Dakota Electric invites members to attend the 88^th Annual Meeting on April 23

(FARMINGTON, MN) April 3, 2026 – Dakota Electric Association® will hold its 88th Annual Meeting on Thursday, April 23, at the Dakota Electric headquarters at 4300 220th St. W, Farmington. The meeting will start at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts with Dakota Electric staff and Board Members. The purpose of the meeting is to conduct the Board of Director elections and hear reports from the CEO and Board Members on the state of the cooperative.

“Our Annual Meeting is an exciting day for everyone in the Dakota Electric network,” said Ryan Hentges, CEO of Dakota Electric. “I know all the staff and Board Members in attendance look forward to talking with and meeting our members.”

Members of Dakota Electric can participate in the annual election by voting for Directors who serve on the Board and govern the cooperative. Dakota Electric 2026 annual election ballots were mailed to members on March 30 from Survey & Ballot Systems, an independent election service. Each ballot includes instructions for voting by mail or online, as well as all Director candidate biographies. Candidate biographies and additional election information are also available at www.dakotaelectric.com/about-us/annual-meeting-election.

Voting instructions are listed below. Members may vote by mail, online, or in person, and may only vote once. If both an online vote and a paper ballot are received for the same account number, the online vote will be voided and only the paper ballot will be counted.

Vote by mail: Ballots must be received at Survey & Ballot Systems’ office by 12 p.m. on April 23. Please do NOT drop off ballots at Dakota Electric’s office. Members may instead bring their original paper ballot to Dakota Electric’s Annual Meeting on April 23 for in-person submission.

Vote online: Go to www.dakotaelectric.com; members will need their account number and election passcode, both of which will be included with the ballot mailed on March 30. The link to vote online will become available on March 30 at 12 p.m.

The following candidates are running for seats on the Board of Directors:

District 1 (three-year term):
John (Jack) DeYoe (incumbent), Laurie (Rieb) Bolin and Jeff Nelson

District 2 (three-year term):
Bill Middlecamp (incumbent) and Roberta Oveson

District 3 (three-year term):
Margaret D. Schreiner (incumbent)

District 4 (three-year term):
Paul Bakken (incumbent)

The annual meeting report will be available on Dakota Electric’s website after the meeting for members who cannot attend.

This meeting will take place in the cooperative’s warehouse, which is an active work area with uneven work surfaces. If you have mobility concerns or require accommodations, please contact Dakota Electric at 651-463-6212.

Members with election-related questions should email boardelection@dakotaelectric.com.

About Dakota Electric Association:
Dakota Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 117,000 members in and around Dakota County. Established in 1937, Dakota Electric is committed to providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to its members while actively engaging with the community and promoting energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.dakotaelectric.com or follow Dakota Electric on X, Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Member-owners to receive checks

(FARMINGTON, MN) January 27, 2026 – The Dakota Electric board of directors approved the retirement of $4.2 million in capital credits to be paid back to members. Member-owners who lived on Dakota Electric’s lines from 2003 to 2010 were mailed a check in mid-December reflecting their share of ownership in the cooperative.

When members receive electricity from Dakota Electric Association®, they become member-owners of the cooperative. As part of that ownership, members earn capital credits, which represent their share of the cooperative’s margins. These margins are allocated annually based on each member’s electricity usage and are reinvested to reduce borrowing and support system reliability, helping keep electric rates affordable. Over time, those margins are returned to members as capital credits.

This year, a check will be mailed to members reflecting their ownership in Dakota Electric for the remaining 2007 allocation, 75% of the 2010 allocation, and the remaining 54% of the 2003 allocation from our power provider, Great River Energy.

“Dakota Electric is proud to return these capital credits to our valued member-owners,” said Ryan Hentges, President and CEO of Dakota Electric. “As a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative, we prioritize the financial well-being of our members and strive to provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity. Returning capital credits is one way we fulfill our commitment to our members.”

If you were a former member and did not receive a capital credits check, review the unclaimed capital credits list and submit an unclaimed capital credits payment request. We request that former members keep us up to date with their current address. If we attempt to send you a capital credit check and the post office returns it due to an outdated address, we must comply with state unclaimed property laws. We continue to carry unclaimed capital credit amounts on our books for up to seven years. If, after the required time, we still have not located you, the law requires us to either remit the funds to the state or donate them to a charitable organization. Our current policy, as set by the board of directors, is to donate all unclaimed capital credits money to local community colleges and schools for student scholarships and educational purposes.

The cooperative has set a goal to retire these credits on a 15-year rotation by 2025, as approved by the board of directors. Please keep us informed of your current address by calling 651-463-6212 or emailing capitalcredits@dakotaelectric.com.

Questions? Email capitalcredits@dakotaelectric.com and include your check number. To learn more about capital credits, visit www.dakotaelectric.com/aboutus/capital-credits.

About Dakota Electric Association:
Dakota Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 117,000 members in and around Dakota County. Established in 1937, Dakota Electric is committed to providing its members with reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity while actively engaging with the community and promoting energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.dakotaelectric.com or follow Dakota Electric on X, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Member Appreciation Event Draws 6,000+

(FARMINGTON, MN) July 22, 2025 – On Thursday, July 17, Dakota Electric welcomed thousands of members to the Minnesota Zoo for our annual Member Appreciation Event — an evening dedicated to celebrating and thanking those we serve. More than 6,000 members took part in the festivities, enjoying free admission and a summer night full of adventure and fun.

Guests wandered through fan-favorite exhibits such as the Wings Financial World of Birds Show, explored the action-packed Dino Hideout, and strolled the scenic Treetop Trail, creating lasting memories with family and friends. As part of our ongoing commitment to the community, attendees were encouraged to support local food shelves by bringing non-perishable items or contributing monetary donations. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our members, we collected 2,652 pounds of food and received over $1,400 in cash donations — all of which will go directly to The Open Door and 360 Communities. “Our members continue to impress us with their compassion,” said Ryan Hentges, Dakota Electric’s President and CEO. “These contributions will provide vital resources to families and individuals throughout Dakota County. We’re grateful to everyone who donated.”

Since its inception in 1998, the Member Appreciation Event has helped provide nearly 45,000 pounds of food and $17,500 in support of local hunger relief efforts — a testament to the giving spirit of Dakota Electric’s membership.

About Dakota Electric Association:
Dakota Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 117,000 members in and around Dakota County. Established in 1937, Dakota Electric is committed to providing its members with reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity while actively engaging with the community and promoting energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.dakotaelectric.com or follow Dakota Electric on X, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

$160,000 in unclaimed capital credits endowed to students

(FARMINGTON, MN) July 1, 2025 – Local high school students receiving electrical service from Dakota Electric Association received scholarships from the electric cooperative, empowering them to pursue their post-secondary education. Along with the more than 100 talented high school students receiving the scholarships, students enrolled at Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College will be granted scholarships this fall. In total, $160,000 in unclaimed capital credits was allocated.

Since 1990, Dakota Electric has demonstrated its commitment to supporting students in pursuing their educational aspirations by donating over $2,000,000 toward post-secondary education to students in the service territory.

“This is something we look forward to announcing every year,” said Peggy Johnson, community relations director at Dakota Electric. “Being able to support local students in this manner is a highlight. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, we follow the Seven Cooperative Principles, and I think gifting these scholarships demonstrates two of them: Concern for Community, and Education, Training, and Information. Congrats to all the recipients, we can’t wait to see the amazing things you accomplish.”

The following students have been selected as scholarship recipients for this year:

About Dakota Electric Association:
Dakota Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 117,000 members in and around Dakota County. Established in 1937, Dakota Electric is committed to providing its members with reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity while actively engaging with the community and promoting energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.dakotaelectric.com or follow Dakota Electric on X, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Nearly 250 local youths attended the event

(FARMINGTON, MN) July 1, 2025 – On June 21, Dakota Electric and its wholesale power supplier, Great River Energy, co-presented the Twins Youth Clinic at Dodge Middle School Fields in Farmington. The event attracted approximately 250 enthusiastic kids between the ages of 6 and 12, who participated in activities to develop their foundational skills in hitting, fielding, and throwing.

The Twins Clinic, established in 1961 by the esteemed Twins scout Angelo Giuliani, aims to foster a love for baseball and softball among children residing within the Twins Territory. Play Ball! Minnesota Youth Clinics boasts an exceptional instructional team with a collective experience of over 200 years in baseball coaching and playing. Comprising former players, coaches, scouts, and teachers, these experts travel in teams of three to four instructors to conduct each clinic.

Dakota Electric Association and Great River Energy were proud to support the Twins Youth Clinic and contribute to the growth and development of young athletes in our communities.

About Dakota Electric Association:
Dakota Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 117,000 members in and around Dakota County. Established in 1937, Dakota Electric is committed to providing its members with reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity while actively engaging with the community and promoting energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.dakotaelectric.com or follow Dakota Electric on X, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Since 1997, Dakota Electric has donated nearly 200 trees to member cities

(FARMINGTON, MN) May 22, 2025 –Dakota Electric Association® is proud to support local communities by donating trees to seven member cities. Between April 19 and May 9, each city selected and planted a tree of its choice. In addition, the cooperative distributed 3,000 tree planting kits throughout its service area this year. Since 1997, Dakota Electric has contributed nearly 200 trees to member cities and over 180,000 tree seedlings to the community, honoring Earth Day and Arbor Day.

By donating trees and seedlings, Dakota Electric aims to go beyond merely providing electricity to its members. This initiative reflects a strong commitment to environmentally responsible practices and assists communities in building sustainable, eco-friendly futures. “Since the program’s inception in 1997, we’ve significantly impacted the communities we serve,” said Lori Peine, Community Affairs Coordinator for Dakota Electric. “It’s a unique gift to be able to deliver and help plant fully-grown trees in our member cities. I’m excited that we can provide this special gift to them.”

About Dakota Electric Association:
Dakota Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 117,000 members in and around Dakota County. Established in 1937, Dakota Electric is committed to providing its members with reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity while actively engaging with the community and promoting energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.dakotaelectric.com or follow Dakota Electric on X, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.