To the members of Nodak Electric Cooperative, Inc.:

You are hereby notified that the 84^th annual meeting of Nodak Electric Cooperative will be held Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at the Alerus Center, 1200 42^nd Street South in Grand Forks, beginning at 6 p.m., for the following purposes:

1. To pass upon reports covering the previous fiscal year, including acting upon reports of directors.
2. To elect three directors:
   Listed below are candidates either nominated by petition or selected by the Committee on Nominations. The members of the Committee on Nominations are appointed by the board of directors.
3. To transact business that may come before the meeting.

Voting by mail. For the election of directors, the board of directors has authorized the mailing of an absentee ballot to each member. Since the election this year is uncontested, we will not be mailing ballots and return envelopes for the election. However, if you still wish to vote, you are entitled to vote, and we will honor that right by sending you an absentee ballot. Please feel free to call our office at 1-800-732-4373 and request an absentee ballot, and one will be mailed to your address. If the completed ballot is received by 4:30 p.m. on April 9, 2024, it shall be counted as a vote of the absent member.

David Brag, Secretary/Treasurer
March 4, 2024

HOW TO VOTE

Members may vote in person at the Alerus Center on Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m., or by mail. Ballots will be mailed upon request prior to the meeting. Voting instructions will be included.

As we reflect on the past year, we are pleased to share with you that despite encountering a few challenges, Nodak Electric Cooperative had another great year. Our unwavering commitment to providing reliable and affordable electric service remains at the forefront, and we are proud to serve you, our valued member-owners.

Financial stability and investments

In 2023, Nodak Electric continued to maintain robust financial stability. Despite the hurdles posed by rising costs and supply chain complexities, we diligently managed our resources. We concluded the year with a healthy $6.3 million margin, added 242 new metered services, installed 206 miles of new underground cable, and maintained our stable cash position. Our strategic investments in modernizing the distribution system, enhancing reliability, and fortifying cybersecurity have positioned us well for the future.

Community engagement

Our cooperative thrives because of our engaged and supportive members. Our commitment to community extends beyond providing electricity; it’s about building relationships and supporting local initiatives. Some of the highlights of our community involvement include providing scholarships for lineworker training in North Dakota, donating almost $50,000 to community members and organizations through our Operation Round Up® program, providing grants to community projects, sponsoring a Youth Tour to Washington D.C., and much more.

Reliability and resilience

Our lineworkers and staff worked tirelessly to maintain reliable service, especially during extreme weather events. We invested in distribution system improvements, rigorous tree trimming, and efficient storm response protocols. Our goal is to minimize disruptions and keep the lights on for our members.

Rate outlook

Once again, we are pleased to report that our retail electric rates remained unchanged throughout 2023. Despite significant increases in wholesale material costs, we’ve successfully held our rates steady since 2017. Looking ahead, I’m thrilled to share that no general rate increase is planned for 2024. This achievement is truly remarkable when you consider the dynamic landscape of our industry. We are not immune to the inflationary pressures of raw materials, fuel and equipment, but our steady growth has provided the revenue necessary to hold our rates flat for seven years. We’re hard pressed to think of something else we buy today that costs the same as it did seven years ago.

Member participation

Thank you for participating in our annual meeting and exercising your cooperative voice. Your input shapes our decisions, and we appreciate your active involvement. Together, we ensure that Nodak Electric Cooperative remains member-driven.

Looking ahead

As we move forward, we remain committed to innovation, reliability, and serving our members. We will continue to explore new technologies, enhance our services, and adapt to the changing energy landscape.

Thank you for your trust and support. It is an honor to serve you and we look forward to another year of being part of the Nodak Electric Cooperative family.

Being a member of Nodak Electric Cooperative, Inc., means different things to different people. For some, it means receiving reasonably priced electric energy to maintain a balanced family budget. For others, it’s experiencing reliable electric service to keep their operation running, or even having a voice in how the business is run. Whatever the reason, Nodak’s primary goal is to add value to your life in a consistent, cost-effective and safe way. Our business model puts you, the member, first and foremost in all we do. From the power generators in Center, N.D., to the electric meter in your yard, it’s all owned by the members we serve. 

Here are a few words from our members on the importance the cooperative has in their lives.

“As a member-owner of Nodak Electric Cooperative, I have a voice in the direction of our organization. I attend the annual meetings and have an opportunity to engage directly with the people who make decisions on the future of our electric service. As a long-time member, I’m even seeing my cooperative return capital credits to me on my bill. It’s a great feeling knowing that we have a people-first organization providing an essential service to our region like electricity.”  

“When harvest season begins, we are very busy at Nokota, and we rely on consistent power for our growers to be able to bring their potatoes into our bins. Nodak has been a very reliable service for us through the years. And as the cost of things keep rising all of the time, they’ve been able to maintain their rates, and we’ve appreciated that very much.”

“As a fellow cooperative, we know the value of working together toward a common goal. From the field to our production factories, Nodak is there to power every step of the way. They’ve helped us use energy more wisely and have programs in place to help us save money. We know we can pick up the phone and they’ll be here to help when we need them. That’s the value of being served by an electric cooperative.”

Support. Security. Savings. Safety. Service. It’s all yours when you’re a member-owner of Nodak Electric Cooperative. We would like to thank all our members – from residential to commercial – for your participation and support in 2023, and we look forward to serving you in 2024.