IMPORTANT! Save Our Numbers for Text and Phone Alerts

On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at 9 a.m. Central, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative members received a text from 833-417-5291. We encourage our members to save this number in their phones so that our messages are less likely to appear as spam or unknown. You may receive text notifications about important...
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President’s Message – December 2021

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Merry Christmas From Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative

Jimmy Black headshotI love everything about this time of year. Just the thought of the Christmas season brings a smile to my face and evokes a sense of comfort and nostalgia. Recalling family gatherings and traditions warms my heart and fills my senses.

The holidays are a time of reflection. I’m grateful for my own family as well as my co-op family. At Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, we are driven by a sense of mission and purpose. Our team feels a strong connection to our community and our members because we live here, too.

While many of our community-focused programs and activities—such as our annual toy drive—ramp up this time of year, we have several programs and services that help our members year-round. I’d like to remind you about some of these offerings.

Prepaid metering is intended to help budget your monthly energy costs. GCEC members can pay for electricity before it is used, then use electricity until the credit expires. During the time paid for, you receive regular feedback on your balance.

Thanks to members’ generous donations, Our Project Helping Hand program helps the most vulnerable members pay their energy bills. By choosing to add $1, $3, or $5 to your bill each month, you can help others here in our community. If you would like to participate in the program, please contact our office.

The most important investment we make is in local youth. We support schools, youth clubs, and programs, and provide scholarships for students. Through our Youth Tour program, we send rising high school seniors to Washington, D.C., for a weeklong immersion to experience democracy in action.

At the heart of all these programs is you—the members we proudly serve.

Looking back, I am grateful for so many wonderful community partners and the positive impact we can continue to make.

This Christmas season, I wish you and your loved ones peace, joy, and prosperity. The Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative team and I know the future will be bright because of you.

Jimmy Black