Welcome to Salmon River Electric Cooperative
Salmon River Electric Cooperative is a rural electric cooperative delivering retail electric service to approximately 3,010 electric accounts in south central Idaho including parts of Custer, Lemhi, and Blaine Counties. SREC is a non-profit corporation formed in 1948 comprised of member-owners whose goal was to provide electrical service to the area. Because of the sparseness of customers and high investment costs, profit-oriented utilities had not been interested in servicing the rural areas around Challis and Stanley.
The Village of Challis had a municipal power plant run by diesel engines from 1928 to 1953 but the generator was operated for only certain hours each day. SREC’s system was energized in 1953. Many old-timers in our area still recall the time when electricity was not available and have much appreciation and pride in SREC.
We have over 606 miles of overhead distribution lines, 67 miles of underground distribution lines, and 63 miles of sub-transmission lines operating at 69 (kilovolt) kV. SREC owns two 69 KV/24.9 KV substations. Also, SREC operates and maintains a 230 kV transmission line and substation for Thompson Creek Mining.
The general headquarters for SREC is in Challis, Idaho, which is centrally located in the service area. We employ 14 electric employees. We derive a large percentage of our revenue from electric sales to Thompson Creek Mine. The second largest industry in our service area is agriculture. The largest wilderness in the continental United States borders us to the west. We would be considered remote by most standards, as the nearest Burger King is 60 miles away and the nearest shopping mall is 150 miles away.
Mission Statement
Salmon River Electric Cooperative’s mission is to provide quality, reliable and safe energy and related services to our members in a cost-effective manner.