Providing reliable, economical service to West Central Alabama since 1939.

The aim of Black Warrior Electric Membership Corporation is to make electric energy available to its members at the lowest cost consistent with sound economy and good management.

Board of Trustees

Audra P. Browder

District 1

C. Irvin Eatman

Vice President

District 2

Peter M. Reynolds Jr.

Secretary-Treasurer

District 3

Clyde Fields

District 4

W. Townsend Kyser, III

District 5

Ronnie Hall

District 6

Terry Barr

President

District 7

Ottice Russelle

District 8

John E. Lanier

District 9

Our History

1938

The Foundation and Original Board

Black Warrior EMC was incorporated on October 31, 1938, and began making preparations to provide electric service to houses and farms across West Central Alabama. The original incorporators met in a small building located in Greensboro, AL to execute the Articles of Incorporation and become the first Board of Directors of Black Warrior Electric Membership Corporation.

  • Mr. Bernard Swanzy of Demopolis
    First General Manager

  • Mr. George “Buck” Sledge of Greensboro

    First Project Attorney

  • Mrs. Bernard C. Eurick of Greensboro
  • Mrs. A.R. Taylor of Ralph
  • Mr. A.G. Horn of Coatopa
  • Mr. W.M. Spencer, Jr., of Demopolis
  • Mr. W.R. Carter of Myrtlewood
  • Mr. B.W. Coleman, Jr., of Greensboro
  • Mr. W.P. Green of Boligee
  • Mr. J.H. Walker of Ralph
  • Mr. C.N. Allen of Cuba.

1939

November 24

The First Lines

The first lines were energized on November 24, 1939. Soon after, the main office was relocated to Demopolis in a small building downtown. During this time, plans were being made for the final site for our complex.

1950s

Headquarters

Very early in the 1950s, our headquarters was located where it remains today in Demopolis. As time progressed, and more and more lines were built to serve more homes and farms, local warehouses were opened in Eutaw, Greensboro, Linden, and Butler to allow us to better serve our members as we continued to grow. Today, Black Warrior EMC has over 6,700 miles of line that serves over 26,000 meters in twelve counties.

1957

Black Warrior EMC’s Christmas Tree of Lights

Anyone who has traveled through Demopolis around the Christmas holidays has seen the giant Christmas tree at our office. It is the first thing people see as they cross the Rufus King Bridge at night. It also has a magical illusion as you travel into town along U.S. Highway 80 by appearing to be slowly turning. It is made by strings totaling more than 250 lights draped along the guy wires anchoring the communications tower at our main office.

It all began in 1957, when Belle Clem, a bookkeeper at BWEMC, told Bernard Swanzy, the General Manager at that time, about a unique tree of lights she had seen while on a family trip to Virginia during the Christmas season. Mr. Swanzy was so intrigued that he sat down and drew out the plan, the number of bulbs, and how to loop it so it would look like a Christmas tree with the flashing light on top. Everyone got together with the string of lights and climbed the tower to build it, making 1958 the first year it was lit. The tree originally had three different colored lights: red, green, and blue. Over the years, the colored bulbs became harder to find, so now all the bulbs have been white. The traditional lighting of the tree occurs the day after Thanksgiving each year and stays on until New Year’s Day. In 2016, the tree was rebuilt using the new, energy efficient and reliable LED technology.

Annual Meeting

2024 Annual Meeting

2023 Annual Meeting

2022 Annual Meeting

Policy Statement

Policy No. 31

Subject: Record Date, Members Entitled to Vote at Annual Meetings and Determination of Members in Good Standing and Not in the Status of Suspension

Objective: To provide a clear definition and understanding of the process for establishing the Record Date, quorum and determination of members considered in “Good Standing” and not in the status of suspension as provided in to Sections 1.02, 2.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 3.07 of the Bylaws of Black Warrior Electric Membership Corporation (BWEMC).

Issue Date: June 16, 2017

Policy:

  1. Record Date. Members Entitled to Vote at Annual Meetings.

    1. Section 1.02 of the BWEMC Bylaws provide that by application for membership the applicant agrees to comply with and be bound by the Membership Obligations that are defined in the Bylaws as compliance with Bylaws, rules, regulations, rate classifications and rate schedules established pursuant to the power vested in the Board of Trustees by the Bylaws.
    2. In accordance with Section 3.07 of the Bylaws of BWEMC, unless the Board of Trustees designates a different Record Date, the Record Date for determining the quorum, members entitled to vote at a member meeting and the members who will be entitled to receive the notice of the meeting of members will be sixty (60) days prior to the member meeting; provided, however, that if the Record Date falls on a Saturday or Sunday or holiday observed by the Cooperative, the Record Date shall be the next day that the Cooperative is open for business.
    3. Pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Bylaws of BWEMC, the quorum that must be met will be determined as five percent ( 5%) of the total members who are active members who are in good standing and not suspended on the Record Date.
    4. An active member is in good standing and not suspended when the member is in full compliance with all the Membership Obligations as defined in Section 1.02 of the Bylaws of BWEMC.
    5. Section 3.05 of the BWEMC Bylaws states that each member who is not in the status of suspension as provided for in Section 2.01 of such Bylaws shall be entitled to one (1) vote and no more; subject, however, to the requirements in Section 3.07 of such Bylaws that the member is in good standing on the Record Date as provided in Section 3.07 of the Bylaws of BWEMC.

  2. Determination of Members in Good Standing and Not in the Status of Suspension.

    1. Section 2.01 of the BWEMC Bylaws states that failure of a member to make payments when due or is otherwise not in compliance with a Membership Obligation automatically becomes a suspended member.
    2. The record of “non-suspended members in good standing” will include payments made on the Record Date in person or by hand at any of the Black Warrior EMC offices or depositories on the date of record regardless of when the credit is applied to the member’s account.
    3. Payments to members’ accounts received by US Postal Service, bank drafts or other ACH methods the day following the Record Date will be credited toward a member’s “Good Standing”.
    4. Pursuant to Section 4.07 (Voting for Trustees), in the election of Trustees, each member who was a member in good standing on the Record Date shall be entitled to vote in each election of a Trustee.
    5. Members in good standing will also include members who have received service on or before the Record Date, but have not been presented their first bill, provided that the member is in compliance with all of the Membership Obligations.

APPROVED BY: Terry Barr, President

APPROVED BY: Peter M. Reynolds, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer

June 16, 2017

 

Policy Statement

Policy No. 32

Subject: Procedure and Operational Rules of Credentials & Election Committee

Objective: To prescribe polices for the procedures and operational rules to be followed by the Credentials and Election Committee of Black Warrior Electric Membership Corporation (BWEMC).

Issue Date: June 16, 2017

Policy:

In accordance with Section 4.04 of the Bylaws, the following procedures and operational rules shall be established for the Cooperative’s Credentials and Election Committee.

(a) At its first meeting the Committee shall election a Chairperson and a Secretary.

(b) The Committee shall establish or approve the manner or method of member registration and voting, either in person or by mail.

(c) The Committee shall oversee or supervise registration and voting and the tabulation of member votes.

(d) The Committee shall consider and decide all questions, issues or disputes regarding member registration and voting, including the determination of members present and eligible to vote and the validity of mail ballots.

(e) The Committee shall oversee or supervise the tabulation or count of member votes including the determination of vote results.

(f) The Committee shall determine the validity of trustee nominations other than nominations by the Nominating Committee.

(g) The Committee shall decide whether a trustee nominated or a newly elected trustee satisfies the qualifications for the holding of the office by the trustee.

(h) The decisions of the Committee in Sections (b) through (g) are herein defined as (“Member Meeting Issues”).

(i) A member entitled to vote at a member meeting may comment upon a Member Meeting Issue or challenge the Credentials and Election Committee’s decision or action regarding a Member Meeting Issue by filing a written description of the member’s comment or challenge (“Member Challenge”) with BWEMC within three (3) business days following the member meeting addressed by the Member Challenge.

(j) Within thirty (30) days of receiving a Member Challenge, the Credentials and Election Committee shall meet and receive oral or written evidence from a member directly or substantially implicated in or affected by the Member Challenge and consider, decide and rule on the Member Challenge. The Credentials and Election Committee’s decision regarding a Member Challenge is final. Failure of the Cooperative or the Credentials and Election Committee to act as required by this policy shall not, by itself, affect a vote of the Trustee election.

(k) At all meetings of the Committee, a majority of Committee members will constitute a quorum and action by the Committee requires a vote of the majority of all the members of the committee. Committee decisions or actions during, or within a reasonable time before or after a member meeting will be final.

(l) At the Cooperative’s expense, the Cooperative shall make available to the Committee legal counsel.

Nominations for Trustee Elections

Nominations for Trustee seats up for election are made by the Nominating Committee prior to the Annual Meeting 2024 districts up for election are 4, 5, and 6. Section 4.06 of the Bylaws provides nominations from members in those districts by petition. For information on obtaining an official petition packet that contains the required information, please contact our office in Demopolis.

Resolution for Board of Trustees of Black Warrior Electric Membership Corporation

WHEREAS, Section 3.05(a) of the Bylaws of the Cooperative state that a member attending a member meeting may be required to present identification upon registering as outlined by any Board policy; and

WHEREAS, this resolution is to establish a Board policy on member identification; and

WHEREAS, it is deemed appropriate to follow the same voter’s identification provisions as is used by the State of Alabama;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that any one of the following forms of identification may be used by members to establish their identification at any meeting of members of the Cooperative: the Meeting Registration Form or Member’s Ballot received by the Member in the mail for the specific meeting to which the registration form or ballot applies or any one of the following photo ID documents:

  • Valid Driver’s License
  • Valid Non-Driver’s ID Card
  • Valid Alabama Photo Voter ID
  • Valid State Issued ID (Alabama or any other state)
  • Valid Federal Issued ID
  • Valid US Passport
  • Valid Employee ID from Federal Government, State of Alabama, County Government, Municipality, Board, Authority, or other entity of this state
  • Valid student or employee ID from a college or university in the State of Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
  • Valid Military ID
  • Valid Tribal ID