By Abe Nebgen System Arborist LREC’s Vegetation Management (VM) Program has gained momentum over the past six years, fueled by increased budgets, dedicated policy implementation, technological advancements, better planning, enhanced efficiencies, and thorough audits. Although crews clear only about 10% of the system each year, tree-growth-related outages continue to decline. This pattern supports the program’s…
LREC tracks the cause of every outage in order to see what affects reliability across LREC’s system. Outage data from this summer helps identify trends and where ongoing improvements can make a difference. Trees were the leading unplanned cause, accounting for more than a quarter of all outages and spiking in June and September. Our…
I’d like to provide some information on how we determined this year’s capital credit allocation, which can be found at the top of this month’s statement. Capital credits are determined by the margin (revenue remaining after expenses) the cooperative has at the end of the year. This amount is then allocated to members based on…
Every April, members and customers of electric utilities take a moment to recognize the efforts of lineworkers across the country. For LREC, it’s a well deserved shout out to our crews and their commitment to keeping our cooperative’s lights on, our homes warm, and our neighborhoods running no matter what the Minnesota weather decides to…
October is National Cooperative Month and, in recognition, beginning this month we’re sharing the Seven Cooperative Principles by shining a spotlight on the ways in which LREC is demonstrating each one to our members. Our first featured principle is Concern for Community. A cooperative serves its member-owners best when it operates as more than just…
Lake Region Electric Cooperative tracks the cause of every outage; for June through mid-September, the numbers show two main sources: planned work and tree-related incidents. Planned outages, at 34 percent, are necessary interruptions that let crews safely upgrade and strengthen the system. Trees caused 26 percent of outages, a number that highlights the importance of…
When winter storms knock out power, generators can help keep you warm and connected—but safety is key. Follow these tips to ensure your generator keeps you safe and warm this winter. Clear Snow Off Standby Generators: If you have a standby generator, regularly clear snow and ice from vents and the unit itself. Blocked airflow…
A portion of grant monies awarded to Great River Energy (GRE) through the USDA’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program will directly benefit LREC through the reduction of cost on a power purchase agreement for a planned 2.4 MW solar array. While a green light was given to move forward on the planning phase of…
Minnesota’s legislature enters 2025 facing new challenges and opportunities. Electric cooperatives across Minnesota, led by the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA), are focused on ensuring the electric grid remains reliable, affordable, and sustainable in two key areas: 1) Keeping Energy Costs Fair: Net Metering ReformNet metering compensates members who generate their own electricity (such as…
October is National Cooperative Month — a great time to celebrate what makes co-ops around the world unique. One difference between cooperatives and other institutions is co-ops all operate according to the same set of core principles. Open & Voluntary Membership Cooperatives are open to anyone able to use their services and willing to accept…