Our mission, Our vision, and Our values
At Cass County Electric Cooperative, success is a shared journey— one that relies on the dedication and collaboration of our employees, directors, and members. Together, we navigate the challenges of an ever-evolving world with a steadfast commitment to innovation, safety, integrity, and accountability. Rooted in service to our community, we strive to develop solutions that drive meaningful progress for all. Every day, our team works diligently to earn your trust, empowering us to move forward with confidence toward a bright and promising future.
Highline Notes Volume 83, Number 4
Communications: Jocelyn Hovland, Morgan Bachelor, and Sara Hand
Printer:
Forum Communications Printing
Highline Notes (USPS 244-740) is published monthly by Cass County Electric Cooperative Inc., 3312 42nd St. S., Suite 200, Fargo, ND 58104. Periodicals postage paid at Fargo, North Dakota 58104, and at additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Highline Notes
3312 42nd St. S., Suite 200, Fargo, ND 58104
© Copyright Cass County Electric Cooperative 2025. All rights reserved.
Questions: 701-356-4400 | 800-248-3292 | info@kwh.com
Cass County Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Information about the cooperative, articles of incorporation, bylaws and more can be found at CassCountyElectric.com.
Cass County Electric
ABOUT US 1937
Power Mix Capacity
Coal 58% - Wind 33% - Hydro 7% - Other 2%
The electricity powering CCEC members primarily comes from our trusted supplier, Minnkota Power Cooperative, based in North Dakota. Nearly all the energy you rely on is generated within the state, sourced from wind turbines, coal-fired power plants, and a hydroelectric dam, with only a small portion procured from the broader energy market.
Over the past decade, CCEC has undergone a remarkable transformation. By strategically investing in advanced technology and tools, the cooperative has sustained its workforce size while efficiently serving a growing number of accounts. These advancements have resulted in improved system reliability and lower customer accounting costs while fostering a culture of continuous process improvement across the organization.
2014: 42,412 active accounts, 94 full-time employees
2024: 59,687 active accounts, 94 full-time employees
5,813 miles of line
Stretched out, our lines could nearly reach from Fargo, North Dakota, to the North Pole and back.
Overhead: 2,801
Underground: 3,012
59,687
Membership Totals
Residential Urban: 27,236
Apartments: 18,984
Residential Farm: 6,081
Lighting: 509
Irrigation: 210
Commercial: 6,667
Word from Leadership
Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) is considered a growth cooperative, meaning we add new accounts and increase energy sales and revenue annually. We have added an average of 1,608 accounts annually for the past 24 years. According to the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation’s (CFC) Key Ratio Trend Analysis (KRTA) results, CCEC ranks in the top 9% of 809 electric distribution cooperatives nationwide for growth. We are also a weatherdependent business, and sell more energy during cold winters and hot summers.
2024 turned out to be a pretty good year for sales and growth, but slightly lower than we anticipated and below our 2023 numbers. We ended the year by adding 1,466 new accounts compared to 1,590 in 2023. Energy sales were down 0.5% from 2023 and approximately 1.5% below the 2024 budget. High interest rates, inflation, supply chain issues, and mild temperatures at the start of the year influenced these figures.
While we continued to heal from the 2023 Christmas ice storm, we managed to maintain a healthy financial balance sheet. CCEC has 48.41% equity, which is 19% higher than our peers. Annual electric revenue was up 2.2% or $3.4 million compared to 2023, excluding the $4.9 million deferred revenue recognized in 2023. The cost to operate the cooperative, or the distribution adder, was $0.0246/kWh, 42% below similar-sized cooperatives in the nation. This is due to the efficient operations of our employees and the board of directors.
2024 marked the seventh consecutive year of flat electric rates. We attribute this to efficiently managing expenses, annual load growth, fiscal responsibility, and no increases from our wholesale power provider, Minnkota Power Cooperative (Minnkota). Operating expenses, excluding power costs, were up 7.5%, mainly due to the ice storm in 2023. Operating margins totaled $7.18 million, coming in 5.25% below budget and $367,000 lower than 2023, excluding the $4.9 million deferred revenue recognized in 2023. Eide Bailly, CCEC’s financial audit firm, issued an unmodified opinion on the 2024 financial statement audit, indicating a clean report with no adjustments needed. We can attribute this to having professional and dedicated finance and accounting employees.
Overall, 2024 was a good year for the cooperative, and your board of directors approved the payout of $3.5 million in capital credits to members who used electricity in 2003 and 2004 (a partial year), including estate and early retirements. Capital credit payments are unique to the cooperative business model and are just one of the many benefits of being a cooperative member-owner.
During the annual reorganizational meeting the following directors were reelected to their positions; Director Glenn Mitzel Chairman
Director Terry Kraft Vice Chairman
Director Paul White Secretary Director Kalvin Hoff Treasurer Vanessa Kummer was elected as your director representing District 3 (Colfax area). This April will
Paul Matthys, President/CEO and Glenn Mitzel, Board Chair
mark my first year serving as the President and CEO. I have been working very closely with the board of directors on implementing a newly revised strategic business plan, updating policies, and ensuring financial security for the cooperative. The board of directors also approved Vogel Law as CCEC’s official legal counsel.
Our engineering and operations team has diligently worked on system maintenance, rebuilding some of our utility plant after the 2023 ice storm damage, embracing new technology, and shooting for 100% reliability. FLISR (fault location, isolation, and service restoration) software is one technology we have been utilizing to achieve our reliability goals; in fact, 2024 was a record year for reliability for CCEC. With zero major events, the system average interruption duration index (SAIDI) was 24.5 minutes, and the average service availability index (ASAI) was 99.9953%.
High-level member service is another primary focus of ours. In 2024, we surveyed our members and scored 89 (on a 100-point scale) on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI®). Our board of directors and employees are Driven to Deliver. Providing member services, engaging with our community, and giving back are essential core values that we follow.
Cybersecurity continues to be a top priority for us. Our internal information technology (IT) team provides our employees with regular cybersecurity training and awareness programs. They also avoid emerging threats by maintaining updated cybersecurity
software and tools. Additionally, we utilize external experts to perform IT security audits.
As we look forward, we have an abundance of opportunities, and we are well-positioned financially. We will continue working with Minnkota to consider carbon capture and storage technologies while evaluating all sources for future power supply. We will study and assess the system’s needs for fastpaced electricity demand, including data storage, manufacturing, and residential growth. We will advocate pro-energy policies at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure reliability and affordability are at the forefront.
Beginning April 1, 2025, we will see an 8.3% wholesale rate increase from Minnkota. Because of our load growth, a healthy balance sheet, and fiscal responsibility, we are not adjusting base rates in 2025. We plan to absorb some of the increases and gradually pass them on through the purchased power adjustment (PPA). Once fully implemented, homeowners will see an average increase of 4% in electricity costs. The average home’s monthly electric bill will increase less than $6. We will perform a costof-service study in 2025, and the board of directors and management will evaluate and consider adjusting the base electric rates in 2026 accordingly.
Thank you for being an engaged member of CCEC. We look forward to the annual meeting and hope to see you on April 15, 2025.
Directors
Names highlighted in green are candidates running for reelection.
The members of your board of directors are residents of our local communities and are elected by co-op members. Each board member holds office for three years, with elections taking place during our annual meeting.
District 3, Colfax
Vanessa kummer
District 2, Arthur
Douglas Anderson
District 1, Stirum Secretary
Paul White
District 6, West Fargo Board Chair
Glenn Mitzel
District 4, Reiles Acres
Stacey Ackerman
District 5, West Fargo
Tom Seymour
District At-Large, West Fargo Vice Chair
Terry Kraft
District 8, Fargo Treasurer
Kalvin Hoff
District 7, Fargo
Wendy Loucks
Notice of Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the members of Cass County Electric Cooperative Inc. will be held at the Delta by Marriott, located at 1635 42nd Street South, Fargo, North Dakota, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, to act upon the following matters:
1. The reports of officers and directors
2. The election of three directors
3. All other business which may come before the meeting, or any adjournments thereof
Pursuant to the bylaws, the following members have filed petitions for directorship of the cooperative.
District 1
Paul White (Incumbent)
District 1 Marcy Svenningsen
District 6 Glenn Mitzel (Incumbent)
District 8 Kalvin Hoff (Incumbent)
Program:
5:00 p.m. Registration* begins and doors open
5:30 p.m. Meal
6:00 p.m. Call to order and welcome
Establish quorum
Approve minutes of previous meeting
Election of directors
Board Chair’s report
President’s report
Financial report
Old and new business
Open discussion
Adjournment
*Only registered members are allowed to vote. Any person representing a corporation that is a member of the cooperative shall present evidence of their authority to cast one vote on behalf of the corporate member.
Dated this 27th day of February 2025.
Paul White, Secretary
Director Expenses: 2024 director expenses totaled $261,518.37, or $4.38 per member. Directors’ expenses include fees paid for attendance at regular CCEC board meetings and a monthly retainer ($144,563.64); industry-related conferences, meetings, and education ($109,500.61); and miscellaneous expenses ($7,454.12).
ABSENTEE VOTING
DIRECTOR ELECTION
At Cass County Electric Cooperative, we’ve always valued member participation in selecting our board of directors at the annual meeting. For those unable to attend in person, absentee voting is now open! Requesting your absentee ballot is easy:
• Visit us: 4100 32nd Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58104
• Call us: 800-248-3292 or 701-356-4400
• Email us: info@kwh.com
• Use our online form: CassCountyElectric.com/ contact-us
Important Details:
• Voting is open for Districts 1, 6, and 8.
• Ballots must be returned to Vogel Law by noon on Friday, April 11, 2025.
Your voice matters! Be sure to cast your vote!
DISTRICT 1
DISTRICT 6
DISTRICT 8
Stats
Why paperless?
In 2024, CCEC reached a major milestone with 27,728 members enrolled in paperless billing— an increase of nearly 1,400 accounts from the previous year. This shift not only benefits the environment but also saves the cooperative nearly $200,000 annually in printing and postage costs!
System Maintenance
CCEC is dedicated to ensuring a safe, reliable, and resilient electrical system. A key part of this commitment is our proactive pole inspection program. In 2024 alone, we inspected more than 5,300 poles, with only 85 requiring replacement. When a pole fails inspection, it is promptly scheduled for replacement to maintain system integrity. With over 57,500 poles in service, CCEC follows an 11-year inspection cycle to ensure continued reliability and safety.
Operation Round Up
The Cass County Electric Cooperative Foundation proudly granted over $235,000 to 62 nonprofits through the Operation Round Up program. These contributions support organizations striving to create a brighter future for our communities!
Prairie sun shines on
Since 2017, Prairie Sun Community Solar has provided members with clean, renewable energy. Over the years, the array has generated more than 1.2 gigawatt-hours (GWh)—enough to power 8,860 computers for an entire year.
Member Accounts
In 2024, our member accounts team managed an impressive 41,631 phone calls and 13,874 emails, ensuring prompt support and resolution for our members. Beyond assisting with inquiries, they facilitated 16,975 service transfers and played a key role in welcoming 5,762 new members to the CCEC community. Their dedication continues to enhance the member experience and strengthen our cooperative.
Underground Locates
In 2024, CCEC received 23,989 underground locate requests, making up nearly 13% of all North Dakota One Call requests. Our dedicated in-house team completed 8,982 locates, ensuring safe and efficient operations throughout a busy year. The remaining locate requests were completed by a contracted locating company.
Membership survey
We sincerely appreciate our members for their feedback in the 2024 American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®). With a score of 89, CCEC ranked 14 points higher than the average municipal utility, 15 points higher than the average investor-owned utility, and 11 points higher than the average electric cooperative.
As one of the most respected industry satisfaction studies, ACSI® evaluates over 400 companies across 40+ industries, based on 500,000 customer interviews annually. We’re proud to deliver the exceptional service our members deserve.
Executive Staff
As Tim Sanden and Chad Sapa retire on April 1, 2025, we thank them for their combined 73 years of service to Cass County Electric Cooperative. Chad’s financial expertise has strengthened CCEC’s stability and kept rates affordable, while Tim’s leadership in technology has modernized operations and enhanced security. Their dedication and vision have left a lasting impact on the cooperative and its members. We wish them both a well-earned retirement filled with joy, adventure, and family. Thank you, Tim and Chad—you will always be part of the CCEC family!
Paul Matthys Executive Assistant/Human Resources Specialist
Chad Brousseau VP of Member & Energy Services President & CEO
Sarah Rhea
Tim Sanden VP of Information Technology & CIO
Jodi Bullinger
VP of Engineering & Operations
Chad Sapa VP of Corporate Services & CFO
Mission: To serve our members’ energy needs with affordable & reliable electricity.
Reliability reached record levels in 2024, with a System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) of just 24.5 minutes, ensuring 99.9953% availability for our members.
Engineering & Operations Member & Energy Services
We advanced the Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR) system to further improve system resilience. This technology automatically isolates faults and reconfigures distribution, minimizing outage durations. Deployment will continue as we install more automated switches.
Safety remained a top priority, with continued safety training including handson Mayday scenario training for lineworkers and power control operators and hazard recognition training for office workers. Other key projects included the relocation of diesel generators from Oxbow to Colfax Substation, ensuring backup power where it’s needed. Starting in 2025 all underground locates will be performed by in-house locators or lineworkers.
To extend the life of our fleet equipment, we partnered with a local business to refurbish older trucks and machinery. This initiative reduces replacement costs and boosts efficiency by leveraging local expertise.
Several team members earned welldeserved promotions, including: CJ Erickson, Cody Schulz, and Ty Wadeson.
Our commitment to the communities we serve was evident in the many ways we gave back this year. Two students attended the Youth Tour, 18 students received $1,000 scholarships, over 120 organizations received donations or sponsorships, and we participated in more than 90 community events. We also participated in educational programs, hosted energy efficiency workshops, and sponsored local events that brought members together. These efforts reinforce our belief that a stronger community means a stronger cooperative.
We also continued to enhance member services by launching a new website, providing a more user-friendly experience for members managing accounts and accessing resources. Additionally, we transitioned the Time-of-Day rate into a standard rate option, offering greater flexibility for members seeking to optimize energy usage.
We also saw leadership change within our team, with Chad Brousseau promoted to VP of Member & Energy Services, ensuring that our focus on accountability and community engagement remains strong in the years ahead.
By prioritizing member satisfaction, education, and community support, CCEC continues to foster a stronger, more connected cooperative for all.
Information Technology
In 2024, technology and cybersecurity remained a priority as we enhanced our IT infrastructure and realigned teams for greater efficiency. Our GIS and IT teams merged, strengthening data management and system reliability.
Last year also marked the announcement of key retirements, including Tim Sanden and Paul Kautz, whose decades of service leave a lasting legacy. These changes initiated the promotion of Nick Ludowese and Mitchell Lyter, who was promoted to VP of Information Technology and CIO. We also welcomed Nick Laid (IT) and Matthew Niblock (GIS) to the team.
Severe weather put our resilience to the test when radio towers were damaged during the ice storm, but swift repairs ensured uninterrupted communications. Additionally, new servers were implemented for our virtual environment, enhancing security and performance.
Innovation continued with the creation of Power BI applications for budgeting, capital credits, transformer loading, and rate analysis. To invest in future talent, we also hosted an M-State IT/Cybersecurity class tour, fostering the next generation of IT professionals.
Corporate Services
Resilience defined Cass County Electric Cooperative’s performance in 2024. The year began with a $5 million ice storm, followed by record warm winter temperatures that impacted early sales. Despite these challenges, the cooperative rebounded strongly in the second half of the year, closing with solid sales and margins—all without raising rates.
VP of Corporate & Energy Services, Chad Sapa announced his retirement, facilitating the promotion of Controller, Andy Weiss. Our commitment to financial accountability remained evident in our capital credits distribution, a core benefit of cooperative membership. In 2024, $3.5 million was approved and paid, returning profits to members.
Operational efficiency continues to set us apart. Our distribution adder remains among the lowest in the industry at $0.02461 per kWh sold, nearly 43% lower than peer cooperatives. This is achieved through strict cost management and an unwavering focus on innovation and efficiency.
Growth remains a key strength, with 1,466 new accounts added in 2024. Over the past five years, we have averaged more than 1,500 new accounts annually, placing us in the top 9% of U.S. cooperatives. This growth supports rate stability, long-term profitability, and cost efficiency, benefiting all members.
Comparative Statistics
Statements of Operations
Balance Sheets
The financial statements for Cass County Electric Cooperative Inc., as of and for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, have been audited by an independent accounting firm, Eide Bailly. An unmodified opinion was issued for each year. Copies of the complete audited financial statements are on file at the cooperative’s office.
