Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association

Overview

Continuing a Legacy Across East Texas

Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association (CCECA) has served East Texas communities since 1938. Today, the cooperative supports more than 17,000 members across four counties, continuing its mission as a member-owned organization focused on reliable service and strong community roots.

As CCECA continues to support its communities, the team saw an opportunity to improve how visitors complete tasks and access information online. In partnership with Powerful, the redesign focused on increasing the use of online tools to reduce phone calls and emails, while creating a navigation experience that feels intuitive and easy to follow.

Simplifying the Path from Interest to Action

CCECA aimed to shift more routine interactions online, making it easier for visitors to complete tasks without needing to call or email for assistance. Many of these processes were previously handled through PDF documents, which required downloading, printing, and manual submission. This added extra steps for visitors and sometimes created delays or incomplete submissions that required follow-up from staff.

Powerful supported this shift by converting key documents into online forms built around the STAR Standard—searchable, translatable, accessible, and responsive. These forms are structured to guide visitors through each field in a clear sequence, with prompts that keep everything organized. Required fields are identified upfront, and any missing information is flagged before submission. This reduces incomplete entries and helps ensure forms arrive ready for review.

The East Texas Rural Electric Youth Seminar (ETREYS) application highlights how this approach works in practice. A student can search for the program by name and land directly on the application page without navigating through multiple documents. From there, the form adjusts to their screen, allowing them to complete it on a phone or computer. If a question is skipped, the form points it out immediately. If the page needs to be translated, that option is readily available, keeping instructions clear from start to finish.

By removing barriers tied to paper forms, CCECA makes it easier for students to take part in a program designed to build leadership and life skills. The streamlined process meets expectations for a digital-first generation while also supporting cooperative principles tied to education and community investment. At the same time, more complete submissions and fewer questions help reduce the volume of routine calls and emails.

Strengthening Member Voices

CCECA also looked for a straightforward way to share information about its board of directors, helping members understand who represents them. Questions about district boundaries and leadership are common, especially when members want to stay informed or reach out with feedback. Without an easy path to that information, these requests often required assistance from staff.

Powerful introduced a KML map integration that presents this information in an interactive, visual format. Visitors can enter their address and instantly see which district they belong to, along with the board member who represents that area. The map outlines service territories in a way that is easy to follow, replacing long descriptions or static lists with something more direct.

For a member preparing to attend a meeting or share input on a local concern, this tool provides a starting point. Instead of searching through multiple pages or reaching out for direction, they can identify their representative and move forward with confidence. The experience is quick and informative, giving members access to what they need in just a few steps.

This feature supports the cooperative principle of democratic member control by making leadership more visible and approachable. It also contributes to CCECA’s goal of guiding more interactions online, giving members a reliable way to find answers on their own while reducing routine inquiries. The result is a stronger connection between members and the cooperative, supported by a tool that feels practical and easy to navigate.