This October, as we celebrate National Co-op Month, Jones-Onslow EMC is proud to mark 85 years of providing reliable power and service to our community. Since our founding in 1939, we’ve grown from humble beginnings to serving nearly 75,000 members and close to 84,000 meters across Onslow, Jones, Pender, Duplin, Craven, and Lenoir counties— and our commitment to delivering affordable, reliable electricity has never been stronger.
Looking Back: Our Co-op’s Roots Jones-Onslow EMC began with a simple but important mission: to bring electricity to rural areas that private companies couldn’t or wouldn’t serve. In 1939, a group of local farmers and community leaders, including Albert Venters and E.C. Marshburn, came together to organize the cooperative. With the help of dedicated individuals who recognized the need for electricity in our region, the Jones-Onslow Rural Electrification Authority was officially chartered in June 1939.
At that time, many rural families relied on kerosene lamps and wood stoves. Electricity was a luxury found only in cities. But thanks to the vision of our founders and the support of the community, Jones- Onslow EMC began building lines, connecting homes and farms to power, and transforming the region. What started with just a handful of members has grown into a vital part of our community, with over 2,400 miles of lines reaching homes, schools, and businesses.
Where We Are Today Eighty-five years later, Jones-Onslow EMC has expanded its services and embraced new technologies to keep pace with the changing needs of our members. We’re more than just an electric provider. Today, we offer programs that help you save energy, lower your bills, and even improve your home’s energy efficiency. Whether it’s through our energy calculators, efficiency tips, or innovative billing and payment options like AutoDraft and Paperless Billing, we’re constantly looking for ways to make your experience better.
Our community involvement has also grown. We sponsor Bright Ideas education grants, sponsor students to attend the annual Washington DC Youth Tour and basketball camps and provide support to local veterans through the No Barriers program— just to name a few ways we serve the community. These initiatives reflect our dedication to making a difference beyond electricity.
Looking to the Future As we look to the future, our focus remains on innovation and adapting to the evolving ways our members use electricity. Whether it’s supporting the growth of electric vehicles, integrating renewable energy options, or introducing smart technologies, we are committed to staying ahead of the curve. While the methods of delivering power may change, our promise to provide reliable, affordable electricity will always remain at the heart of what we do.
