of 44.3%. Total revenue increased $2.5 million to $29.6 million, while energy usage increased 3.2% compared with 2024.
The Cooperative invested $3.9 million in its electric distribution system during the year and ended 2025 with an operating margin of $1.2 million. Adams Electric also returned $663,000 in capital credits to members in 2025.
Door prizes, including several electric bill credits, were drawn from all members in attendance. A list of winners can be found on the Cooperative’s website at: adamselectric.coop.
The Cooperative plans to have a traditional picnic-style annual meeting at Bailey Park every other year. In the alternating years, we will host a drive-thru meeting, rotating among Adams, Brown, and Schuyler counties. The next meeting will be held at Bailey Park in 2027, followed by a drive-thru meeting in Schuyler County in 2028.
Adams Electric Cooperative is a member of Touchstone Energy — an alliance of 700 local, consumer-owned electric utilities around the country. Adams Electric Cooperative is committed to providing superior service based on four core principles: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community. The co-op serves more than 9,000 meters over 2,269 miles of line in parts of Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough, Pike and Schuyler counties. For more information visit adamselectric.coop.
Left to right: Jim Ward (District 4), Alison Armstrong (District 5), and Tom Travis (District 6) were elected to 3-year terms on the Board of Directors.