In The News – June 2026

As I sit down to write this month's column, it's hard to believe how much has changed in just one year.

This time last year, we were putting the finishing touches on our move to Slayton and settling into our new headquarters. That move marked an important milestone for our cooperative, and over the past year we've continued working to improve our facilities and operations to better serve our members.

Today, another project is underway as we replace and update the driveway and parking lot at our Worthington location for our linemen. Years of heavy truck traffic, changing weather conditions, and daily use have taken their toll on the property.

While construction can sometimes be inconvenient, these improvements will help ensure our employees have safe facilities from which to serve members for years to come.

At the same time, we continue to work with the technologies and tools that help us operate more efficiently. Whether it's online account management, Auto Pay, paperless billing, outage reporting, or other digital services, technology allows us to provide convenience for members while helping control administrative costs. As costs continue to rise across the utility industry, finding smart ways to operate efficiently becomes increasingly important. Every dollar we can save through improved processes is a dollar we can invest back into maintaining and improving the electric system that serves our communities.

On June 2, 1936, local farmers and community leaders came together to form Nobles Cooperative Electric. Their goal was simple but ambitious: bring reliable electricity to rural homes, farms, and businesses that investor-owned utilities had overlooked. Ninety years later, that same cooperative spirit continues to guide everything we do.

The electric cooperative model has stood the test of time. Across America, electric cooperatives now serve more than 42 million people and power millions of homes, farms, schools, and businesses. What makes cooperatives unique is that they are locally owned, locally governed, and focused on serving their members.

As we celebrate our history, we also recognize our responsibility to the future. The energy industry is evolving rapidly. New technologies, increasing demand for electricity, cybersecurity challenges, changing regulations, and rising infrastructure costs all require careful planning and investment.

This month’s newsletter includes additional information about how the electric grid works, how Nobles Cooperative Electric works together with Great River Energy and MISO as part of the larger regional grid, and why managing costs (6162601) has become such an important part of operating a modern electric cooperative.

Many members may not realize that electricity prices can change frequently depending on demand across the larger electric system. Understanding how the grid operates helps explain why conservation during periods of extreme heat or cold can help control costs for all members while continuing to maintain reliable service.

Thank you for being part of the cooperative. Here's to the next 90 years!