By Mike Thorson, Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative Director It has been my honor to serve you, our member-owners, on the Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative Board since 1974. In 1976, I was given the additional privilege of representing Todd-Wadena members on the Great River Energy Board of Directors, which at that time was known as Cooperative Power. Our […]
Reliable electricity doesn’t happen by accident. It takes coordination across an entire system — from where power is generated, to how it moves across the region, to the final delivery to your home or business. I want to take a moment to explain how that system works and, just as importantly, highlight the critical role […]
Artificial Intelligence, or “AI”, is making headlines in the news and seems like a new concept to many; however, AI has been incorporated into our everyday lives and workplaces for years. When you search online, you’ve probably started to see targeted ads that reflect your interests on your social media. Or perhaps you use Alexa […]
Eighty-five years ago, a small group of determined neighbors in central Minnesota set out to bring light and opportunity to their rural communities. With the help of the 1936 Rural Electrification Act, they formed Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative in 1940. Though the early years were uncertain (membership cost $5 during the Great Depression, and wiring a […]
Looking for a smarter way to heat your home without breaking your budget? Todd-Wadena’s Dual Fuel Load Management Program makes it possible by combining two heating sources to keep you comfortable and save you money. What Is Dual Fuel?Dual fuel means pairing an electric heat source—such as baseboard heat, slab heating, a plenum heater, or […]
At Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative, we often hear thoughtful questions from members about how electricity makes its way to their homes and businesses—and what we can do to improve reliability. Recently, a member asked: “How does power get to my home? Why are there power lines on both sides of the road? At what point do […]
Each month, our board reviews financial reports that track the cooperative’s performance against our budget. If you’ve ever looked at the board minutes and wondered what terms like “kWh sales,” “energy revenue,” “purchased power expense,” “TIER,” or “equity” mean, here’s a breakdown. Monthly Budget for kWh SalesWe budget the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) we expect […]
As a Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative member, you’ve likely heard us talk about load control or seen headlines like “Electric Demand on the Rise.” But what exactly is demand when it comes to electricity? In simple terms, demand refers to how much electricity is being used at any one time. It’s not just about how much […]
Scholarships are made available with unclaimed capital credits. After a period of seven years, Minnesota law allows cooperatives to use unclaimed capital credits for charitable or educational purposes. Each year, Todd-Wadena is able to use these unclaimed capital credits to offer student scholarships in our service area. This year, we are offering up to four […]
This is the time of year when some members start to prepare to head south to avoid the harsh Minnesota winter. To help keep your electric use to a minimum while you’re away, we recommend you: Did You Know? If you are a snowbird, you can temporarily change your mailing address with us while you […]
