Above photo: Lake Region Electric Cooperative’s CEO Tim Thompson recently testified in support of local control for cooperatives. Locally elected co-op board members know their neighbors and are in the best position to serve their needs. Legislative Priorities I write this column fresh off attending the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) Annual Meeting in St. Paul…
I am excited to announce we are launching another opportunity for our members to learn more about energy-related issues. This opportunity is “The Energy Corner” (TEC). Members who join the TEC Facebook group will be provided truthful and accurate information on a regular basis. This information will come directly from people who work in the…
Our district meetings were held on January 4th and 5th for LREC Districts 1, 4, and 7 in Pelican Rapids, Dent, and Fergus Falls, respectively. In District 1, incumbent and current Board Vice Chair Kurt Krueger was nominated as a director candidate. In District 4, Lee Mindemann and David Pawlowski were nominated as director candidates…
One of the most important things we can do is let our voices be heard by those elected to represent us. LREC values a positive relationship with our local legislators. We were able to connect with Minnesota’s Senator Jordan Rasmusson, Senator Rob Kupec, Representative Tom Murphy, and Representative Jeff Backer over the past year when…
We recently completed our annual member satisfaction survey. Our survey provides an opportunity for members to share comments, and this feedback helps us serve you the way you deserve. We carefully review each comment to best equip our employees to respond to you in a timely manner, and to hopefully, whether now or in the…
LREC exists to serve our members and our communities. We are committed to providing safe, reliable, and affordable electricity and other energy-related services while improving the communities we serve. These services are delivered to you by the people at LREC who are committed to providing you with the best member experience possible. I am proud…
LREC joins cooperatives across the country every October to celebrate National Cooperative Month. National Cooperative Month recognizes the cooperative difference and reminds all of us about LREC’s purpose. Minnesota was the first state to declare an official Co-op Month proclamation in 1948. Co-op Month has been a nationally recognized celebration since 1964, when U.S. Secretary…
When I check my Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) app on my phone, it regularly shows (with some variation) approximately 80%-90% of MISO’s electricity generation coming from coal, natural gas, and nuclear. The Real-Time Displays pictured to the right is a screenshot I took from the MISO app on August 15th, and it provides a…
I have mentioned it many times before, but LREC is here to serve you, our member-owners. We never take the service you deserve for granted, and we want to continue to increase the value of your membership. Our goal is to make sure you feel the value of being a member of LREC is not…
2023 Legislation Will Impact Everyone Who Uses ElectricityMinnesota’s 2023 legislative session was one of the most consequential in history for LREC members and the rest of Minnesota’s 1.7 million cooperative members. The landmark 2040 Carbon Free Standard made this legislative session one with long-term impacts on everyone using electricity in the state. A lot of…