Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative

Overview

A Modern Vision for a Historic Cooperative

Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC) was built from the ground up by fishermen and farmers in 1940, and its membership today is just as diverse—spanning long-time local families, military households, retirees, and visitors who return to the North Carolina coast year after year. With more than 36,000 members across four counties, CCEC continues to live out its mission: Powered by our members to provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy.

Being member-powered also means being member-focused. As technology evolved, CCEC saw an opportunity to redesign its website into something that would reflect its modern, forward-thinking vision while staying rooted in cooperative values. They partnered with Powerful to create a website that highlights innovation, celebrates community, and provides an intuitive, engaging experience for every visitor.

A Premium Design with Local Character

A cooperative that wants to be seen as forward-thinking needs a design that communicates exactly that. CCEC’s new homepage greets visitors with a video hero section—because while a picture may be worth a thousand words, video tells the full story. The clip features infrastructure and the people who make CCEC thrive: hardworking lineworkers, members in their daily lives, and sweeping shots of the coastal region they call home. It’s an introduction that’s both modern and personal, inviting visitors into the cooperative’s story right from the start.

The premium design also builds flexibility into every detail. Call-to-action buttons for essentials like bill pay, outage maps, and service requests ensure that the most important tools are always within reach. Meanwhile, the clean layout and bold, contemporary visuals reinforce CCEC’s reputation as an innovative leader.

A Platform for Connection

Modern design is only half the story. CCEC also wanted their website to reflect the cooperative model of open communication and transparency. The new design delivers by dedicating prominent space to content that changes regularly. The “In the Spotlight” section rotates through news posts, keeping members updated on everything from capital credits to outage restoration tips. This ensures the site always feels current, not static.

The homepage features the Carteret-Craven Electric Foundation (CCEF). By spotlighting the Foundation’s community programs, CCEC reinforces the cooperative principle of “Concern for Community.” Visitors see evidence of the co-op difference right away.

Together, these features transform the site into a community resource. Visitors learn, engage, and connect– all while building trust in their cooperative.

Illustrating the Cooperative Spirit

Every design decision ties back to CCEC’s guiding slogan: “Powered by our members!” This slogan is embodied in CCEC’s custom illustrated footer. The artwork captures the spirit of eastern North Carolina with details like the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Emerald Isle Bridge, open farmland, wild horses, and stretches of beach. These elements ground the design in the landscapes and daily life that define the community. The illustration adds warmth and personality, transforming what could have been a basic space into a celebration of local life.

The footer serves as a closing note that connects the modern design back to tradition and member ownership. It reminds visitors that CCEC is shaped by the people who call this region home. The footer also complements the overall layout, blending seamlessly with the site’s professional look while adding a uniquely local signature. It proves that every service, initiative, and innovation truly is powered by its members.