Did you know that Tideland traces its roots back to the eventual merger of four power companies? Three were co-ops and the fourth was an investor-owned utility. That utility was Pamlico Power and Light (PP&L), headquartered in Engelhard. It began service on June 11, 1935, which predates our own recognized service start date as a cooperative.
PP&L was owned and operated by P.D. Midgett Jr. until 1973, when ownership was transferred to Tideland. PP&L was originally called Pamlico Ice and Light because its primary business at the time was to manufacture and sell ice and provide cold storage for Hyde County’s robust commercial seafood industry. Ice was even sent from the plant to Hatteras aboard the freight boat, “Hattie E.” On
June 11, 1935, the first nine customers in Engelhard received electric power. The company would eventually come to serve 2,300 customers in Hyde and Dare counties.
Here for you
Today Tideland EMC serves more than 24,000 metered services in Dare, Hyde, Beaufort, Washington, Pamlico and Craven counties. Read more about the history of your cooperative.
