Cape Coral got its electricity from Lee County Electric Cooperative, known as LCEC. In 1957, LCEC manager Homer T. Welch Jr. and Cape Coral founder Leonard Rosen agreed to run power about eight miles down Del Prado Boulevard to the new development. Power reached the first homes in 1958, and LCEC still serves the city today. This page is part of our history of Cape Coral.
Photo: The first homes in Cape Coral in 1958, with power poles running along the new roads. Restored and colorized from Lies That Came True by Eileen Bernard. Colors are added digitally.
The handshake deal, 1957
When Cape Coral was still scrubland, there were no power lines to it. LCEC’s own history says that in 1957 its manager, Homer T. Welch Jr., and Cape Coral founder Leonard Rosen agreed to extend electric service about eight miles down Del Prado Boulevard to the new development.
Rosen put up a deposit to help cover the cost, and Welch agreed to return it once enough customers signed on. LCEC’s records put that deposit at about $3,000. The book remembers it as about $10,000. We go with LCEC’s own figure. The deposit was returned in 1958.
Power to the first homes, 1958
The line went in, and in June 1958 power reached the first model homes. LCEC counts the first few homes; an early Cape Coral Breeze account says the eight miles of line served about two dozen model homes that summer.
The first full-time resident moved in that same June. From there, the lines spread as fast as the streets did.
About the cooperative
LCEC is a member-owned cooperative, not a for-profit utility. It grew out of a small North Fort Myers power plant that local members bought in 1940, and it was built to serve places larger utilities had skipped. Over the years it reached Pine Island, Sanibel, Captiva, Lehigh Acres and more.
Today LCEC still serves Cape Coral, with tens of thousands of accounts in the city. The handshake from 1957 turned into the power grid the whole city runs on.
A city built from scratch
Electricity was one piece of building a city out of nothing. For the rest of the early firsts, the first school, bank and church, see Cape Coral’s firsts, and for the land before all of it, see what Cape Coral was before the canals.
Cape Coral electricity FAQ
Who brought electricity to Cape Coral?
Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC), which still serves the city today.
When did Cape Coral get power?
Power reached the first model homes in June 1958, after an eight-mile line was run down Del Prado Boulevard.
Who was Homer Welch?
Homer T. Welch Jr. was LCEC’s manager, who in 1957 agreed with Leonard Rosen to extend power to Cape Coral.
How much was the deposit to get power?
LCEC’s records put it at about $3,000, returned in 1958. The city’s history book remembers it as about $10,000; we use LCEC’s figure.
Who provides electricity in Cape Coral now?
LCEC, a member-owned cooperative serving Cape Coral and much of the surrounding area.
Sources
- Lee County Electric Cooperative, history
- Lee County Electric Cooperative, 85 years
- Fort Myers Beach Talk, LCEC 80 years
- Cape Coral Breeze, early power in Cape Coral
- Eileen Bernard, Lies That Came True (book)
Eileen Bernard worked in Gulf American’s publicity department, so her book is an insider’s account of Cape Coral’s early years. We use it alongside the other sources listed here.
Brenton Miebach, REALTOR®
Southwest Florida Lifestyle Living, eXp Realty. Helping buyers and sellers in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Estero. Call or text 239-990-7738 or email brenton@brentonmiebach.com.
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