IN THE NEWS...
Adam Tromblay, CEO/General Manager
July 31 marked a major milestone—not just for Nobles Cooperative Electric, but for electric cooperatives across southern Minnesota. Ten years ago, a historic $127 million acquisition reshaped the region’s energy landscape and brought thousands of new members into the cooperative family.
Being Part of History
In 2015, 12 electric distribution cooperatives—including Nobles—joined forces to form Southern Minnesota Energy Cooperative (SMEC) to purchase Alliant Energy’s Minnesota service territory.
It remains the largest acquisition of an investor-owned utility (IOU) territory by electric cooperatives in U.S. history. Together, we welcomed 43,000 new accounts, transitioned 70 employees, and strengthened cooperative service from border to border.
Nobles Cooperative Electric was just one small part of this bold, statewide collaboration—but the local impact was powerful.
Across Minnesota, some former Alliant customers now serve on cooperative boards, helping to shape the future. Former Alliant employees are now valued members of various cooperative teams across the state—continuing to provide the same great service, now with a local, member-focused mission.
This wasn’t just a business transaction—it was a commitment to local control, shared vision, and long-term investment in the communities we serve.
Alliant’s requirement to sell the territory as a single unit meant this deal could only happen if we worked together. And together, we made history.
As we celebrate the past, we’re also building for the future within our own cooperative!
Last fall, we energized a brand-new substation near Adrian, increasing our capacity from 5 MVA to 7.5 MVA. This upgrade included the addition of SCADA (for better real-time monitoring and control) and enhanced wildlife protection for improved safety and reliability.
In Slayton, final groundwork is underway on a new substation expected to be complete by fall 2025. Once online, it will boost our capacity to 12 MVA—a strategic move designed to support future load growth and ensure continued reliability for years to come.
Meanwhile, our line crews have been hard at work near Wilmont, Reading, and Lismore, preparing for the upcoming SMEC system cutover. This transition will allow us to retire aging substations and strengthen service in the area with more modern infrastructure and greater reliability.
Ten years ago, Nobles Cooperative Electric—and cooperatives like us—took a leap of faith. Today, we see the results in stronger service, smarter systems, and deeper community ties. These ongoing infrastructure investments are a continuation of that commitment. They ensure that as our membership grows and changes, our ability to deliver safe and reliable electricity only gets better.
Here’s to years of shared success—and to the future we’re building together.
