WYSOX, PA – Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) held its 2026 Annual Meeting on July 22, providing members with an opportunity to learn about their cooperative’s accomplishments, financial performance, future initiatives, and governance activities. The meeting highlighted the cooperative’s longstanding commitment to serving rural communities and focused on the theme of stewardship. The meeting was broadcast online and is available to view on the Cooperative’s website www.claverack.com .
Board Chair Tim Tewksbury welcomed members tuning in by emphasizing the cooperative difference and reminding viewers that electric service has always been about more than poles and wires.
“It is about Neighbors helping neighbors, families looking out for one another and a community working together to do what none of us could accomplish alone,” Tewksbury said. Claverack’s Board of Directors also reinforced the importance of sustainability, responsibility, and transparency.
During the meeting, reports were delivered outlining the cooperative’s operations and financial performance. The 2025 financial records were independently audited by Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro, P.C., which found the cooperative’s books and records satisfactory.
President and CEO Steve Allabaugh discussed the rapidly changing energy landscape, noting that energy issues are receiving more attention than ever before as utilities face increasing demand, rising costs, and evolving reliability challenges. Allabaugh and members of Claverack’s team highlighted the cooperative’s continued investments in system reliability, fiber broadband expansion, member communications, and community support, while emphasizing that the cooperative model keeps its focus where it belongs-on the members it serves rather than outside shareholders.
2025 Cooperative Highlights
Among the accomplishments highlighted during the meeting were:
- More than $2.8 million in operating margins were generated for the cooperative.
- More than $900,000 in capital credits were retired and returned to members, bringing total
retirements to more than $15 million over the past decade. - More than $60,000 was distributed to 88 local charitable organizations through Claverack
REC’s Community Support Program, funded by unclaimed capital credits that would otherwise
be turned over to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. - Nearly $60,000 in H.O.P.E. assistance was provided to more than 130 members.
- More than $11,000 in energy-efficiency rebates were provided to members for qualifying
ENERGY STAR appliances and heat pumps. - Continued emphasis was placed on the importance of workplace safety, including the
successful completion of the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP) and
achieving another year without a serious employee accident or injury.
Members also received the report of the Credentials and Election Committee Elections for Zones 1, 2, and 3 were uncontested. Elected to three-year terms effective July 22, 2026, were Danise Fairchild (Zone 1), Robert Faux (Zone 2), and Angela Joines (Zone 3).
The cooperative recognized its 2026 Youth Tour delegates, who represented Claverack REC and their schools through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour leadership program.
This year’s delegates included Daniel Barrett, Northeast Bradford Junior/Senior High School; Aiden Hollister, Montrose Area Junior/Senior High School; Eli Watt, Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center and Dimitri Yasnovitch, Mountain View Junior/Senior High School.
Claverack REC encouraged members to attend its upcoming Member Information and Appreciation Day, scheduled for September 4 at the Wyoming County Fairgrounds.
The event will feature activities and presentations on industry developments and cooperative projects, opportunities to speak directly with directors and staff, a question-and-answer session, and the unveiling of a new electrical safety demonstration trailer. Members are urged to visit www.claverack.com to learn more.
“Claverack was built by and for the communities we serve and that remains just as true today as it was 90 years ago,” said Allabaugh.
About
Claverack REC is a member-owned, not-for-profit utility with headquarters in Wysox, PA. Claverack RC provides electricity to over 19,000 meters and over 16,000 members in Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming counties.
