WADENA, Minn. — Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative (TWEC) welcomed 238 members and guests to its 2026 Annual Meeting on April 16, highlighting a year of strong performance, infrastructure investment, and continued member engagement.
Prior to the business meeting, approximately 70 members participated in the interactive Transmission Trail, where they learned about Operation Round Up®, Great River Energy, electrical safety, capital credits, and more. Participants were entered into a drawing for six $25 energy credits. Winners included Mark Holper, Dianne Noska, Gary Donner, Steve and Becky Pierson, Tom Rausch, and Kelvin Maninga. Attendees also enjoyed bingo, with Dairy Queen gift cards and co-op swag awarded as prizes.
The business meeting began at 5:30 p.m. with an invocation from Pastor Nate Loer. Following a meal catered by Clarissa Ballroom, CEO Dan Carlisle shared insights from a recent Great River Energy meeting and introduced department highlight videos showcasing cooperative achievements.
Operations Update
TWEC reported continued system growth and reliability improvements in 2025, including:
- 109 new services connected and 66 service upgrades completed
- 204 poles replaced
- 6 miles of overhead line rebuilt and 1.5 miles converted to underground for MnDOT’s Highway 10 project
- 12 miles of new underground line installed
- 383 outages recorded, primarily due to weather and wildlife
The cooperative also received a State Grid Resilience Grant to install electronic reclosers in Todd County substations, enhancing system reliability.
Corporate Services & IT
Corporate Services Manager Abby Harrison emphasized the importance of cybersecurity, encouraging members to use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. She also announced that beginning June 1, TWEC will no longer directly handle members’ credit card or banking information. Members enrolling in AutoPay will need to do so through SmartHub.
Financial Report
TWEC reported strong financial results for 2025:
- Net margins of $2,399,156
- Revenue increased by 10%, with kilowatt-hour sales up 3%
- Cost of service rose 10%, including a 14% increase in wholesale power costs
- Year-end equity reached 41.97%
Key accomplishments included implementing Positive Pay fraud protection, securing a CoBank financing package, updating WAPA contracts, and expanding human resources capabilities.
Member & Energy Services
TWEC continues to prioritize member satisfaction and community support:
- 166 members completed the annual survey, with an average satisfaction score of 4.6 out of 5
- Four new member-owned solar systems were interconnected, bringing the total to 54
- TWEC helped facilitate a $1 million USDA zero-interest loan for Enterprise CP of Long Prairie
- 564 service transfers were completed
- Over $20,000 in Operation Round Up® grants supported 15 local organizations, with more than 4,200 members enrolled
- The cooperative also hosted several community events throughout the year, including Co-op Strong, the Annual Meeting, a Pancake Supper, Holiday Open House, and a member movie event.
Five of the six 2026 scholarship recipients attended the meeting, and members viewed a Youth Tour recap presented by Iva Hinson of Staples.
Board Chair Report and Election Results
Board Chair Miles Kuschel discussed key industry topics, including legislative efforts related to Minnesota’s nuclear energy moratorium and Great River Energy’s approved 4.5% wholesale rate increase for 2026. He also noted that Minnesota cooperatives, including TWEC, sent 60 lineworkers to assist with storm recovery efforts in Virginia.
Nominating Committee Chair Wally Wiese announced the results of the 2026 director elections:
- Dale Adams: 974 votes
- Steven C. Peterson: 553 votes
- Kristine Spadgenske: 964 votes
- Gene Kern: 1,071 votes
Adams, Spadgenske, and Kern were re-elected to three-year terms ending in 2029.
As members departed, they received a heavy-duty paring knife as an attendance gift.
Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative extends its sincere thanks to all members who attended and participated in the Annual Meeting. Member involvement remains the foundation of the cooperative’s success and a reflection of its commitment to being member-powered.
