News Spotlight

We Deliver More than just electricity
We Deliver the Power of MVEC membership

The nine directors on MVEC’s Board, including me, are member-owners like you. That makes us unique—a cooperative owned and governed by our local members, not outside investors. It’s a business model built to serve our communities and deliver more.

Here’s how MVEC Delivers More for you:

• The Power of Membership
  MVEC operates at cost, returning excess revenue to our member-owners as Capital Credits—over $33 million since 1959.
• Community Connections
  We support local economic development, energy-efficient projects, scholarships, youth programs, and community initiatives like Operation Round Up to strengthen the communities we serve.
• Affordable, Reliable Power
  By partnering with trusted wholesale energy providers and maintaining a diverse energy mix, we balance affordability, reliability, and sustainability for today and tomorrow.
• Options to Personalize Your Account
  From convenient traditional and alternative payment options to energy-efficient Energy Wise programs that offer reduced rates, you can tailor your MVEC electric account to suit your budget, lifestyle, and power needs.
• A Brighter Future
  Innovation and our commitment to care drive us forward, ensuring we safely and reliably meet your energy needs while building a stronger community.

Reliable, affordable electricity matters more than ever, and MVEC is here to Deliver More. Thank you for being a member-owner of our cooperative.

Cooperatively yours,
Deborah Erickson
MVEC Board President

Our 2024 Annual Report is now available. You may view it here

By Marvin Denzer, CEO

Our Annual Meeting is a time-honored tradition that brings us together as a cooperative community. We invite you to be part of the conversation. This hour-long meeting highlights the investments, projects, and financial outlook of MVEC. All are key topics that affect you as a member-owner.

Registration begins at 6 p.m.
There will be plenty to do before the Annual Meeting starts:

• Register for the meeting and door prizes
• Visit with Board of Director candidates
• Vote onsite if you haven’t already done so by mail
• Talk with our Team on
  • Energy Savings
  • Member Service
  • Drone Technology
  • Safety Matters
  • Operation Round Up (see ORU grant recipient Can Do Canines)

Important news shared during the meeting

• Cooperative updates from Board President Deborah Erickson, CEO Marvin Denzer, and VP of Finance Randy Erdman, along with behind-the-scenes videos.
• Awarding of $1,500 high school scholarships (funded by Unclaimed Capital Credits) awarded
  • Five at-large scholarships will be drawn at the meeting!
• MVEC’s 2025 Youth tour recipient for a leadership trip to Washington D.C. announced
• Board of Director election results 

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 8, and make the most of your co-op membership by participating in this important event.  Learn more here  and watch your mail for official Annual Meeting details.

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Marvin

Engaging with our younger members
We deliver more with safety, education, and opportunity

At MVEC, the Fifth Cooperative Principle—Education, Training, and Information—is a practice we take to heart. We are pleased to offer youth programs that help our local communities thrive by investing in the future. From keeping kids safe to building skills, we are here to show the next generation the cooperative difference.

• Stay Safe with Electricity: PowerTown is a Hands-On Electrical Safety Demo
  Safety is a top priority at MVEC. Our PowerTown tabletop demonstration teaches students and community members how to stay safe around electricity. This free, 30-minute, interactive presentation is available for schools, Scout meetings, and other youth events. Plus, on special request, we’ll bring it to after-hours safety events. To learn more, visit www.mvec.net/youth.
• Batter Up! Free Minnesota Twins Youth Baseball & Softball Clinics
  We have teamed up with the Twins Community Fund and Great River Energy to bring baseball and softball excitement to local youth for the past two summers. These free clinics give kids the skills, teamwork, and confidence they need to shine on and off the field. Watch this newsletter for 2025 details.
• $1,500 Scholarships for Member-Owner Students
  We’re proud to support students (whose parents or guardians are MVEC members) in furthering their education through our $1,500 scholarship program. Apply online at www.mvec.net/high-school-scholarships by Tuesday, Feb. 18, for one of 15 scholarships. Plus, there’s a second chance to win by attending our Annual Meeting at Jordan High School on Tuesday, April 8, where we’ll draw five more scholarships.
• Youth Tour Leadership Experience in Washington, D.C.
  The Youth Tour is much more than just a trip to Washington, D.C. It’s a life-changing leadership experience. Participants gain valuable skills, learn the importance of electric cooperatives, make lifelong connections, and come home ready to make a difference. The 2025 Youth Tour deadline is Friday, Mar. 15. Know an outstanding high school sophomore or junior from a member-owner household who would enjoy representing MVEC? Have them apply here: www.mvec.net/youth-tour.
• College Student Internship Opportunities
  Looking for a stable, rewarding career? Electric cooperatives offer opportunities for everything from line workers and engineers to accountants and communicators. MVEC’s HR staff attend college intern and career fairs to find next-generation talent to help power our future. Every summer, we hire three to five interns who gain hands-on experience in various departments. Find our job and internship opportunities posted here: www.mvec.net/your-cooperative/career-center.

At MVEC, we aim to deliver a stronger tomorrow and a brighter future for the youth in our communities.

Before we look at the top 10 resolutions, I’m pleased to share good news from MVEC: we anticipate no changes to 2025 electric rates. Our mission always remains the same: to create exceptional member experiences while safely providing reliable energy at cost.

At MVEC, we are committed to helping our valued member-owners take charge of your home or business energy use. Here are our Top 10 Resolutions to help you start the year off right:

1. Make time for what matters most – Spend quality time with your family and friends. As your local cooperative, we’re here to power the moments that matter most.
2. Mark your calendar for April 8, 2025 – Join us for the MVEC Annual Meeting! It’s a great chance to connect, learn about your cooperative, elect your Board of Directors, congratulate high school scholarship winners, and maybe even win a bill credit.
3. Save money – Visit www.mvec.net/residential-programs and explore our Energy Wise programs. Are you interested in managing energy use for heating, cooling, electric water heating, and electric vehicle charging costs? Choose from reduced rates or bill credit programs. Rebates are also available for many energy-efficient appliances.
4. MVEC offers free payment programs – Sign up for one of MVEC’s convenient and secure bill payment programs to simplify, organize, and automate your payments.
5. Create a SmartHub Account – Manage your electric account online or with MVEC’s app.  Make payments, check electric usage, receive email or text alerts, and more.
6. Try our outage texting option – Does MVEC have your mobile phone number? Go to SmartHub, make sure your phone number is correct, and enable notifications. Then use 855-963-3830 to text OUTAGE or STATUS to stay updated if you experience a service interruption.
7. Visit www.mvec.net – Check out cash back rebates, service location applications, account management, and more! 
8. Receive energy advice – Schedule a visit with an MVEC energy expert to identify even more ways to save on your energy use. Our team is here to help residential and business members maximize efficiency.
9. Make your home more efficient – Program your thermostat, change your furnace filter monthly and watch those energy savings add up. Small changes can make a big impact on your utility bills. We have more ideas here: www.mvec.net/energy-tips
10. Charge your EV for less – If you drive an electric vehicle, consider joining MVEC’s Energy Wise program to charge your EV and save money every month. Learn more at www.mvec.net/electric-vehicle-program

Wishing you and your families all the best in 2025!

During this holiday season, I want to take a moment to extend warm wishes to you and your family, our valued member-owners. Whether it’s the glow of Christmas lights or the food and conversation at family gatherings, this season is a time of brightness and warmth— courtesy of the energy that powers it all.

Every twinkling light, every heated home, and every holiday display is powered by the electricity we help deliver every day.

We are grateful for MVEC’s role in illuminating not only homes but also the holiday spirit within our communities through programs, such as the Gift of Electricity and Operation Round Up, which give individuals and organizations a helping hand.

Looking back on the past year, I’m grateful for our members and the cooperative spirit. MVEC Team Members met many of you at community events, from kindergarten electric safety demonstrations to city celebrations and parades. We met you in a pumpkin patch and in saluting the U.S. flag at a local veterans event.

Some of our Team Members took community commitment on the road this year by sharing their electrical skills in Guatemala to bring electricity to a village for the first time and in South Carolina to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. We loved hearing your words of support on social media and in person as the cooperative spirit was shown both near and far.

As you gather with friends and family, may your season be filled with peace, joy, and the special glow of the holidays. Wishing you all a bright and healthy New Year, and all the powerful possibilities that lie ahead!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from all of us at Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative

As we move into November and approach the season of gratitude, I am reminded of how much we have to be thankful for. Being part of a cooperative brings a deep sense of belonging, support, and shared purpose. At the heart of it all is the cooperative spirit — one that values working together, lifting each other up, and ensuring no one is left behind. This spirit is something we can all be grateful for.

On October 1st — the first day of National Cooperative Month, fittingly — MVEC received a call for mutual aid. As we witnessed Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on the Atlantic Coast, we knew our fellow cooperatives needed help. Within 24 hours, four of our MVEC linemen were on the road to Pickens, South Carolina, equipped with bucket and digger trucks. Our linemen joined others from Wright-Hennepin and McLeod County co-ops, embarking on a 20-hour trek to assist Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, where 64,000 out of 73,000 members had lost power and 800 poles were downed

While MVEC serves nearly 48,000 members, the conditions in South Carolina made the work incredibly difficult, with each pole replacement taking 2-3 hours. Yet, our team didn’t hesitate. MVEC was one of 18 Minnesota co-ops that answered the call for help, some even coming from as far as South Dakota. This dedication is the power of cooperation — one of the core principles we live by.

When disaster strikes, we don’t stand idly by. Mutual aid is not just an obligation; it’s a cooperative tradition rooted in the values of service and community. Our linemen — Bruce, Kevin, Bill, and Chad — left their families and homes for more than a week to work tirelessly in flooded conditions, restoring power to devastated areas. Their selflessness is a powerful reminder of what we stand for at MVEC: it’s not just about the electricity we provide, but about the people, neighbors, and communities we serve.

As we reflect on this season of Thanksgiving, let us not only give thanks but also embrace the importance of giving back. MVEC exemplifies this through our mutual aid efforts, volunteer work such as highway cleanup, and safety demonstrations. Whether it’s volunteering, lending a hand to a neighbor, or simply being there for those in need, each of us has the opportunity to serve our community in meaningful ways

As we gather with our families this Thanksgiving, let’s take a moment to appreciate the blessings we have and the opportunities we’ve been given to help others. From all of us at MVEC, we wish you and your loved ones a safe and joyful Thanksgiving. And to our entire MVEC team who continue to embrace the spirit of service — thank you for your unwavering commitment. You make us proud every day.

By Marvin Denzer
MVEC CEO

More than 30,000 cooperatives across the U.S. will celebrate National Co-op Month in October. It’s a time to honor the power of co-op membership, whether an electric cooperative, credit union, grocery store, grain elevator, or another type of cooperative.

Electric cooperatives are not-for-profit utilities built by the members/communities they serve. At MVEC, our mission is to create exceptional member experiences while safely providing reliable energy at cost. Your cooperative is focused on serving its member-owners (you) and the surrounding communities. Providing members with value-added services is important to us.

1. We offer money-saving options. Nearly 50 percent of our members participate in EnergyWise programs that help you save money by reducing electric consumption. You can receive monthly bill credits or pay up to 50 percent off the general service rate depending on what electric heating, cooling, water heating, or electric vehicle charging programs you participate in. Plus, members can add to their savings with energy-efficiency rebates of $25 to $500, depending on the programs you choose.
2. We help you understand your electric usage. Your monthly bill shows your daily usage, and you can analyze it in more detail for personalized information with a free SmartHub account. With SmartHub you can check your daily, monthly, and yearly electric usage; report power outages; choose a bill pay program and make payments; and sign up for email or text alerts. Download the SmartHub app to conduct co-op business from your phone.
3. You get to share cooperative margins. MVEC has returned $32 million to member-owners. MVEC has a long history of refunding excess revenue, which we call Capital Credits, to current and former members. This is your share of the cooperative’s margins. In 2024, we returned $1.39 million dollars to members.
4. Your satisfaction is important to us! For many years, MVEC has scored high in member satisfaction. We feel this is because we budget dollars wisely, so your electric rates remain competitive. Our full-service website (www.mvec.net) allows you to do business with us any time of the day 24/7. Of course, our main goal is to provide reliable power at cost. The co-op serves over 46,400 meters, and most outages that don’t involve a pole replacement or trip back to the cooperative for needed equipment are resolved within an hour.
5. We are committed to community. Beyond the business of electricity, our employees and directors are invested in our local communities. Why? Because we live here, too. That’s why we work hard to support local economic development projects, youth programs and scholarships, local charities, safety demonstrations, and initiatives that make our community a better place to call home.

This October, as we celebrate National Co-op Month and the power of membership, we hope you recognize the many benefits that make MVEC different than other utilities. We are always looking out for you!

Happy Co-op Month,
Marvin

By Marvin Denzer
MVEC CEO

Have you ever stopped to consider the true value you receive from electricity? Last month, we talked about bringing electricity to a Guatemalan village and how something we don’t give a second thought to was life-changing for the 35 families in Las Penas.

Electricity powers our lives 24/7 in ways we often take for granted. We directly or indirectly use electricity almost all the time, whether charging a phone overnight, having hot water ready at any time, or using appliances such as TVs, refrigerators, or ovens—all in a comfortable indoor climate, winter or summer. Even the clothes we wear and other items we purchase are manufactured thanks to electricity.

The average MVEC household uses 1,200 kWh of energy each month. That’s about $5.60 a day. (You can find your daily average on the front of your monthly MVEC bill.) At that cost, you could power your entire home each day for the price of a medium latte.

Consider all the different things we now power compared to the past 50 years: laptops and printers, cell phones, smartwatches and tablets, big screen TVs, gaming consoles, microwaves, air fryers, power tools, and the list goes on. Since the 1970s, the average home went from 1,500 square feet to 2,200 square feet, so we are also cooling and heating more space.

As a member-owned cooperative, MVEC works hard to ensure your costs stay reasonable and that electricity remains a great value for you, our members.

There are some things we can’t control when it comes to electricity costs, such as the weather. And, as a distribution cooperative, we are subject to the costs our wholesale power providers incur for infrastructure improvements, maintenance of transmission lines, and government policies.

In a world increasingly reliant on electricity, it’s crucial that it remains reliable and affordable. At MVEC, it is important for us to ensure electricity continues to be the best value for your hard-earned money.

Thank you for being a valued member of MVEC. Until next month,
Marvin

By Marvin Denzer
MVEC CEO

In our August Electric Eye newsletter, you can read about the experiences our journeyman lineman Wiley Harris had for two weeks in June with 13 other Minnesota and Iowa linemen on an electrification mission trip to Guatemala.

Wiley’s efforts in Guatemala remind me of Minnesota – and much of the country – in the 1930s before President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the New Deal legislation in 1936. This allowed the federal government to give low-cost loans to farmers who had banded together to create non-profit cooperatives to bring electricity to rural America. Similarly, the Guatemala trip echoed that spirit of bringing power to a difficult-to-reach area.

Geography plays a part – Though cities in the U.S. had electricity since the late 1880s, the rural areas lagged behind because investor-owned utilities didn’t think it was profitable to build infrastructure to serve farms miles apart.  The rural, mountainous terrain of Las Penas, Guatemala, the village where Wiley worked, also delayed bringing electricity to the area. Not only is the village far from the local municipal utility that supplies the power, but the span between the three and a half miles of poles needed to connect Jalapa was the longest the U.S. linemen had ever seen. The conditions were rainy and muddy, and often the crew had to park below the mountain and walk a half hour to get to the village.

Making life better – The arrival of rural electricity in the 1930s made life on the farm easier. Farmers benefited from time-saving electrical equipment and could enjoy activities beyond the sunrise to sunset workday. Families could replace kerosene lamps with electric light bulbs. Radios and eventually television sets brought news of the world right into homes. Willie Wiredhand became the mascot of rural electrification – his name suggested electricity was equal to having another hired hand on the farm.

The ceremony in Jalapa on June 16 was life-changing and a very happy occasion. There are now 35 homes, a church, and a school that have the convenience of electricity, which will allow them to enjoy the modern appliances and devices that go along with it.

Equally as important as the flip of the switch was the connection between the Midwest linemen and the people of the village, many of whom pitched in with the heavy lifting or served as interpreters. In the project’s process, two of the seven Cooperative Principles were followed: cooperation among cooperatives and commitment to community which resulted in a connection of people working together to make a small part of the world a better place.

To get the big picture of the Minnesota-Iowa electrification mission trip, I invite you to read Wiley’s first-hand account and see the photos of his experience in our newsletter here.

Thank you for being a member-owner of your long-serving electric cooperative.
Marvin

By Marvin Denzer
MVEC CEO

We all have expectations about something. I bet everyone reading this article has different expectations for their family, work, health, schooling, customer service, and much, much more.

At Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative, our vision is to be a trusted energy partner loyal to the community — now and for future generations.

Did you know MVEC is dedicated to putting members first? Our team includes 100 team members across various departments, all working together with this vision in mind. While not all of us directly answer phones as frontline member service representatives, everyone at the co-op contributes to member service. Whether climbing a pole to restore power, running a calculator to create budgets that use our members’ money wisely, or visiting homes and businesses to craft a personalized energy plan, we all work together with our membership in mind.

At MVEC you are not a customer, you are more than that — you are a member-owner of the cooperative, and that’s the Cooperative Difference.

Because of our business philosophy, member-owners are first, and they can trust their electric cooperative. As a member-owned, member-governed cooperative, decisions about rates, bylaws, services, and much more are approved by our MVEC Board of Directors, who are also members of the cooperative.

In Quarter 1 this year, MVEC received an ACSI® score of 85, on a 100-point scale.*

MVEC’s score is higher when compared to publicly measured investor-owned and municipal utility scores reported in the syndicated 2024 ACSI Energy Utility Study and places MVEC seven points higher than the average cooperative utility score of 78, 10 points higher than the average municipal utility score of 75, as well as 11 points higher than the investor-owned utilities’ score of 74, per the industry ratings.

Our true priority remains in our mission statement: creating exceptional member experiences while safely providing reliable energy at cost. We thank YOU, our Member-Owners, for our ACSI score. We appreciate your trust and look forward to continuing to earn your satisfaction every day.

Thank you for being a valued member of the MVEC family!

Marvin

*Compared to publicly measured energy utilities in the ACSI® survey of customers rating their own energy utility. Results based on data provided by MVEC, collected over a one-week span in March 2024. ACSI did not regulate the survey administration or sample size. ACSI and its logo are registered trademarks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. For more about the ACSI, visit www.theacsi.org.

By Marvin Denzer
MVEC CEO

Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved four major regulations for the electric industry, including a rule to cut power plant emissions. While this is helpful for the environment, it could strain electric reliability.

Stricter standards for existing coal plants and new natural gas plants will require the installation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology that is unproven and not yet commercially available.

Utilities nationwide worry these rules will force early closure of reliable energy sources and discourage building new ones, impacting grid stability during rising electricity demand at a time when electric utilities face a surge in demand for electricity due to transportation electrification and the rapid expansion of data centers.

Here’s what the new rules mean:

• Existing coal-fired power plants that plan to operate past the year 2039 must install CCS to capture 90% of emissions by 2032.
• New natural gas plants that operate more than 40% of the time also need to install CCS and capture 90% of their carbon emissions by 2032.
• These standards, and their reliance on unproven CCS technology, will affect electric reliability.

MVEC doesn’t generate electricity at our headquarters in Jordan — we purchase it from our power providers, Great River Energy, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, and Alliant Energy. MVEC’s job is to deliver electricity to your home or business safely. We look to our power providers and our state and national organizations, the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA), and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), for guidance when it comes to generating power. These organizations have the background, staff, and resources to fully explore how state and federal requirements affect our electric industry.

“The path outlined by the EPA is unlawful, unrealistic, and unachievable,” said Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. “It undermines electric reliability and poses grave consequences for an already stressed electric grid.”

MVEC’s mission is to create exceptional member experiences, while safely providing reliable energy at cost. Affordably keeping the lights on is important to us. As a cooperative, every decision we make is with our entire membership in mind. Clean energy technologies must be balanced with generation sources that are always available to ensure a safe and reliable electric grid.

Members can do their part to contribute to a cleaner energy future. MVEC offers voluntary programs such as Energy Wise, Green Choice, Pay as you Go, and others that save you and the co-op money as well as lower power demand. Discover these programs at www.mvec.net or give us a call to learn more. We like to say the cleanest and most affordable energy is the energy that is not used. As reliance on renewables increases, prioritizing an adequate supply of always-available power resources is crucial to maintain grid stability and affordability. Fuel diversity remains the best approach to keep the lights on at a price members can afford.

One more very important note: To our local farmers still conducting their spring planting: stay safe out in the fields. Know the height of your equipment and the location of overhead power lines on your property. If your machine or truck contacts a power line, pole, or guy wire, you could become electricity’s path to the ground and become electrocuted if you step out of the cab. Stay in the vehicle and call 911 to have MVEC de-energize the power source.

Make it a great, safe month,

Marvin

By Deb Erickson
MVEC Board President

Each year, MVEC’s Annual Report is a great opportunity for us to gather data, collect our thoughts, and present to you, our member-owners, the accomplishments, financial standing, and progress of your cooperative.

On behalf of the Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative board and staff, it’s a time to reflect on where we are and where we are going. At the heart of this reflection, we think about ways we can better serve you, the members of the cooperative.

MVEC Team Members recently streamlined its longtime Spirit of the Cooperative statement into a Values Statement which complements the co-op’s Mission and Vision. Our Values describe the standards and principles that drive your organization and people. It declares what MVEC stands for and serves as the blueprint for the co-op’s culture.

MVEC Values may sound simple, but there is substance and meaning behind each word. Though Values traditionally describe how team members work together internally, these words apply to how we serve you, our valued member-owners.

Our Values:

Safe – We prioritize safety in all we do, working together
to ensure it is at the core of MVEC’s culture.​

Each day at MVEC begins with the goal of working safely in every situation and making sure everyone goes home to their families safe and sound every single day. The board and staff implement regular safety trainings, consistent messages, linemen and technician tailgate briefings, and an overall attitude of “looking out for one another.”  Public safety is always a priority when building our system and when restoring power as quickly yet safely as possible. To ensure safety for the public, our linemen and engineers also conduct safety demonstrations for schools, fire departments, and other organizations.

Innovative – We actively seek out new ideas and implement them
to improve service ​to each other and the membership.

Our team at MVEC is always looking ahead, exploring ways to innovate and utilize new technologies to enhance our reliability and services. In addition to managing a reliable energy mix, MVEC uses various technologies to keep our local electric system reliable, helping to limit service disruptions and be proactive on outage response times. Advanced metering infrastructure technology, also known as AMI, enables two-way communication between the co-op and our members by using your phone number when you call in an outage. In the summer of 2023, we used commercial drones for the first time to conduct overhead line inspections in two substation areas. SmartHub technology gives you free account and payment access on your phone or computer 24/7/365.

Accountable – We work well together and look out for one another,
united in building courage and confidence as a Team.

We are accountable to our members in providing reliable energy at cost. One critical component of reliable power is the mix of energy resources used to generate the electricity that keeps the lights on across the Minnesota Valley service area. You may not realize it, but MVEC doesn’t generate electricity. Instead, we purchase it from our energy providers: Great River Energy, Basin Power Electric Cooperative, and Alliant Energy.  From their transmission lines to our local substations, we distribute power to homes and businesses throughout our local communities.

We are increasingly using more electricity generated from renewable energy sources, but still depend on a diverse energy mix to ensure reliable power is available to our members day after day. As a not-for-profit cooperative, we are also accountable to our members in returning Capital Credits – margins left over after all operating expenses are paid.

Connected – We relate to one another by engaging with each other,
the members, ​ and the communities in which we live and serve.​

We like the double meaning of the word, Connected. It not only has electric connotations, but it also highlights our commitment to local communities. Operational RoundUp, high school scholarships, Washington, D.C. Youth Tour, and free electrical safety demonstrations are all ways we give back. And, we are connected as a team while sponsoring community events and parades, county fairs, and other local celebrations. We are committed to enhancing our local communities when we can because we live and work here, too.

The tagline “Cooperatively since 1937” concludes our Values. This is a nod to the rich history and deep roots MVEC has in our communities. Our farmer-founders saw a need in the 1930s to bring electricity to an underserved area and worked hard to obtain and maintain it. Today, we continue to appreciate this rich history by keeping in mind you, our member-owners, in every decision we make.

You can learn more about MVEC’s 2023 accomplishments by reading the rest of this report and by attending our Annual Meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, at Jordan High School. As we turn our focus to the rest of the year ahead, MVEC will continue working to provide the reliable, affordable electricity you expect and deserve –– for today and tomorrow. 

I look forward to seeing you at the 87th Annual Meeting on April 9 at Jordan High School.

Deb

By Marvin Denzer
MVEC CEO

There’s never a dull moment around the cooperative. But the post-holiday season is an especially busy time of year as we finish financial audits for 2023 and look ahead to plans for 2024. Here are five timely reasons why it’s great to be a member of Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative:

1. You have a say in co-op matters. Ballots have been mailed to all members for the Director election taking place at MVEC’s Annual Meeting. You get to select the Director who will represent your district in making decisions that impact you as a member-owner. I encourage you to study the candidate biographies and goals that were included in your ballot packet. Be sure to mail your ballot back to us by April 2.
2. Capital Credit Retirements Announced. If you were a member of the cooperative during the selected years, you will notice a credit on your March electric bill called Capital Credits. Nearly $1.39 million is being returned in 2024. You can read more about that in a full article in the Electric Eye.
3. Our Annual Meeting will be on Tuesday, April 9, at Jordan High School, 600 Sunset Drive. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for onsite voting, and the hour-long business meeting begins at 7 p.m. The Annual Meeting is our opportunity to engage with members face to face. We will share MVEC’s successes and financial standing; we will award 18 $1,500 scholarships to member-high school seniors, including three “second chance” scholarships that will be drawn from seniors who attend the meeting with a parent; and we will introduce a local high schooler who will represent MVEC at the Washington, D.C. Youth Tour in June. The member-owners attending the Annual Meeting will have the opportunity to win one of five $100 bill credits that will be drawn at the conclusion of the meeting.  Please bring the barcode from your ballot packet for quick and easy registration.
4. In March, MVEC’s Board of Directors has the opportunity to attend the Minnesota Rural Electric Association’s Annual Meeting and participate in the Legislative Day at the State Capitol. Rural electric cooperatives meet with respective policymakers with the unified message of providing safe, affordable, and reliable power to our members. It is important that we represent the voice of the cooperative to those who make the laws and regulations on the state and national levels.

While renewable energy use is increasing, we will still depend on traditional forms of energy to keep power flowing reliably to homes and businesses. Solar and wind energy are referred to as “intermittent” power since the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow. This fact coupled with the growing demand for renewables creates its own challenges. That’s why there is real value in maintaining a balanced mixture of power generation types to ensure reliability and affordability and meet the growing demand for electricity.

5. Programs and services are designed for you with various options in mind. Though the above-mentioned items are currently at  top of mind, that doesn’t mean the customary work of the co-op is less important. MVEC’s team is continually looking at innovative programs and service offerings. We understand that having choices is important from money-saving programs to payment options, rebate offerings, and having various communication options to stay connected with you, our member-owners. 

As a co-op, one of our top priorities is to enhance the quality of life for our members of all types – residential, agricultural, and commercial. We appreciate serving our members and supporting local communities, and just like you, want to see our local communities continue to thrive.

Next month, we will have a special edition of the April Electric Eye that serves as our 2023 Annual Report, as well as a column from Board President Deborah Erickson.

MVEC appreciates the opportunity to serve you,
Marvin Denzer, CEO

By Marvin Denzer
MVEC CEO

Tuesday, April 9, has a big red circle on MVEC’s calendar because that is the date of our 87^th Annual Meeting. A lot of work goes into this meeting, but we are happy to do it for you, the member-owners we proudly serve.
I always look forward to our Annual Meeting evening because it’s a great opportunity for me, the Board of Directors, and our staff to talk with members and hear what’s on your mind.

If you have not yet attended an Annual Meeting, we invite you to attend this year at Jordan High School.  On behalf of our entire Board of Directors, Board President Deborah Erickson will host the approximately hour-long event. We will have informative video reports from each area of the co-op to give updates about the investments and projects of the past year. Randy Erdman, Vice President of Finance, will give an update on MVEC’s financial condition, which includes operating margins and Capital Credits – money returned to you, our member-owners.

We also will introduce our 2024 Washington, D.C., Youth Tour participant and will present 18 – $1,500 high school scholarships (funded by Unclaimed Capital Credits) – including three scholarships to be drawn from registered high school seniors attending the meeting with their parents.

You have a say
Spending time with you and hearing your take on MVEC’s energy future is important to us because everything we do is planned with members in mind. The energy landscape is shifting rapidly, and we anticipate you may have many questions. Member needs and changing technology impact nearly every aspect of how we manage and deliver energy to your home, farm, or business.

Learning about your expectations and energy needs helps our planning process as we strive to meet the long-term needs of all MVEC members. You may be wondering if your opinion really makes a difference, and yes, it does. Your voice matters – it shapes our priorities and guides decisions. Hearing perspectives from our membership (that’s everyone who pays for electric service from MVEC) helps our staff and board set priorities for the co-op.

The Annual Meeting is time to vote for the Board of Directors
Our Board is comprised of nine members from three districts who live and work right here in our local service area, so they are in a good position to know about MVEC needs, investments, and rates – as those monetary decisions affect their neighbors and themselves personally as well. Each year, one seat from each of our three voting districts is up for election.

MVEC is not an ordinary utility company. We’re a co-op, and our business model is meant to serve the members and the community in which we live. Our Mission is to create exceptional member experiences, while safely providing reliable energy at cost. As a not-for-profit cooperative, we are driven by a commitment to our community as Concern for Community is one of our seven cooperative principles. It’s also why any margins over operating at cost are returned to members as Capital Credits – the principle of Economic Participation.

So, mark Tuesday, April 9, on your calendar and exercise another benefit of your co-op membership – Democratic Member Control. We look forward to seeing you. Your attendance means a lot to us.

Until next month, 
Marvin

As the MVEC Board of Directors and Executive Team ended 2023 with annual budget and project reviews, it’s time to evaluate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for MVEC in 2024 and beyond. We are a member-owned cooperative, which means we’re different from traditional investor-owned utilities and municipals. Why are we different? You, our member-owners, elect board directors to represent the entire membership in making decisions and we are a not-for-profit organization. We are here for you, our member-owners, plain and simple.

Wholesale power costs are 70% of your electric bill
One of MVEC’s biggest expenses is to purchase wholesale power, which is approximately 70 percent of your electric bill. This is significant for you and MVEC, and it is the reason we’re always looking for ways to be more efficient and strategic with our energy resource portfolio, which includes diversification in purchasing energy from three different wholesale power providers.

A mile of power line costs 20 percent more to build than a year ago
The recent spike in material and equipment costs hasn’t made things any easier, but we’re working hard to manage them. Material and equipment to build and maintain MVEC’s electric infrastructure are seeing a 20 percent increase in cost. This means building one mile of power line costs 20 percent more than it did one year ago.  Electric cooperatives typically have a less dense user base to spread costs across. With 47,000 members and 4,250 miles of power line, MVEC averages 11 members per mile compared to an investor-owned utility such as Xcel Energy which has an estimated 160 customers per mile of their power lines. As a co-op of our size, it can be challenging to absorb rising expenses, but we’re committed to doing everything we can to keep rates affordable while improving reliability for you, our member-owners.

Cost of service study: A focus on fairness and maintaining balance
In 2024, we will conduct a comprehensive cost-of-service study to ensure all member rate classes are fair and equitable. This study helps us understand the true cost of providing electricity to different rate classes so that no one group is paying more to subsidize another. If the results of the study show it is necessary to adjust rates, we will fully communicate and explain the reasons for the changes to you.

New technologies and mandates: Changing the way we deliver power
The rapid adoption of new technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and electric vehicles is changing the way we deliver power. These advancements are exciting, but they also introduce new challenges and require us to adjust MVEC’s infrastructure and power portfolio. As we work to comply with new state and federal mandates, the affordability and reliability of your electric service remain our top priorities.

We are your trusted energy advisor  
Read our January newsletter, and you will see we offer a variety of options that meet the unique needs of your household or business. You have choices of energy-saving programs, free payment options, rebates, and more that can mitigate the rate you pay. At MVEC, we believe our members are the heart of our co-op. That’s why your voice matters. We encourage you to stay engaged and informed as we navigate this exciting and evolving energy landscape together. That’s our promise to you as we begin a new year.

Have a Safe, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year,
Marvin

As the year comes to a close, I want to thank our member-owners for their trust and confidence in MVEC as we have the important job of powering your lives.

Beyond delivering electricity, we are also dedicated to being an active and engaged member of our local communities. Your feedback is invaluable to us as we strive to exceed your expectations and make our corner of the world a little brighter, both figuratively and literally.

This holiday season, we are particularly proud of the impact our Operation Round Up (ORU) program has made in supporting local organizations. This is the time of year the ORU program is donating to holiday toy drives and food programs. Over the past 28 years, thanks to the generous donations of members who round up their monthly electric bills to the next whole dollar amount, ORU has given $2,457,030.24 to community organizations that serve thousands of people in our service area.

MVEC is committed to investing in our local youth. Our team members have collectively dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to supporting schools, youth clubs, and other programs in the community. Additionally, we provide scholarships annually for high school seniors and offer a week-long Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., for a high school sophomore or junior.

For younger students, we bring MVEC’s utility equipment to ‘touch-a-truck’ events, and we present free electric safety demonstrations to schools, youth groups, fire department open houses, and other community organizations. This past August, we hosted our first youth Minnesota Twins Baseball Clinic, an event we hope to make an annual tradition.

In everything we do, we are driven by a commitment to safety, a dedication to our mission, and a clear vision and single-minded purpose of being the best utility for our members.

This holiday season, we wish you and your loved ones peace, joy, and prosperity. On behalf of our entire MVEC family, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. May your homes and businesses be filled with love, laughter, and the spirit of this joyous season.

Happy Holidays!
Marvin 

Last month, our nine-member Board of Directors and six-member Executive Team had an excellent strategic planning session with the help of an outside facilitator, CoBank, a co-op industry lender we do business with. Together, we reviewed and validated MVEC’s strategy map to ensure that it is accurate and will strategically move the cooperative forward to safely enhance reliability while providing energy at cost. 

The goal of the session was to provide critical guidance and alignment on strategic priorities for MVEC. This will enable the cooperative to continue to provide value to you, our member-owners, in the near and immediate future as a two- to five-year strategic roadmap.

Our Team and Board need to be in alignment with our strategic position for today and into the future because of the importance to:

• Be proactive in enhancing the quality of our members’ lives.
• Responsibly add value to member needs.
• Serve as a trusted energy partner that is transparent, clear, informative, and responsive to serving our local communities successfully.
• Develop a workplace environment that proactively focuses on a process-aligned organization regarding leadership, workflow, goals, development, and a positive and safe culture.
• Align people, systems, and processes for the benefit of our membership as well as internal team members’ service to one another, which we refer to as Servant Leadership.

Aligning strategy, goals, and processes gives us, and the entire membership, an advantage. It will strengthen awareness and understanding of the business so Team Members can all move in the same direction, resulting in Member-Owners experiencing exceptional member service.  The strategic planning process has several steps, including the review of: 

• SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis
• Legislative initiatives that will impact our utility industry
• Planning for the future as the energy transition is quickly changing
• The role renewables play in our overall energy portfolio
• Technology enhancements
• Fair, reasonable, transparent, and understandable rate design
• Building a firm foundation for OUR Cooperative’s future

I would like to add that the strategic planning session was a valuable opportunity for our Team and Board to come together and think critically about the future of MVEC. We had important discussions about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and we developed a shared vision for how we can best position our cooperative for success.

I am confident that the work our Team did at the strategic planning session will help us to continue to provide our members with the reliable and affordable energy while investing in the future and building a stronger, environmentally friendly cooperative for all.

Next Steps
We affirmed that our mission and vision statements are valid and relevant for today. The next steps are to chart out a successful path into the future and complete an in-depth evaluation of the topics listed above. These very important topics impact our cooperative in a variety of ways. This will take time and resources, and our entire MVEC Team will play an important and significant role in this process.

Thank you to all MVEC Team Members for all they do. Their time, talents, and commitment are much appreciated and so important to MVEC’s success!  All of us at MVEC appreciate you, our Member-Owners.  

Until next month,
Marvin

Innovation, Accountability, Integrity, Community. We strive to follow these business values all year round. As we observe National Co-op Month in October, I’d like to highlight an MVEC program that encompasses all four of these values — our summer intern program.

A large number of co-op employees will be eligible to retire in the next 10 years. Succession planning is important to maintain continuity, so MVEC operates seamlessly. Part of the succession planning process is attracting new talent to the electric industry.

Allowing college students to use their college knowledge at a cooperative job for the summer supports both Community and education and shows Accountability to our members that we are working hard to recruit and train our next generation of workers to continue the legacy of providing reliable and affordable electricity. It also shows Integrity and Innovation as our interns support and complete meaningful, real-life projects that benefit you, our member-owners.

Here are the accomplishments of our 10 summer interns:

Will Hoffman, an Environmental Health and Safety Intern from St. John’s University, explored a business plan when MVEC considers expanding dispatch hours 24/7/365.

Lauren Nichols, an Energy Systems Intern from the University of Minnesota, tracked energy-saving data for the energy services department, reviewed MVEC’s website, and investigated community solar gardens should MVEC ever develop a program.

Dylan Brose, an Engineering Intern from North Dakota State University, created a Distributed Energy Resource business case and experienced mapping and staking out in the field.

Gabby Rome, Human Resources Intern from Minnesota State University – Mankato, played an integral role in recruitment, creating schedules for new hires, and assisting with developing HR policies.

Cole Brenner, Environmental Health and Safety Intern from the University of North Dakota, updated MVEC’s safety manual and the apprentice linemen progression, observed operations in the field, and participated in onsite safety inspections.

One feature of an MVEC internship is to work on a group project. This summer, the interns researched the electrification of farm equipment. This exercise provides the opportunity to work together and focuses on the benefits, costs, and concerns it would bring to the co-op and membership.

Our five Seasonal Apprentice Linemen work side by side with MVEC line foremen and journeymen, learning safety and best practices from linemen who have many years of experience. Seasonal apprentices put in 950 hours of work, so their time at MVEC extends into late Autumn.

Benefitting from that mentorship this year are Connor Olson, Hunter Johnson, Nick Sticha, Conner VanWinkle, and Zach Devine. Skills out in the field that these guys gained experience with include building and maintaining power lines, outage restoration, and other trouble-shooting measures, driving large vehicles, and operating equipment properly while practicing safety procedures.

Electric co-ops work together to share lessons learned, successful strategies, and better ways to serve our members. Our office interns and seasonal apprentice line workers experienced that cooperation by working side-by-side with the MVEC team on projects that will contribute to providing exceptional service to you, our member-owners, on projects we can consider in the future. When all is said and done, we’re better when we learn and grow together!

Until next month,
Marvin

As the leaves change color and students head back to school, it is a time for everyone to get back to a regular routine, which often includes reflection on the past and looking ahead to the future. Your cooperative is no different. This is the time of year we look at and review our annual plans, goals, and budget.

Strategic planning provides a multi-year strategy that helps us plan for an evolving energy industry, as well as meet the unique needs of our service area. This year, our Executive Team (vice presidents of energy services, engineering, finance, human resources, member services, and operations along with myself), will be working closely with our Board of Directors to develop plans that focus on our mission to create exceptional member experiences, while safely providing reliable energy at cost and to our vision of being a trusted energy partner loyal to the community – now and for future generations. Looking at today’s needs is just as important as looking at future needs. There are four strategic areas we focus on:

1. Financial Strength
   We are committed to having a balanced and diversified energy portfolio that benefits our cooperative as a whole right down to the individual members, like you. This means having a mix of low-cost, reliable energy sources. Wholesale power continues to be our biggest cost, accounting for 70 percent of our members’ bills. We look for opportunities to reduce this cost yet keep reliability high by investing in new technologies and infrastructure. Add to this the potential impacts of legislation with government regulations, such as the Carbon Free by 2040 mandate, Energy Conservation and Optimization Act (ECO), and Inflation Reduction Action (IRA) programs. This is quite an opportunity to keep rates stable and competitive.
2. Reliability
   Plain and simple we want you, our member-owners to have reliable power 100% of the time. We are constantly investing in our infrastructure to ensure that our system is both reliable and resilient. Operational excellence is our focus. This includes power quality (reducing outages and blinking lights), proactive system-wide maintenance programs, and sound engineering design and operational technology systems.
3. Member Experience & Community
   Not to get lost in all the technical and monetary aspects of strategic planning, engaging with you, our members, is at the heart of all we do. We maximize the value of your cooperative membership with exceptional service, member engagement, and community partnerships. Offering rebates, innovative money-saving programs and services, understanding your communication preferences, monitoring data security efforts, providing opportunities to youth of all ages, and supporting local organizations are all ways we try to make life better in the MVEC service area. It’s another way of powering our communities.
4. Cooperative Culture
   Having a shared culture of safety is a top priority. Safety of our Team and protecting of the public are vital. MVEC’s Team of employees is critical to our cooperative success. Investing in an engaged and empowered workforce means keeping the team well-informed and positioned to meet the needs of MVEC and the communities we serve today and into the future. We are committed to business continuity to ensure our cooperative has a strong leadership team in place for the future. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an estimated 25 percent of U.S. utility workers will retire in the next five years. This represents about 200,000 workers, and, at MVEC, around 25 of the nearly 100 Team members.

Lastly, but very importantly, we look at the strategic initiatives and determine appropriate budgets. Our budgeting process is well thought out and takes our members’ bottom line into account. We look for ways to reduce costs while improving efficiency. At the same time, we are committed to investing in the co-op’s future and its service to you – our member-owners.

As you can see, we have great opportunities for us in the coming months. I am confident that by working together with a spirit of servant leadership, we can achieve our goals and continue to provide our members with the reliable and affordable energy you deserve. Thank you, our member-owners, for your continued support.

Until next month,
Marvin Denzer, MVEC CEO

If you look around your home, you likely have more devices and equipment that require electricity than ever before. Our connected lives are dependent on more electricity than households in the past – even just five years ago. In the summer, demand for electricity also increases when we cool our homes during hot summer days.

As you would expect, based on your family’s habits, electricity use fluctuates throughout the day based on what you are doing. MVEC provides enough electricity to meet the energy needs of all members during times of highest energy use or “peak hours.” These peak times are typically in the morning as people start their day and in the evening as people return to their homes.

During peak periods when the cost to produce and purchase power is higher, we encourage you to take simple steps to save energy, such as turning your thermostat up in the summer or down in the winter a few degrees, turning off unnecessary lights and not using large appliances such as dishwashers, dryers, and washing machines during peak times – usually the 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. time frame.

You can also save energy by plugging electronics and equipment such as computers, printers, and TVs into a power strip, and then turning it off at the switch during peak hours. If you have a programmable thermostat, adjust the settings to match your family’s comings and goings and sleep times.  Shifting your energy usage to off-peak times gives you greater control over your electric bill.

Here are some tools we offer to help you save:

• MVEC Energy Wise saving programs provide rate savings, rebates, or discounts for heating, cooling, electric water heating, and electric vehicle charging. See how you can save at mvec.net/energy-wise-programs/
• The free SmartHub account management tool where you can monitor your real-time energy use, pay a bill, and make service requests. Learn more about SmartHub at www.mvec.net/smarthub/
• My EnergyXpert is a free self-audit tool that takes you through a series of questions about your home and energy lifestyle and gives a personalized recommendation of potential saving solutions. Take your home audit at mvec.net/my-energy-xpert-tool/
• Videos on understanding your bill, load management programs, and more can be found at mvec.net/stay-informed/video-library/
• More savings tips for all seasons and reasons can be found at mvec.net/energy-tips/

When we all work together to reduce energy use during periods of high electricity demand, we can relieve pressure on the electric grid and save money along the way. Load management and member efforts help reduce power supply costs. This is particularly noticeable as energy costs have risen across the country. Collectively, everyone conserving energy and making small changes can truly make a positive impact.

Summer is here, and I hope, despite the mosquitoes, you are enjoying the warm weather and outdoor activities. For me, a favorite activity is running. I’ve run more than just a few 5Ks, marathons, and Ironman competitions in the past 40-some years.

Running a race has a significant impact on my personal energy demand. Being prepared for the race and anything that may happen is just as important as the race itself. Using my energy efficiently requires training and pacing myself.

Just like there is demand for personal energy when running, the cooperative has to focus on its energy demand and the impacts on the system. Last summer, we kept an eye out for the possibility of rolling blackouts. Rolling blackouts are scheduled, but temporary power outage events are rotated among utilities within a power region, usually on heavy power demand days. Fortunately, in our area, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) did not need to do this in 2022.

This year, we are contending with similar energy capacity concerns. We do not anticipate blackouts will affect MVEC this summer; however, we must be aware of the possibility. Unfortunately, while blackouts are unlikely, they are possible.

As traditional electricity generation plants are retired and replacements such as solar and wind are not always available 24/7, reliability comes into consideration. Without adequate transmission, reliability can be at risk, which increases the threat of service disruptions. As a last resort, rolling blackouts help restore balance to the supply and demand of electricity. A blackout can last up to an hour, then the power is restored, and another area is turned off – hence, the rolling. It’s like pacing the power grid.

Still, the likelihood of all these negative events happening together (lost generation, higher demand, plants going offline, wind not blowing) is low. It is MISO’s job to plan for the region’s overall capacity needs. At MVEC, we’re glad MISO is looking out for our region’s power supply.

Thank you for being a member of MVEC. In addition to the information we have at www.mvec.net/energy-costs/, we promise to keep you informed by email if summer energy conditions evolve.

By Marvin Denzer
MVEC CEO

In a world where lead times have grown longer and prices for everything have gone up, like you, your cooperative looks for ways to be creative in saving money and using resources wisely.

With the purchase and delivery of new digger trucks taking nearly two years, I challenged our resourceful mechanics’ team to a new project this winter: repairing the floor and bed on an otherwise healthy digger derrick. Truck No. 275 is a 2014 Freightliner M2 Digger. It’s low on miles, the engine runs well, and mechanically, it works great.

But as our lead mechanic Matt Dolejs put it, Minnesota winters got the best of 275. Rust was wearing through the steel bed, which needed to be replaced and repurposed with a new one and welded back together.

So, Matt, along with associate mechanic Nate, got to work on this as a side project over the winter. With some help from Mid-County in Jordan – who helped fabricate the replacement steel frame – the pair disassembled the old bed, prepped the truck, and welded on the new flooring. After several months of work and a fresh coat of paint, I’m happy to report it was a success on all fronts.

The decision to restore the truck was a no-brainer for the co-op. For one, lead times on new digger trucks currently stand at approximately 18 months – and that’s if we can get a reserved slot. Additionally, it would cost MVEC close to $350,000 to purchase a new one.

Overall, Truck 275 repairs came in around $15,000 to restore and close to two months to finish as a side project for Matt and Nate, who were still committed to their daily tasks in the mechanics’ shop. I’m proud of the hard work and dedication that our team put into this project.

In the end, not only did this save the co-op a substantial amount of money, but it also gave a new lease on life for the truck in a sustainable, environmentally-friendly way. By choosing to restore instead of replace, we were able to reduce our carbon footprint and prevent unnecessary waste. 275 is currently in use by our crews in the field. And even if it’s eventually replaced by a newer digger, the truck gives the co-op a reliable spare when others are down or in warranty work.

After seeing the project through, I would like to extend a big thank you to Nate and Matt. It’s through your hard work and dedication that we were able to achieve this goal, and I’m excited to see what other sustainable initiatives we can take on as a co-op in the future.

At MVEC, we know the importance of practicing safety year-round. From our co-op crews to you, the member-owners we serve, we recognize that everyone has a part to play in prioritizing safety. CEO Marvin Denzer and Director of Safety Chad Briese discuss the importance of safety at our cooperative.

Chad: Marvin, I’ve known you for years now, and I want to congratulate you on becoming our new CEO. Right off the bat, I’m going to ask: What is your overall safety philosophy for MVEC?

Marvin: To me, safety is more than a catchphrase. As CEO, it’s my responsibility to keep our co-op Team Members, member-owners, and the public safe. Over time, MVEC has created a culture of safety by adopting the philosophy of Safety First. Safety is included in the co-op’s mission statement:  To create exceptional member experiences, while safely providing reliable energy at cost.

We want to make sure each Team Member goes home safely at the end of the workday to their loved ones. This requires ongoing focus, dedication, and vigilance. We are fortunate to have a Board of Directors that are supportive and will invest in safety at MVEC.

Marvin: One of our core cooperative values centers on safety. What is your outlook on promoting a culture of safety with all team members?

Chad: Safety impacts all areas of the cooperative and starts internally. All team members have an annual corporate goal of attending at least four training sessions that relate to work and personal safety. We also ask that everyone reports a near-miss incident that they have experienced, whether at work, home, or on the road. This promotes awareness that safety issues are always around us. We stress personal accountability and look out for fellow team members as well as community members.

Marvin: Working with electricity is an inherently dangerous job, especially for line workers. What protocols do the crews follow under your direction?

Chad: We established and follow internal and industry safety protocols. We take the time to train and keep our workers up-to-date and familiar with the equipment they use. Our line workers wear special clothing, gloves, and personal protective equipment when working. We have regular “tailgate” meetings to discuss upcoming projects and each crew’s work from a safety perspective. We monitor and track near-miss incidents to understand them, share “lessons learned” and improve in the future.

Most importantly, we encourage our crews to speak up and hold each other accountable for safety. By cultivating a culture of openness and transparency, we promote problem-solving regarding safety. We examine the information from near-misses and accident reports to notice patterns and use safety metrics to improve in those areas where we have fallen short.

Marvin: May is Electrical Safety Month. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, thousands of people in the U.S. are critically injured or electrocuted because of electrical fires and accidents in their own homes. Many of these accidents are preventable. Electricity is a necessity, and it powers our daily lives. But we know first-hand how dangerous electricity can be because we work with it 365 days a year. What advice would you give our members to stay safe, not just this summer, but all year round?

Chad: There are many facets to electrical safety, indoors and out. One of the biggest indoor tips is to remember every electrical device has a purpose and lifespan. It’s important to check items for signs of electrical hazards and wear and tear. Outdoors, be aware of your surroundings. Look up for power lines when using large equipment or ladders. Remember to call before you dig. And be sure to stress to your kids the importance of staying away from power lines, substations, and transformers – also known as the big green electrical boxes in your neighborhood. Interfering with this high-voltage equipment is deadly.

From a public safety perspective, MVEC offers free safety hotline demonstrations for school groups, fire department open houses, and other events. We partner with local first responders and contractors for safety and hazard recognition training. How to deal with electric vehicle fires has been a relatively new training topic we partnered with Great River Energy to offer. These are all ways to keep our members and the public safe.

View more safety tips 

MVEC embraces challenges, opportunities, and growth at 86^th Annual Meeting

JORDAN, MN – Overcoming and embracing energy market challenges as well as opportunities in 2022 was the theme this year as Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative returned to its hometown of Jordan for its Annual Meeting on March 28.

MVEC held its 86^th Annual Meeting – at Jordan High School after traveling to Arlington the previous year – where new CEO Marvin Denzer spoke of the challenges MVEC overcame to turn in a successful 2022. Through inflation and supply chain issues to government mandates and power grid balance, the co-op saw growth and is moving forward with competitive rates.

“I want to assure you, MVEC remains competitive with local utilities, including Xcel Energy and the surrounding municipals,” said Denzer, who added the co-op saw nearly 1,600 new members in 2022 to push total services over 46,000.

Looking into the future, the co-op is positioned well and will maintain a balanced approach by continuing to invest in safety and reliability, while ensuring rates stay competitive. MVEC focuses on energy transition initiatives that will balance the use of renewable and carbon-free resources in a manner that manages risk, cost, and reliability.

New to the Annual Meeting this year were video presentations. MVEC department heads gave video reports highlighting their respective areas, showing firsthand accounts of what’s going on at the cooperative.

Incumbents joined by a new board member after race in District III
Nearly 100 people, representing 70 registered member households and businesses attended the meeting, which was hosted by Board President Brent Lawrence and included one district race for the Board of Directors.

Prior to revealing election results, the board said goodbye to Fran Barten and Bill Heinlein, who retire after 11 years as representatives. Replacing Barten in District III will be Elizabeth (Liz) Krocak of Montgomery, who secured her position on the board with 984 votes. Also running for the District III spot were Julie Bifano of Montgomery and Prior Lake’s Anthony Albright, who received 463 and 479 votes, respectively. Nearly 15 percent of eligible District III members cast votes.

Heinlein announced his retirement after the board candidate filings for 2023 had closed in January.

In Districts I and II, respectively, Lawrence and Michelle Morrison of Belle Plaine ran unopposed and were returned to office by acclamation. Positions on the board were determined as well. Deb Erickson of Savage takes over as Board President, Le Center’s Kevin Gibbs will serve as Vice President, and Tom Wolf of Prior Lake is the new Secretary.

In the annual Financial Report, consultant Gerry Mareck highlighted the cooperative’s 2022 Balance Sheet. Mareck reported that member equity grew by $3.7 million, which sits at around 35 percent of MVEC’s total assets. This lower equity percentage means lower electricity rates for members. In addition, MVEC paid out $1.8 million in Capital Credits last year.

The annual meeting also featured scholarship presentations, funded by MVEC’s unclaimed Capital Credits. Fifteen $1,000 scholarships were awarded to area high school seniors. MVEC’s wholesale power provider, Basin Electric Power Cooperative of Bismarck, will also award a $1,000 scholarship, though the winner has not been announced yet. Scholarship winners are available on MVEC’s website, www.mvec.net.

Brandon Busch, a junior at Prior Lake High School, was announced as MVEC’s representative on the 2023 Youth Tour, a national leadership trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by America’s rural electric cooperatives. Ava Joos of Chanhassen High School was chosen as the runner-up.

• The 2022 Annual Report can be reviewed here.

Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors made it official on February 28 by naming interim Chief Executive Officer Marvin Denzer, the cooperative’s seventh general manager/CEO since MVEC was established in 1937.

“After examining our options and after a long interview with Marvin, the Board decided we had a talented and effective leader ready to permanently assume the CEO position,” said Board President Brent Lawrence at a meeting with MVEC staff. “Marvin’s vast experience at MVEC and his dedication to our members put us in a great position moving forward.”

A native of Montgomery, MN, and a North Dakota State University graduate, Denzer began his MVEC career as an engineer. Over his 31 years at the co-op, he has served in many capacities across the organization including key account executive, marketing manager, Vice President of Energy Services, and, most recently, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Engineering and Operations. He and his family live in Waconia, MN.

Some of Denzer’s notable accreditations in the electric cooperative field are the completion of the Management Internship Program (MIP), a six-week comprehensive program providing an in-depth analysis of the functions and processes of cooperative management.

Denzer also completed the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives’ Master Class for Strategy Execution, which is a cooperative-based performance management tool focusing on strategic initiatives across the cooperative including financial strength, reliability, member experience with community engagement, and internal culture development.

Most recently, Denzer has been involved with leadership development and completed a dynamic 12-month leadership certification immersion program through Think Great’s Leadership Link in 2021.

 

“Working for our electric cooperative for the past 31 years has given me appreciation of how great, kind-hearted MVEC Team Members and Cooperative Member-Owners can partner together to accomplish forward-thinking projects while enhancing system reliability,” said Denzer.  “As a servant leader, I look forward to serving in this new role while always keeping in mind what’s best for MVEC.”

Denzer succeeds Ryan Hentges who had been MVEC’s CEO since 2016 before accepting a position with Dakota Electric Association earlier this year. “Marvin has been an integral part of MVEC for years,” said Hentges. “The cooperative is in great hands under Marvin’s leadership.”

Denzer looks forward to presenting the cooperative report at MVEC’s 86^th Annual Meeting at Jordan High School at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 28. The meeting gives members an overview of cooperative financials and 2022 initiatives.