A total of 834 members participated in Black River Electric Cooperative’s 86th annual meeting Saturday, June 1, in Fredericktown.

Registered members received a $10 electric bill credit and a registration gift. They also voted in the board of directors' election and were entered in prize drawings for larger bill credits.

After registration was completed, the annual business meeting was held in the Kelly A. Burlison Middle School cafetorium. General manager John Singleton reported on the cooperative’s activities during the last year, including the co-op’s solid financial condition.

“Despite increasing peak demands, lower than expected kwh sales and numerous weather events, BREC remains operationally strong and financially sound," Singleton said. "Black River Electric Cooperative is continuing the mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity to our members.”

Singleton also reported that the board of directors has announced a capital credit return of $876,000. This is the 53rd consecutive year the cooperative has returned credits to its members. In all, more than $29,000,000 has been returned to members during that span.

Members reelected Tom Mooney of Fredericktown and Harold T. Ellinghouse of Piedmont, and elected Dennis R. Mouser of Patton, to serve three-year terms on the cooperative’s board of directors.

Thirty-five members won electric bill credits ranging from $25 to $100, and Whitney Crites of Fredericktown won the $500 grand prize drawing. Prize drawings were held Monday, June 3, at BREC headquarters, and winners were notified and posted on www.brec.coop.

BREC is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility serving more than 25,000 members in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Dent, Iron, Madison, Perry, Reynolds, Shannon, St. Francois and Wayne counties.