Greenwell Springs, Louisiana – DEMCO published its 2020 Annual Report today featuring the cooperative’s financial
statement and system statistics January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
DEMCO 2020 system statistics show kilowatt-hour sales of $2,109,781,338; 113,581 meters, and 8,887 miles of line. The
electric plant in service increased in value from $688,627,466 in 2019 to $721,265,052.
“2020 was certainly a year for the history books,” states Danny Berthelot, President, DEMCO Board of Directors.
“We weathered COVID, we weathered the storms, and through it all we took great pride in serving our members,” says
Randy Pierce, DEMCO CEO and general manager.
During COVID, DEMCO linemen, servicemen, operations and engineering personnel followed strict new procedures –
working together but apart – to ensure crews were adhering to health and safety protocols to stay well. These
employees abided by strict strategies to guard them and their fellow workers from exposure - staggering work shifts,
wearing protective equipment such as gloves and face masks, sanitizing equipment, and minimizing contact with anyone
outside of their assigned crew.
Not only did DEMCO assist other Louisiana co-ops who were struck by Hurricanes Sally and Laura, DEMCO was directly
impacted by Hurricane Delta on October 9, 2020. One of the worst weather events to impact the system since Hurricane
Gustav and the Flood of 2016, Delta left us with 169 broken poles and 407 power lines down across the 8,787 milesspan.
“Because we are owned by the members we serve, we always aim to be a catalyst for good - and we take our mission
and responsibility to heart,” says David Latona, Vice President of Marketing and Member Services. “Everything we do is
in service to our members and the communities we serve.”
DEMCO delivered meals to area hospitals for essential workers; purchased gift cards from DEMCO-member-restaurants
and gifted them to essential workers at businesses powered by DEMCO: grocery stores, nursing homes; teachers; and
fire departments. DEMCO also donated $10,000 to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, $10,000 to the Baton Rouge
Health District in partnership with the Co-Bank Sharing Success Program; and $10,000 to the East Baton Rouge Council
on Aging for the LOTUS food drive for seniors through the Watermark Community Partner grant. DEMCO funded
scholarships to 51 DEMCO member-students, totaling $133,000, and the DEMCO Foundation funded scholarships to 86
member-students, totaling $107,500.
In May 2020 two new board members were seated to fill vacancies, Tresa Byrd serving St. Helena Parish, and Mike
Anderson serving East Feliciana Parish. Board directors were re-elected without opposition to serve a three-year term:
Steve Irving serving East Baton Rouge Parish, Mike Anderson serving East Feliciana Parish, Dennis Lott serving Livingston
Parish, and Richard Sitman serving St. Helena Parish.
“DEMCO members elect a local board to represent them – it’s the cooperative way,” says Pierce. “Board members live
and work in the communities they serve.”
DEMCO also reported disbursements from the non-profit subsidiary, The DEMCO Foundation. Since 1997 distributions
include: 820 scholarships totaling $938,916; school uniform awards of $205,568 purchased and distributed to over 800
children; and $236,840 to over 200 families impacted by house fires or tornadoes. Funds of $462,242 have been
provided for medication and medical expenses for the elderly and disabled, as well as $452,267 to fund handicapaccessible
ramps and critical home repairs. Over $2.1 million has helped families remain in their homes (rent and
mortgage).
Funding for the DEMCO Foundation comes from 60% of the DEMCO membership who participate each year in a
voluntary program called Operation Round Up, that rounds each participating member’s monthly bill up to the nearest
dollar and contributes that extra change to the DEMCO Foundation; the average contribution by each participating
member is $6.
“With lifetime disbursements of over $5.8 million, the DEMCO Foundation is made possible due to the caring spirit and
sacrifices of all participating DEMCO members,” says Latona. “Together we continue to make our communities
stronger.”
View at www.DEMCO.org/About-Us/Annual-Report
DEMCO is the largest electric co-op in Louisiana and among the largest of 900 electric co-ops in the U.S. DEMCO
provides electricity to an estimated half million people in seven southeast Louisiana parishes: Ascension, East Baton
Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, E. Feliciana, and W. Feliciana.
