Cuivre River Electric Cooperative (CREC) was founded in 1941 by a group of determined community leaders from Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles, and Warren Counties who sought to bring electricity to rural areas overlooked by investor-owned utilities. United by a spirit of cooperation and progress, these local pioneers formed CREC to secure federal loans through the Rural Electrification Administration, ensuring rural families could access reliable power for the first time.

Over the decades, CREC has grown from its grassroots beginnings into one of Missouri’s leading electric cooperatives. Committed to its founding principles, the cooperative continues to provide safe, affordable, and dependable energy while supporting the communities it serves with innovation, integrity, and a strong member-first focus.