This year, Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) is proudly joining its members and communities in celebrating its 85th anniversary and the electrification of the Texas Hill Country. Before PEC was founded, most Central Texans living in cities like Austin and San Antonio had electricity, but more than 90% of rural families did not. City homes were typically equipped with lights, appliances, and running water, while country life was still rather rustic, with gas lamps and wood burning stoves.
On May 19, 1938, then-Texas Senator Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) and area rancher E. “Babe” Smith met in Austin with representatives from Blanco, Burnet, Gillespie, Hays, and Llano counties to sign documents that officially incorporated PEC and kickstarted the process of bringing electricity to rural parts of the Texas Hill Country.
“PEC was created by Hill Country Texans to provide safe, reliable, and low-cost power to our communities, and we have been focused on that mission ever since,” said CEO Julie C. Parsley. “As we look back at 85 years of serving our members and energizing their communities, we are proud to have brought Central Texas to light. We are also looking forward to the future and our next 85 years of faithful service.”
