Cullman Electric Cooperative desperately wants you to believe it cares about the community. Its latest maneuver in corporate benevolence? The “Community Pantry.” A pair of wooden boxes meant to house food and supplies completely funded and stocked by the communities they serve. The cooperative helpfully suggests donating boxed macaroni, granola bars and canned meats to fill the void. Who knew spam still existed in 2026?
For an estimated $500 in plywood and nails, Cullman Electric has purchased itself a weak public relations campaign. Meanwhile, the actual cost of keeping the lights on continues to empty local wallets. Following a Tennessee Valley Authority rate hike in October 2024 that added $60 annually to customer bills, 2026 has ushered in even steeper costs. Cullman County residents now shell out an average of $257 a month on electricity, according to EnergySage.com. Over 25 years, that amounts to a staggering $110,800. Causes for rate increases might include inflation, soaring fleet fuel costs and a 143% cost spike in infrastructure materials like poles and transformers.
Despite raking in those monthly premiums, Cullman Electric apparently has no intention of actually buying groceries. A closer look reveals the cooperative will not be supplying the food for its own branded initiative; that burden falls entirely on the generosity of local residents. If a college intern pitched this concept, they deserve a passing grade for managing to execute a zero-dollar philanthropic strategy from the bottom of the ladder. It is a brilliant idea for an “A.”
As a community strategy, however, it is remarkably cynical. Someone sitting in a Cullman Electric boardroom correctly identified that their customers are going hungry, a situation undoubtedly worsened by escalating utility bills, and decided the most effective solution was an empty box. They are asking the same struggling ratepayers who fund their salaries, bonuses and infrastructure upgrades to feed one another, all while the cooperative stands nearby waiting for applause.
This is not corporate responsibility. It is a pantomime of empathy, allowing a utility provider to masquerade as a charity without ever opening its own wallet.
Zackery Moore
Cullman, Ala.
Editor’s note: Reader Zackery Moore is referencing the Cullman Electric Cooperative’s “Community Cupboards.” See www.cullmantribune.com/2026/02/18/cullman-electric-cooperative-launches-community-cupboards-in-celebration-of-90-years-of-service.
