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Coast Electric- Power Association is a non-profit, rural electric cooperative with a young history and a proud heritage. Member owned, it was formed in 1938 as the result of a merger between Hancock Electric Power Association, with headquarters in Bay St. Louis, and Gulf Coast Electric Power Association, with headquarters in Gulfport.
According to "Thirteen Years of Rural Electrification on the Mississippi Gulf Coast", by Clay D. Blair, Sr., the objective of Coast Electric in 1938 was to provide electricity for the homes and farms of rural citizens, at a time when investor owned power companies considered such service unprofitable.
The Association then consisted of 50 members on 25 miles of line.
As of February, 1978, Coast Electric has grown to 24,351 consumers on 2,783 miles of line, and consumers are served by a combined total of 133 "outside" crew members and office employees. The Association's philosophy today is to bring to its membership the best possible service at the lowest possible cost.
Each Coast Electric employee is proud to work for an Association that is "Owned by Those It Serves"; daily pays tribute to this Great Nation, and to our beloved State, by proudly raising and flying the American Flag, and the Flag of the Great State of Mississippi; offers equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; is, and remains, completely non-political; takes great pride in each of the communities it serves, and donates time and resources to many worthwhile community projects; under the guidance and efforts of Claude Green and his crew, maintains the beautiful grounds in Bay St. Louis, including the "flowering pear trees", as a gift to residents and tourists.
Coast Electric's success since its formation 40	years	ago	has
been due largely to the dedicated, sincere, and	unselfish	efforts
made on its behalf by consumers who have in the	past,	and	are	now,
serving as members on the Board of Directors.
The original directors of the Association were C.W. Fountain of Logtown, John S. Rester and Isaac M. Frierson of Picayune, James L. Crump and J. B. Easterling, Jr., of Bay St. Louis, W. Luther Blackledge of Saucier, Sustan S. Ladnier of Pass Christian, and Aden S. Bellew of Biloxi.
In those early days, the Association was housed at 144 Main Street, occupying the bottom floor of a two story home located next to the beautiful Methodist Church. The top floor was rented to tennants.
Times have changed. In 1950, the headquarters for Coast Electric Power Association moved to a new, one story main office building at Highway 90 and Main, complete with a spacious Crew and Vehicle Department. Some of the office employees then were Edris Stechmann, Hal Becker, Alberta Beyer, Raymond Schindler, Gladys Chapman, Red