Happy holidays from Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative! All of the employees and Board of Directors would like you, our members, to know how much we appreciate you. We hope you have a happy and safe holiday season and a prosperous new year! As 2022 comes to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on the past year.
In 2022, the Board of Directors approved the retirement of $766,000 of capital credits for the remainder of 2007, and from our wholesale provider, Great River Energy, a retirement of $160,000 of capital credits to Todd-Wadena members who had patronage from 1991-1992. Year to date, I am pleased to report that crews have installed 131 new services for the co-op, built 6 miles of new lines, and rebuilt 9½ miles of single-phase overhead lines. This is an impressive accomplishment, especially considering the strong storms that hit our region this spring.
Massive storms in May destroyed distribution lines and equipment. Our line crews, along with crews from neighboring co-ops who showed up to assist us, worked diligently to restore power to our members. While lineworkers were out working to restore power, our office staff stepped up to support our crews and members during that challenging time. The storm qualified as a FEMA event – the first one we’ve had in over 10 years. I am thankful for the hard work of our employees and the patience and support of our members as we worked to restore power in the wake of the storms.
After hosting the cooperative’s Annual Meeting in a virtual format for the past two years, it was great to be back in-person at the Maslowski Wellness & Research Center this past spring. I appreciated the opportunity to see so many new and familiar faces at the Annual Meeting.
We are always looking at how we can best serve our membership. In July, Todd-Wadena hosted the 5th Annual Co-op Strong lunch with West Central Telephone Association. The month after that, we held our annual pancake supper, along with an EV Ride and Drive event. We served over 400 people and many members test drove an EV or eBike at the event. Recently, a crew helped hang lights at Burlington Northern Park in Wadena and in the city of Bluffton for the holidays. Another highlight was offering six scholarships in 2022 to local high school seniors and adult learners.
The past year also brought with it some challenges – including supply chain issues and rising inflation. As the cost of service continues to increase, we remain committed to providing our members with the safe, reliable energy you’ve come to expect.
I am thankful for the employees and directors we have at Todd-Wadena. We would not be here today without you, our members, and we look forward to serving you in the years to come.
