At Crow Wing Power, we have a lot going on—and all of it is focused on strengthening the cooperative for you, our members. Last month, our Board and employees participated in a strategic planning session with the Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC). Out of that work, seven key imperatives were identified: Safety Excellence, Workforce Culture, Long-Term Facility Solutions, Infrastructure Investment and Planning, Member Satisfaction, Financial Health, and Technology Leadership. These imperatives will guide us over the next several years, and by 2026, we will adopt a comprehensive strategic plan built around them.
Member feedback is central to this process. In June and July, we conducted a member survey with 507 responses, or about 14% participation. Our ACSI (American Customer Satisfaction Index) score came in at 85—slightly above the national average for cooperatives. While that’s encouraging, we know there is room to improve. Two words stood out: reliability as the top priority, and responsive as the most frequent description of what we do well. We will continue to deliver on both by investing in infrastructure and supporting the employees who bring power to your home, farm, or business.
I also recently attended the Basin Electric Annual Meeting in Bismarck, ND, where I toured their facilities and heard updates on financial forecasts, business planning, and rates. As mentioned in my August CEO article, Basin Electric’s investment in the Bison Generation Station—along with other factors—will impact the wholesale costs we pay. The Basin board has adopted a phased-in approach, with our wholesale rates expected to increase by approximately 10% in 2026.
Crow Wing Power cannot absorb this increase entirely. As this is my first budget cycle as CEO, I can assure you we are carefully evaluating every option, including a cost-of-service study, to set retail rates responsibly while continuing to address aging infrastructure, maintain safety, and ensure reliability.
There will be a retail rate increase in 2026, though we don’t yet know the exact amount at this point. What we do know is that our responsibility is to be clear and transparent throughout the process. We will continue to keep you informed, advocate on your behalf, and carefully manage costs. Above all, our commitment remains to provide safe and reliable electricity with responsive service to you—our members.
Your Cooperative, Our Commitment
Tim Thompson