Minnesota's Electric Cooperatives, represented by the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA), is a leading brand that serves as a unifying force for the state's 50 electric cooperatives. With a mission to provide collaborative leadership and expertise to its members, the brand aims to be a prominent voice in shaping energy policy, promoting a culture of safety, and offering valuable educational opportunities. Minnesota's electric cooperatives have a rich history, dating back to a time when rural areas lacked access to electricity due to high costs and low population density.

However, thanks to the efforts of electric cooperative pioneers and the support of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), electricity transformed agriculture and life in rural America, improving productivity and prosperity. Today, Minnesota's electric cooperatives continue to provide reliable and affordable electric service to 1. 7 million Minnesotans across 85% of the state's landmass.

With a member-focused approach, these not-for-profit cooperatives are at the forefront of innovation, driving sustainability initiatives and promoting electric vehicle charging programs. Under the cooperative business model, Minnesota's electric cooperatives are locally owned and regulated by their members. With cooperative principles based on open membership, democratic control, economic participation, autonomy, and community development, these cooperatives prioritize the needs and voices of their members.

Minnesota's Electric Cooperatives, through the MREA, remain dedicated to serving their members while fostering unity, safety, and leadership in the electric cooperative industry