MESSAGE FROM OPERATIONS: Powering together

Every October, electric cooperatives across the country celebrate National Co-op Month and reflect on the unique advantages of being part of a cooperative. As an electric cooperative, we are guided by the seven cooperative principles. One of those principles is cooperation among cooperatives – something we participate in every day. 

Along with three neighboring electric cooperatives, KEM Electric is a proud owner of Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative (IEA), Maintenance Solutions Cooperative (MSC), West Dakota Utilities Services (WDUS) and 3C Construction. You have probably read about these strategic partnerships in the past, but we would like to highlight the partnerships that help us ensure safe, reliable electric services to our members. 

Each day, employees at KEM Electric collaborate with employees of IEA, which provides various services and support to the cooperative. On the operations side, we work closely with IEA’s engineering department to analyze, update and plan for system maintenance and expansion. We also work with the information technology team to ensure secure, efficient and reliable operation of all computing systems, hardware and software at our cooperative. Other departments within IEA that KEM Electric works closely with includes managerial, employee services, finance and accounting as well as others. 

But it doesn’t stop there, as owners of MSC, KEM Electric has access to a dedicated team who delivers comprehensive maintenance and technical solutions. At MSC they have an experienced team who builds and maintains our metering systems within substations, ensuring that these critical components operate smoothly and efficiently. MSC also verifies meters on our system ensuring accuracy and integrity of metering equipment. 

When our fleet of vehicles and equipment need attention, WDUS’s certified technicians who specialize in a variety of services are here to keep us running. From Department of Transportation inspection certifications to utility vehicle repair and maintenance, WDUS is a multi-faceted repair shop that ensures our cooperative vehicles are ready when we are. 

When we need additional hands to get a project completed, 3C Construction, a construction contractor, is ready to assist our cooperative. Their crews provide reliable solutions for new line construction, pole change outs, and storm outage restorations. By providing additional manpower and equipment, 3C Construction helps reduce project time and ensures efficient operations to help us continue powering our communities.

Through these partnerships, we can better serve you with cost savings while maintaining quality of service to our members. By working together, sharing resources and supporting one another, we build a stronger cooperative. This cooperative month, we are proud to not only celebrate what we have accomplished, but who we have accomplished it with!