Powerful Designs Intranet to Support A&N Electric Cooperative Workforce
TASLEY, VA — For the first time, A&N Electric Cooperative (ANEC) employees have a dedicated intranet designed to support how they work. Powerful created the cooperative’s first internal hub to simplify access to information and strengthen connection across departments.
ANEC serves more than 28,000 electric cooperative members and employs 78 people across 12 departments. After partnering with Powerful to redesign its public-facing website, the cooperative turned its focus inward. Leadership wanted a practical internal platform that would help employees find information quickly, stay informed, and support daily operations.
“With this being their first intranet, we needed to create a website experience for A&N Electric Cooperative’s employees that was welcoming and informative,” said Stacey Horton, web design project manager at Powerful.
Powerful built the intranet using its Tabor web design blueprint, a search-focused layout designed around how people naturally look for information. The website’s homepage greets employees with a prominent search bar and suggested search prompts that guide them toward commonly used tools and resources.
“By using our Tabor web design blueprint, they were able to bring high-priority items to the forefront such as benefits information, human resources, and safety,” Horton said. “We also highlighted the search tool to help find additional resources quickly.”
The intranet features internal announcements and upcoming events through Powerful’s News Releases web app and Calendar and Events web app. These tools give employees a consistent place to check for updates, meetings, and key dates.
To support connection across departments, the platform includes a Staff Directory that displays employees by name, title, department, office location, phone number, and email address. Each department also has its own dedicated page, making it easier for employees to find and contact the right person.
“They also planned to promote connection between employees with this new intranet,” Horton said. “That can be accomplished through tools like the staff directory and the calendar web app to promote work anniversaries, appreciation events, and employee birthdays.”
Powerful also integrated online forms for daily operations reports, outage summaries, vehicle registration, and construction crew assignments. The intranet includes a Forms and Document Library built with Powerful’s Resource Directory app. Employees can browse and filter documents by category, including benefits, procedures, and forms.
High-priority departments such as Safety and Human Resources appear directly in the main navigation. Documents display as clickable tiles rather than long lists of links, making it easier for employees to scan and select the right resource.
“Everything came together so nicely and I think this intranet will be a great resource for the team,” Horton said.
The intranet was designed with first-time visitors in mind. Employees can access essential information within a few clicks and begin using the platform without training or extra guidance.
ANEC’s first intranet reflects the cooperative’s values of integrity, commitment, adaptability, respect, and excellence. Designed around real workflows and everyday needs, the platform provides a human-centered internal hub that supports communication, collaboration, and operations.
About Powerful
Powerful is a leader in designing human-centered website designs for utility companies, enhancing digital interactions through innovative design and advanced technology. Their mission is to build lasting partnerships with utility organizations by creating engaging, visitor-friendly digital experiences. Specializing in functionality, visitor experience, and accessibility, Powerful tailors each project to the unique needs of their clients, ensuring websites are visually appealing, intuitive, and easy to navigate. With a focus on humanizing websites, their team is dedicated to understanding the specific challenges and goals of each client, crafting solutions that foster meaningful connections and drive engagement. Through a meticulous design process and commitment to excellence, Powerful helps utilities connect more effectively with their communities, providing websites that both inform and inspire.
About A&N Electric Cooperative
A&N Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving more than 28,000 cooperative members. The cooperative provides electric service to homes, farms, and businesses and operates with a mission of enhancing life on the Shore through member-driven services.
