CoServ powers new H-E-Bs with electricity and natural gas

The Frisco H-E-B opened in September at the northeast corner of Legacy Drive and Main Street. Photos by KEN OLTMANN
The Frisco H-E-B opened in September at the northeast corner of Legacy Drive and Main Street. Photos by KEN OLTMANN

CoServ serves more than 438,000 electric and gas meters in North Texas and, while the majority of those are homes like yours, we also power more than 17,000 commercial meters throughout North Texas.

These are places our Members go for dining, shopping, entertainment and employment. In the first six months of 2022, CoServ added 327 commercial meters.

As CoServ celebrates its 85th anniversary, we’re proud to add a new Member that’s also a longtime Texas institution – H-E-B!

The Frisco H-E-B location opened in September at the northeast corner of Legacy Drive and Main Street. CoServ services the 111,000-square-foot store with electricity and natural gas. The store will create 425 jobs, solidifying H-E-B’s ranking as the largest privately held employer in Texas.

The McKinney H-E-B is scheduled to open next summer at the northeast corner of Custer Road and Eldorado Parkway.
The McKinney H-E-B is scheduled to open next summer at the northeast corner of Custer Road and Eldorado Parkway.

And next summer, H-E-B will open a McKinney location at the northeast corner of Custer Road and Eldorado Parkway, said Mabrie Jackson, Senior Director of Public Affairs for H-E-B. Like the Frisco store, CoServ will provide electric and gas service to the 118,000-square-foot store.

“CoServ is proud to provide exceptional service to the businesses we power throughout North Texas and H-E-B is no exception,” said Tracee Elrod, Manager of Business Relations & Acquisitions. “From the Business Development and construction management teams to the linemen and gas technicians in the field, we take pride in providing our commercial Members with reliable electric and natural gas service.”

CoServ Gas will power the backup generator for the Frisco and McKinney H-E-Bs.
CoServ Gas will power the backup generator for the Frisco and McKinney H-E-Bs.

The Frisco and McKinney stores will be the first H-E-Bs powered by an electric cooperative to have a backup power system capable of powering the entire store, Mabrie said. The generators will be powered by CoServ natural gas.

H-E-B has also been installing solar panels on its stores since 2015. Mabrie said the new North Texas stores, including Frisco and McKinney, are certainly candidates for future solar installations.

Both stores will have unique designs that tie back to the community, another hallmark of H-E-B.

The Frisco store features greenspace filled with public art, including a mosaic that shows the history of Frisco. The mosaics were created by local art teachers, Frisco staff members, elected officials, Veterans of Foreign Wars members and Frisco Boys and Girls Club members.

In addition, the products inside the stores are specifically catered to the demographics of the community. Both stores will have True Texas BBQ restaurants with a drive thru. The stores are consistently named the best barbecue chain in the nation by Thrillist.

Like the CoServ Charitable Foundation, H-E-B has a rich history of giving back through their nonprofit, the Spirit of Giving. The grocery store invested $20,000 to multiple local nonprofits to celebrate the groundbreaking for both stores last year.

“CoServ and H-E-B share the same philosophy of giving back to the communities they serve and we’re excited about adding them to our list of commercial Members that we will power into the future,” Tracee said.