Dakota Electric held its 87th Annual Meeting on April 24 at its headquarters in Farmington. Members and guests gathered to hear updates from the cooperative’s leadership and Board of Directors, focusing on five key areas: safety, rates, future facility needs, potential load growth, and power supply.

Board Chair Paul Bakken, Treasurer David Jones, and CEO Ryan Hentges provided insights into Dakota Electric’s strategic priorities. Hentges addressed the cooperative’s continued investment in system infrastructure, including new substations, expanded metering, and vegetation management efforts that have improved system reliability and reduced outage times.

As part of his remarks, Hentges discussed the findings of a recent facility planning study that identified the need for increased garage space, equipment storage, land, and office space. He emphasized the importance of proactive planning to accommodate rising energy demands, meet today’s needs, and prepare for future opportunities.

Hentges also addressed the growing interest in large-scale data centers and Dakota Electric’s responsibility, and statutory requirement, to serve any new electric load looking to be situated within its service area. While no agreements are finalized, Dakota Electric is actively planning to ensure it could serve this type of load without sacrificing the reliability of the electric grid. Hentges reaffirmed that the cooperative will require developers to cover all upgrades to the system through contractual arrangements and any future partnerships will be evaluated carefully with a focus on reliability, infrastructure readiness, and member value.

To maintain service quality in the face of inflation and increased material costs, Hentges noted that Dakota Electric has filed a rate case with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission—its first since 2019. Despite these financial pressures, the cooperative continues to operate efficiently, with a clean audit and strong fiscal stewardship.

Members were also reminded of Dakota Electric’s upcoming Member Appreciation Event at the Minnesota Zoo, which will take place on July 17 and is free for all members and their families. More information will be available in the July edition of Circuits, with registration opening July 1.

Additionally, members voted to approve amendments to the cooperative’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, with 85.8% voting in favor.

For those unable to attend, you can view the video report on this page, on our YouTube channel, or by visiting www.dakotaelectric. com/about-us/annual-meeting-election.

Dakota Electric announced the 2025 Board of Directors election results at its April 24 annual meeting. One incumbent from each district was re-elected to a three-year term:

District 1: David Jones (3,872 votes or 66.2% of the total vote)

District 2: Terry Donnelly (3,080 votes or 52.6% of the total vote)

District 3: Cyndee Fields (4,091 votes or 70.3% of the total vote)

District 4: Stacy Miller (3,673 votes or 63% of the total vote)

Survey & Ballot Systems, an independent third party, managed and certified the election process to ensure accuracy and integrity.

Dakota Electric thanks all the candidates and members who participated in this year’s election.

Dakota Electric Owned Equipment vs. Member-Owned Equipment

This graphic depicts equipment owned by Dakota Electric (in yellow) and the member (in blue). The owner of the equipment is responsible for repairs if they are damaged. Members should hire a licensed electrician when making any repairs to member-owned equipment.

Small changes, powerful rates.

Dakota Electric’s summer rates better reflect the cost we pay for wholesale electricity when increased energy use drives up the demand and cost of electricity. Summer rates go into effect every June, July and August.

Take control of your energy use with Dakota Electric’s smart, money-saving options. Sign up for our free Cycled Air Conditioning® program and receive a $39 summer bill credit — all while helping reduce demand during peak times.

You can also receive a $25 rebate for having your AC tuned up by a licensed contractor of your choice. Plus, if you’ve made the switch to battery-powered yard tools, we offer rebates on those too!

Call our Energy Experts® at 651-463-6243 or visit our Load Management – Cycled Air Program or our Rebates page to learn more.

It’s that time of year again – time to mark your calendars for Dakota Electric’s Member Appreciation Event at the Minnesota Zoo! Registration for members to attend our annual celebration will begin on July 1. Keep an eye out across our social media channels, our website, or look for registration information in the July edition of our Circuits newsletter. We look forward to seeing you there!

Dakota Electric demonstrated its ongoing environmental commitment this spring by donating trees to seven member cities, with each city selecting and planting one of its choice. Additionally, 3,000 tree seedlings were distributed across the service territory as part of the cooperative’s annual celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day.

Since launching the program in 1997, Dakota Electric has contributed nearly 200 trees to local cities and over 180,000 seedlings to the community. These efforts support the cooperative’s goal of promoting sustainability and building greener, more eco-friendly communities.

Utili-Tech, a pole inspection contractor hired by Dakota Electric, is conducting annual pole inspections in Inver Grove Heights from May through August. The inspector will attempt to contact each member before performing inspections and might need to walk through backyards and private properties. The use of an ATV may be required to access certain pole locations.

Please contact Dakota Electric at 651-463-6265 if you have questions or concerns about pole inspections.