At last month’s annual meeting, Roanoke Electric Co-op officials announced they were close to completing the Roanoke Connect project, one that will offer internet service to its membership.

Now, REC is moving closer to that reality by announcing that its member-owners will be able to subscribe to Roanoke Connect for $44.95 per month.

This announcement comes after the co-op recently completed the first phase of its pilot project. Now, the co-op is making plans to expand the project to its entire membership over the next two to four years.

“Living up to our mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity, while enhancing the quality of life in the diverse communities we serve is what we’re all about,” said Curtis Wynn, president and CEO of the co-op. “This is our main motivation behind offering high-speed internet service through the Roanoke Connect project.”

The co-op’s Roanoke Connect project began with a 200-mile fiber build out that will be expanded to offer high-speed internet service to the region. The service will be capable of providing member-owners with up to 1 gigabit per second internet speed. This level of technology will afford member-owners faster download, upload and video streaming capabilities.

“In addition to gaining access to numerous services that can lower their electric bill, it is our hope that many things will cease to be burdens for our member-owners,” said Wynn. “Things like streaming a movie with your family or searching for information online will be less of a hassle.”

Until the service is available to the co-op’s entire membership, member-owners also have the added benefit of pre-registering for the co-op’s Triple Savings offer.   With Triple Savings, member-owners receive: 1) a free ecobee3 thermostat; 2) a free Wi-Fi enabled water heater control device; and 3) an additional 10 to 15 percent savings for the first six months of internet service with no upfront installation or equipment charges.

There may also be good news for those who are not co-op member-owners. Skyrunner, an internet service provider in Asheville, NC, will be partnering with the co-op to offer broadband services to residents who may not be member-owners.

“For us to become the utility of the future, this level of connectivity is essential for not just our member-owners, but for our entire region,” Wynn said.

Find out how you can sign up for the Triple Savings offer by calling 252-209-2236. Stay updated on the Roanoke Connect project by visiting www.roanokeelectric.com/RoanokeConnect.

Roanoke Electric Cooperative is an electric utility providing service to 14,500 member-owners in Bertie, Hertford, Halifax, Northampton, Gates, Perquimans and Chowan counties.