Alpena Power Company, 401 N 9th Ave, Alpena, MI 49707, US

On September 22, 1937, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op, which at that time was known as Presque Isle Electric Cooperative, set its first pole in the village of Posen, Mich. The lines built that fall were the first energized by a cooperative in the state and brought electricity to 82 farm homes just in time for Christmas. The cooperative extended lines to Montmorency and Cheboygan counties, Mich., to provide electric service to rural homes. In 1994, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op entered the natural gas business, again providing a valuable service to rural areas when other companies wouldn't. The cooperative serves more than 32,000 electric members and 7,500 natural gas members throughout a nine county service territory. It maintains 560 miles of gas pipeline and 4,400 miles of electric line, which serves approximately 7.35 members per mile of line. Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op is located in Onaway, Mich.