Heads up, Freeport: CHELCO's office is moving!
Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative (CHELCO) is opening its new Freeport office and operations center, relocating from its current satellite office in Freeport City Hall. The new facility at 359 Co. Hwy. 83A West will feature dedicated operations staff and reduced outage response times.
Unlike the current Freeport facility, which is outfitted with only Member Service Representatives, the new campus will house a 28,700 square foot main building, a 10,000 square foot storage facility and approximately 8 acres of improved surface for equipment laydown such as transformers and poles. The facility will also provide space for dedicated Operations staff, including Line Technicians who respond to outages around the clock.
One key benefit of the new location will be significantly reduced response times for power outages. Currently, staff must travel from CHELCO’s Operations Center in DeFuniak Springs to respond to outages throughout the service territory. With the new office, dedicated crews will be closer to key areas like Santa Rosa Beach and Bluewater Bay, allowing for quicker and more efficient service.
The foresight to purchase this 14.4-acre parcel back in 2015, well before the area experienced its current wave of residential and commercial growth, highlights the strategic planning of the CHELCO Board of Trustees. Since construction began in December 2024, more than 6,000 new members have moved onto CHELCO lines.
The Freeport City Hall office will close at noon on Monday, Aug. 24, and the new office at 359 Co. Hwy. 83A West will open at 7:30 AM on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Office hours will be 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Thursday, and every other Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The payment kiosk at Freeport City Hall will remain in service until Sept. 1, with a new kiosk at the 83A West location beginning service on Aug. 25.
CHELCO says it will share more updates as construction progresses and looks forward to the positive impact this new facility will bring to the community.
Sources: Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative (official announcement, Aug. 21, 2026) | Mid Bay News. Image: Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative.
