Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative Inc
722 West Highway 22 , P. O. Box 220, Wewahitchka, Florida, United States

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, Inc. was organized to provide electric service in an area not served by other utilities. Incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida on Oct. 28, 1941, it is wholly owned and controlled by the people to whom it provides electric service. We are a member-owned electric utility.

Our Mission

The mission of GCEC is to continually evaluate and implement technologies and seek solutions that fulfill a diversified memberships’ changing expectations for cost effective, dependable utility services through a dedicated and responsive workforce.

Our History

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) on May 11, 1935, it was the dawning of a new day for rural America. Yet it was to be several years before the flow of electricity dispelled the darkness of the night and the drudgery of the day for most families outside the cities and larger towns. Only a small percentage of Florida farms had electricity, and these were principally near small towns or along paved highways. Even then, the farmers themselves had often borne the costs of constructing power lines to their farms. Businesses and industries were not interested in locating beyond the electric lines, restricting the economy of the rural areas.

But deep within this darkness burned a spark of light -- the dreams and resolve in the hearts of many who lived out in the countryside. These hardy pioneers were unwilling to continue to deny themselves and their families the better life that electricity had already made possible for their urban neighbors.

Today, more than 900 electric cooperatives are growing strong, bringing more and more conveniences to their consumers. Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Wewahitchka, Fla., is no exception. Our goal is primarily directed toward providing superior member service while distributing an economical and reliable power source. That was our goal when we were formed, and that is still our goal today.

Approximately 75 Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative employees serve more than 20,000 meters and 2,500 miles of line in Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Jackson, Walton and Washington counties and in the municipalities of Wewahitchka, Ebro, Lynn Haven, White City, Fountain and Southport. Being member-owned allows members to have a definite influence on the progressiveness of the cooperative.

Electric cooperatives want to tap into our most important assets: commitment to community, integrity, accountability and innovation. Through the Touchstone Energy® brand, we present a promise that, as a member-owned business, we will provide a meaningful declaration to the public of who we are, what we believe and why we are the superior choice for energy services.

Our Services

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is a member-owned utility that provides electric services to Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Jackson, Walton and Washington counties in Northwest Florida.

In this section, you can find out about the many services Gulf Coast Electric has to offer its residential and commercial members. There is also information about payments, transferring service, applications, and other items of interest that can be printed out or submitted online to save time.

Knowledge is Power

Education is a vital part of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s commitment to the community. That’s why we sponsor classroom activities and speak to civic organizations to better inform the public about issues that affect us all. Whether it's speaking to elementary school students about electrical safety or giving club members energy conservation tips, Gulf Coast Electric feels that knolwedge is power.

Community Commitment

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative takes pride in the communities we serve. We are actively involved in issues that affect our members' quality of life on local, state and national levels.

Our employees not only work in the communities we serve, they live in them. Therefore, we make every effort to give back to our communities when an opportunity arises.

Making contributions to the community is another way GCEC proves itself as a corporate leader. Whether it’s through the donation of time to our local schools or supporting a nationally recognized charity, we are making a difference.

Emergency Response

Electricity is a luxury often taken for granted. With the flip of a switch, we have the benefit of this great service in our home. For GCEC members, this is the way it should be.

As a cooperative, it is our job to handle the details when it comes to your service. No matter what time, day or night, your service is our focus. Because we want to serve you to the best of our ability, we have toll-free numbers established to handle any service problems that you may encounter outside of our normal business hours. Our system control center is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We understand the inconvenience of being without these necessities of life, and therefore, we are on call. Whether a thunderstorm, car accident or curious animal is responsible for your outage, our line technicians will respond promptly to your call for restoration.

If you experience an outage, please call our offices any time of the day or night using our toll-free or local numbers:

To report an outage during normal business hours*, call: (850) 265-3631, (850) 481-1188 or (850) 639-2216

To report an outage after normal business hours, call: 1-800-568-3667 or 1-800-333-9392

*NOTE: Our normal business hours are 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday. We are closed in observance of the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the Day After Christmas.