| 2005 |
Hurricane's Katrina and Rita- hit Louisiana and dramatically effected the entire DEMCO service territory. Katrina called the worst natural disaster in United States? history and devastates parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.
DEMCO personnel along with over 500 contractors and cooperative employees from around the country work to restore power to DEMCO customers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. All but scattered service is restored within 10 days. |
| 2004 |
DEMCO customers receive an average $47.00 rebate on their August bills as the final installment of the Cajun Electric Bankruptcy settlement is distributed. |
| 2003 |
The Louisiana Public Service Commission followed its staff recommendation and approved an $8.1 million rate increase for DEMCO. The new rate, representing a 7.46 percent increase, was the first general increase in DEMCO's rates since 1983. |
| 2002 |
DEMCO sets a peak demand record of 427,589 KW as cold winter weather descends on southeast Louisiana. The previous high demand occurred in August 2000 when demand reached 386,000 KW |
| 2001 |
DEMCO introduces online bill payment via the DEMCO website, www.demco.org. |
| 2000 |
DEMCO mails out $28.1 million in refunds to over 80,000 current and former DEMCO members. The average residential customer receives a $392 refund. |
| 1999 |
Global settlement reached in the Cajun Electric case, ending one of the longest-running utility bankruptcy cases in the United States. |
| 1998 |
60 year anniversary |
| 1997 |
Lowest rates in the area - $69.00 per 1,000 kilowatt hours |
| 1995 |
East Feliciana Service Center opens. Rates peaked at 10.4ยข per kilowatt hour |
| 1994 |
DEMCO's wholesale power supplier, Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., filed petition to reorganize its debts and seek protection under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code |
| 1992 |
Hurricane Andrew, with winds up to 150 miles per hour, caused nearly $2.5 million in damage to DEMCO's system |
| 1991 |
Livingston District Office opens |
| 1990 |
Automated Outage Reporting System (ORS) implemented |
| 1983 |
Load Management Program implemented |
| 1982 |
Meter reading and cycle billing programs begin |
| 1981 |
Energy Resources Conservation (ERC) Loan Program begins. Owners of private, single-family residences may apply for loans up to $3,000.00 to make energy improvements to their homes. The loans bear an interest rate of five percent. |
| 1979 |
Ascension Parish mini-branch office opens to serve approximately 7,000 area customers St. Francisville mini-branch office opens to serve approximately 2,000 area customers DEMCO ranked among the top six fastest growing Rural Electrics in America. DEMCO now serves 36,000 members in seven parishes. |
| 1978 |
DEMCO begins the Rural Electric Youth Tour Program in Louisiana |
| 1976 |
DEMCO installs and implements a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system |
| 1975 |
Denham Springs branch office opens. Zachary branch office opens |
| 1974 |
Hurricane Carmen - Approximately 12,000 DEMCO customers lost power due to 100+ mile per hour winds. (More than 60,000 electric cooperative customers throughout Louisiana lost power due to the hurricane.) |
| 1965 |
Hurricane Betsy - Approximately 60,000 farms, rural homes and businesses were plunged into total darkness for several days. Damage to DEMCO's electric system exceeded $500,000.00. Every line of DEMCO's 2,800-mile system was out. |
| 1957 |
Hurricane Audrey slams into Louisiana coast doing million of dollars in damage and claiming the lives of 425 people |
| 1952 |
DEMCO new headquarters opens at 9550 Airline Highway in Baton Rouge |
| 1944 |
Service extended to East Feliciana and Tangiaphoa Parishes |
| 1943 |
Service extended to Ascension parish |
| 1941 |
DEMCO purchases Greensburg Utilities and extends service to St. Helena Parish |
| 1938 |
DEMCO established as a non-profit membership corporation |
