What members need to know
We look forward to serving you with reliable electric service. It's important to note that electric cooperatives are owned by the people we serve - you, our members. Electric co-ops are non-profit utilities and we exist to provide electric service to members at cost. When revenue exceeds costs, margins are allocated back to members as capital credits.
Ways to pay your bill
- By mail
- Through our secure, automated phone payment line at 855-941-3631
- Login to MiEnergy's SmartHub app
- Stop by our offices in Cresco or Rushford during normal business hours (Monday - Thursday from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.) or use the outside drop boxes after-hours
- Sign up for monthly automatic payment each month via SmartHub or the phone payment line
Products we sell
- Electric water heaters
- Are you building a new home? Switching from LP or natural gas to electric? Contact us to find out how you can get a free 85 or 105 gallon Marathon electric water heater!
- Security systems, video surveillance systems and medical alert systems through our ownership in Heartland Security.
- Call Heartland Security at 888-264-6380 and ask about MiEnergy member pricing!
- Broadband service through our ownership in MiBroadband
Programs and services
- Residential, farm and commercial energy management programs.
- Rebates for energy efficiency appliances, audit improvements, lighting, HVAC and more.
- Evergreen, a renewable energy (green power) program, available for your home, farm or business.
- Renewable Rays, our community solar project, allows members to acquire locally produced renewable energy.
- Unmetered outdoor lighting is available at a monthly rate.
Community programs and events
- Economic development assistance through loan programs.
- Operation Round Up grants funds to local worthy causes via members who round up their electric bill.
- Members can help other members pay their electric bill with RECare.
- Scholarship opportunities for high school seniors.
- Sponsorship of youth delegates to attend the Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.
- Sponsorships of community events.
Safety
- Assume any downed power line is energized and call MiEnergy or 911 immediately to report it.
- MiEnergy will de-energize a power line for free upon request with advance notice during normal business hours to ensure safe working conditions for members and/or contractors.
- Trees or brush within the right-of-way will be pruned or removed if they threaten the ability for the co-op to provide reliable electric service.
- Call 811 if you are digging. It is the law. Underground locating service is free and will mark underground utilities within 48 hours (excluding holidays and weekends).
- A condition of membership is that employees will be granted the right to have access to your premises at reasonable times to read meters, test, repair, connect, disconnect and/or replace any equipment that is property of the co-op.
Ways we communicate
- Look for MiEnergy’s monthly MiNews in the mail for news and information. Help us save on printing and postage costs by requesting an electronic version.
- Power outages can be viewed in real-time via the power outage page.
- Look for MiEnergy on social media. If you experience a power outage, please call 800-432-2285 or report it on SmartHub because social media sites are not monitored 24/7.
Green options for your home and vehicle
- If you’re dreaming of greener options for powering your home and/or vehicle without the hassle of owning or maintaining equipment, ask about our Evergreen and Renewable Rays programs.
- Consider having your garage pre-wired for an electric vehicle charger.
- MiEnergy has two rates for electric vehicle charging during off-peak periods.
- Interested in interconnecting your own DG system with MiEnergy's system? Contact the co-op first to be sure it qualifies.
More information
- 77 employees
- Maintain 5,500 miles of power line
- Serve 19,200 members and 23,400 meters
- Offices in Cresco and Rushford. Outpost facilities in Caledonia and Preston
- MiEnergy Cooperative is the result of a merger between Hawkeye REC, of Cresco, Iowa and Tri-County Electric Cooperative, of Rushford, Minnesota.
- Prior to the merger on January 1, 2017, both cooperatives had successfully served southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa for 80 years.
- MiEnergy operates according to seven principles that cooperatives around the world support:
- Voluntary and open membership
- Democratic member control
- Member's economic participation
- Autonomy and independence
- Education, training and information
- Cooperation among cooperatives
- Concern for community
- Provide wholesale electricity to nine municipal communities: Caledonia, Eitzen, Harmony, Lanesboro, Lawler, Mabel, Peterson, Rushford and Spring Grove.
- Pioneered a national business model for non-profit electric cooperatives to own community solar systems. Renewable Rays is a community solar project owned by MiEnergy that came online in July 2014.
- Owns one-third of Minnesota Three LLC, a utility-scale solar array. The three co-op owners sell the electricity generated to its wholesale power provider. Minnesota Three came online in June 2014.
- Shares ownership of MiBroadband, a broadband service provider.
- Added 9 MW of local solar generation through the Fillinona Solar Projects in 2021.
- Has assisted over 900 member with interconnecting member-owned solar and wind generation to the co-op's grid.
Members of MiEnergy are represented by 10 board directors. MiEnergy has five districts, each represented by two directors. Being elected to the board is a paid position that comes with responsibilities.
Director elections begin with the co-op asking for members to volunteer to serve on the Nominating Committee or to seek election to the board of directors. Announcements for both of these opportunities, along with how to apply, are in the November and/or December MiNews prior to the spring elections. Results are announced at the annual meeting in April.
Learn about the process of getting new electric service to a site on our New Service page.
Discover the electric options for your new home in our New Construction Flyer.