- Our Story -
Members of the BEC Board, BEC employees, and Cassville Chamber of Commerce members attend a Ribbon Cutting Event held at Barry Electric Cooperative’s new building addition in September of 2026.
Barry Electric Cooperative was founded in 1946 to bring electric service to the rural communities of Barry County. Today, we remain a not-for-profit electric cooperative owned by the members we serve. We are a small cooperative made up of fewer than 50 employees. We live, work, and raise our families throughout the communities we serve, and we’re proud to call Southwest Missouri home. As your neighbors, friends, and community members, we’re dedicated to serving you with consistency, integrity, and hard work.
- What We Do -
At Barry Electric, we strive daily to offer our members the very best in customer service, customer experience, and services. We are proud to serve approximately 8,000 members within the approximately 1,050 miles of 7,620 volts distribution system and are currently the only cooperative in Southwest Missouri that offers fiber to the home.
Barry Electric serves portions of the southern half of Barry County as well as a few members in McDonald County including the towns of Cassville, Exeter, Jenkins, Seligman, Washburn, Wheaton and the surrounding rural areas.
Barry Electric is also proud to serve Roaring River State Park. Barry Electric is a small cooperative made up of less than 50 employees who are dedicated to serving its members with consistency, integrity and hard work. We are devoted to serving you, the member, and are proud to call Southwest Missouri our home!
- What Membership Means -
Becoming a member gives you ownership into the co-op and allows you to take an active roll in the decision making process. Upon becoming a member, you are bestowed the right to discuss concerns about your electric services with Barry Electric, attend regular meetings, and cast your vote in cooperative leadership elections.
You also assume the responsibility to report vandalism or safety hazards concerning Barry Electric property, keep your account up to date, and join your cooperative in striving to maintain financial strength.
As your electric cooperative, we commit to provide you with superior service, supply your power at the lowest possible cost, and empower our community while improving lives.
If you are interested in becoming a valued Barry Electric Cooperative member or want to know more about the many advantages of belonging to an electric cooperative, call 417-847-2131. We look forward to serving you!
- Our Board Members -
2025 Board of Directors
Front row, left to right: Kenyon Atkinson, Dr. David Cupps, CEO Jennifer McBroom, and David Dalton
Back row, left to right: Jason Hudson, Jake O’Neill, Lewis Royer, Aubrey Wolf, Ronnie Thomas, and Dr. Connie Butler
2026 Update: Following Kenyon Atkinson’s retirement from the Board, Chad Yarnall was elected to serve in his place.
| Dr. David Cupps | President | District 2 |
| Lewis Royer | Vice President | District 1 |
| Dr. Connie Butler | Secretary/Treasurer | District 2 |
| Ronnie Thomas | Director | District 1 |
| Jake O'Neill | Director | District 2 |
| Jason Hudson | Director | District 3 |
| Chad Yarnall | Director | District 3 |
| David Dalton | Director | District 1 |
| Aubrey Wolf | Director | District 3 |
- Our Management Team -
| Jennifer McBroom | CEO/General Manager |
| Teresa Harrison | Member Services Manager |
| Kevin Holloway | Line Operations Manager |
| Heyley Hudson | Chief Financial Officer |
- The Cooperative Difference -
An electric cooperative is a private, not-for-profit utility company owned by the members it serves. Unlike investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives operate for the benefit of their members rather than shareholders. Any revenue remaining after expenses is either reinvested into the cooperative's electric system to maintain reliable service and infrastructure or returned to members as capital credits. Electric cooperatives are governed democratically and operate according to the Seven Cooperative Principles, which guide their commitment to members and the communities they serve.
- Member-Owned & Governed -
As a member of an electric cooperative, you are more than a customer—you are an owner. Members have the opportunity to participate in the cooperative's democratic process by voting in board elections and helping shape the future of their cooperative. Directors are nominated from and elected by the membership they represent. Cooperatives encourage member involvement and value the ideas, feedback, and participation of those they serve. Together, members and employees work toward the shared goal of improving the quality of life in their communities through the Seven Cooperative Principles:
Voluntary and open membership
Democratic member control
Member economic participation
Autonomy and independence
Education, training, and information
Cooperation among cooperatives
Concern for community
- Why Cooperative Membership Matters -
Choosing an electric cooperative means becoming part of an organization focused on service, reliability, and community. Benefits of cooperative membership include:
Annual Meeting of the Members 2026
As a cooperative member, you are both a consumer and an owner of the organization.
Members have a voice in cooperative governance through voting and participation in the democratic process.
Cooperatives invest in the communities they serve through local programs, educational opportunities, economic development efforts, and charitable initiatives.
Any margins earned by the cooperative are either reinvested into the electric system or returned to members as capital credits.
- Programs & Services -
Barry Electric Cooperative provides reliable electricity at competitive rates for homes, farms, and businesses throughout our service area. In addition to dependable electric service, Barry Electric offers programs and resources designed to meet the evolving needs of our members. We are also proud to offer renewable energy options through our Green Power Program. Contact us today to learn more about our rates, programs, and services, and discover the benefits of being a member of Barry Electric Cooperative.
