As a member, you earn capital credits each year based on your patronage. This means if you purchase more electricity in a year, your allocation of capital credits is more for that year. Your Board of Directors makes a decision annually on whether to retire, or pay out, old capital credits based on the financial […]
Category: News
Concern for Community: A Defining Principle for Co-ops // October 2022 CEO Column
Celebrated nationwide during the month of October, National Co-op Month is an annual opportunity to look at the many aspects that make cooperatives unique. Cooperatives are motivated by people and their needs, not by profit. The seven cooperative principles guide electric cooperatives to operate differently from other utilities, putting the needs of their members first. […]
The Role of a Director // By Director Mike Thorson
It was a warm day in the spring of 1974 when two gentlemen drove in the yard. Little did I know how it would change my life. My wife and I visited with them, and they said they were directors at Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative (TWEC). One of them was retiring from the board (Walter Carlson) […]
2023 Nominating Committee
The grassroots participation in nominating and electing directors is one of the most important powers that you, the member-owners of Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative (TWEC), have in order to guide the decisions of your cooperative. Part of this participation involves the Nominating Committee, which is made up of between 5 and 11 members who are selected […]
Responsible Energy Transition // September 2022 CEO Column
Our power supplier, Great River Energy (GRE) has began preparing its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which must be filed with the State of Minnesota next spring. I was invited to attend a stakeholder meeting in late August, whereby GRE laid out its plan for transitioning its power resource portfolio further away from carbon-based fuels and […]
TWEC Members Enjoy Pancakes and EVs
Over 400 members and their families attended the annual Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative (TWEC) member appreciation event for pancakes and sausage, prepared by Sebeka Lions Club, and the electric vehicle ride & drive on Tuesday, August 23rd at the Co-op’s headquarters. TWEC lineworkers presented electrical safety demonstrations to attendees. TWEC mini members enjoyed the kids lineworker […]
2022 Youth Tour
By Ally Pavek The 2022 Youth Tour was incredible!! I had a great time on this trip seeing what all of Washington, D.C. has to offer, including meeting lots of new people, having the opportunity to meet with our legislators, as well as learning more about electric cooperatives and how much of an impact they […]
Electric Vehicles in Minnesota
Currently there are roughly 26,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on the road in MN. Minnesota (MnDot and Governor Walz administration) has a goal for 20% of vehicles on the road to be electric by 2030—an estimated 777,307 EVs. While our service territory as a whole can accommodate hundreds of EVs at this time, each individual distribution […]
Democratic Process // August 2022 CEO Column
The democratic process is at the heart of everything cooperatives do, and it all starts with member participation in electing your board of directors each year at our annual meeting. We call that “grassroots” efforts because you are advocating for change at the local level, at the “root” of the organization. Cooperatives are also involved […]
Meet the Candidates — September 8th
On September 8th, 2022, Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative (TWEC) will host a Meet the Candidates event for all eligible voters at the Lions Community Center in Verndale. A social hour with light refreshments will start at 6:30 p.m., and at 7 p.m. the candidate forum will begin. Issues involving rural access to broadband, rate regulation of […]