History

The Blue Grass Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation, named by Mr. J.L. Miller, a Madison County Agent, received the first loan from the Rural Electrification Administration on Oct. 1, 1937, in the amount of $120,000.

The first lights of the cooperative were turned on June 15, 1938, for a total of 258 connected members and 126.5 miles of energized lines. These lines served sections of Jessamine, Fayette and Madison counties.

Original members of the board of directors were elected to office in August 1937:

• President J.W. Moffett, Lexington
• Vice President W.E. Overstreet, Nicholasville
• Secretary E.C. Moore, Paint Lick
• Treasurer E.L. Hersperger, Nicholasville
• Director R.R. Davis, Nicholasville
• Manager Phil R. Holloway, Nicholasville
• Attorney R.L. Bronaugh, Nicholasville

  In 1938, the average monthly usage per member was 72 kWh; average cost per kWh was 9 cents; and an average monthly bill was $8.97.

  Blue Grass RECC added Garrard, Jackson and Woodford counties to its service area in the decades after its inception.

  In 1998, Blue Grass RECC merged with Fox Creek RECC in Lawrenceburg to form Blue Grass Energy, increasing the new co-op’s service territory to 14 counties.

  In 2002, Blue Grass Energy merged with Harrison RECC, bringing BGEnergy to its current service territory of 23 central and north-central Kentucky counties.

  Today, Blue Grass Energy serves about 54,000 members, from Ohio River counties in the north to Shelby County in the west to Jackson County in the south.

  Summarized Timeline

  1937 Blue Grass RECC established with $120,000 loan from REA.
  1938 First lights turned on.
  1958 Headquarters built on Lexington Road in Nicholasville.
  1964 Madison County district office built.
  1991 New Richmond office opens at 2099 Berea Road. Existing building was purchased and renovated.
  1995 New headquarters office opens at 1201 Lexington Road, Nicholasville, on lot adjacent to old office.
  1998 Blue Grass RECC merges with Fox Creek RECC in Lawrenceburg to form Blue Grass Energy, increasing service area from six counties to 14.
  2002 Blue Grass Energy merges with Harrison RECC in Cynthiana, increasing service area from 14 counties to 23.
  2006 New Cynthiana office opens on Sea Biscuit Way.
  2007-2008 Blue Grass Energy celebrates 70 years since its birth and the electrification of rural Central Kentucky.