Northland Connection: April 2026

More Than Just an Election

Co-op success driven by informed and engaged membership

If you’ve ever wondered what really makes an electric cooperative different, this time of year tells the story best. Our annual meeting and election aren’t just routine events that happen every year. Ultimately, they are a reflection of the fact that this co-op belongs to you.

Unlike other utilities, your co-op is built on a simple but powerful idea. Since 1938, it has been owned and governed by the people it serves. That means you. Your vote each year is how democratic member control comes to life at the cooperative.

Every member has an equal voice. Whether you’ve been with us for decades or just recently connected service, your vote carries the same weight. That’s something pretty special in today’s world.

This year, we’re again making it easy to participate. Voting will open May 1 and continue until just prior to our annual business meeting on May 28. You’ll be able to vote securely online, by mail, or in person for one hour before the meeting. As always, all ballots are handled and counted by an independent third party to ensure fairness and integrity.

Three of our nine board seats are up for election each year—one from each of our three service districts. This year, the South District will be the only contested district as directors Kelly Parkhurst and David Edwards are running unopposed in their respective districts. There are no other voting measures on the ballot.

Now, I’ll be honest, sometimes when things are going well, it’s easy to sit an election out. But one of the things I often remind people is that participation matters just as much when you’re satisfied as when you’re not. A healthy cooperative depends on a wide range of voices, including those who feel good about where we’re headed. Voting is one of the simplest and most important ways to stay involved.

Speaking of how we’re doing, last fall we asked a sample of members to share feedback through a national customer satisfaction survey used by electric co-ops and leading companies across the country. We do this every couple of years because it gives us a clear, honest look at where we’re meeting expectations and where we can improve.

I’m proud to share that the results were the strongest we’ve ever received. In fact, our score was among the highest in the nation and the highest in the state among participating cooperatives. That’s something worth celebrating.

But numbers only tell part of the story. Behind that result are a lot of people doing things the right way. It takes employees who show up every day committed to being exceptional, and a board of directors that keeps us focused on serving members, not outside interests. I’m grateful for both.

Still, if you asked me what truly drives that kind of success, I’d point to something else. It comes back to the culture we’ve built together. A culture that values service, accountability and continuous improvement. It comes from listening, adapting and always trying to make things better.

And most importantly, it comes from you.

Engaged members set the tone for a strong cooperative. Whether it’s through voting, providing feedback or simply staying informed, your involvement is what keeps this organization grounded and moving forward.

So, after you read this issue and learn more about the candidates and voting process, I encourage you to take a few moments in May to cast your vote.

At the end of the day, it’s not just the employees or the board that define this cooperative, it’s the members who bring it to life.

Voting Instructions

Voting in PCEC’s 2026 Membership Election is an easy, secure process managed by a third-party to ensure fairness. In order to access the ballot, you will need to know:

1) YOUR LAST NAME / BUSINESS NAME
2) YOUR MEMBER NUMBER
3) YOUR LOCATION NUMBER

The information listed above can be found on your PCEC bills or through your online billing portal. Once you have the required information, visit www.PCEC.coop/Vote to vote online or call (816) 343-4847 to request a mail-in ballot. Members with an email address on file with their account will receive a voting invitation by email that will contain your voting credentials.

Optional Mail-In Ballot Instructions

1. Call (816) 343-4847 on or before May 8
2. Follow the voice prompt to leave your member information
3. Look for your ballot to arrive in the mail within a week
4. Fill out your co-op ballot
5. Return ballot to P.O. Box 1648, Jefferson City, MO 65102 postmarked by May 19

Knowledge Matters at the Board Table

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of visiting with many of you at annual meetings, community events and sometimes just out and about. One thing I’ve always appreciated about our membership is the interest you take in how your cooperative is run. That’s especially true this time of year, when board elections are on folks’ minds.

Serving on the board of a rural electric cooperative is an honor, but I’ll tell you plainly, it’s also a serious responsibility that takes time to learn. When I first joined the board more than 30 years ago, I had a good sense of our community and a willingness to serve, but I didn’t yet understand the complexity of the electric business or the cooperative model. Like most things worth doing, it takes some learning along the way.

Electric cooperatives are different from other utilities. We aren’t investor-owned, and we aren’t run by a city or municipality. We’re owned by the members we serve. That means decisions are made locally, with your best interests in mind, but it also means directors have to understand things like capital credits, power supply contracts, electric infrastructure and equity ratios to help adequately govern the cooperative. Those aren’t topics most folks deal with every day.

That’s where director education comes in. From the start, our cooperative has made it a priority to make sure board members have access to training opportunities. Through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, or NRECA, directors can attend courses and conferences that cover everything from governance and fiduciary duties to risk management, technology and industry policy.

Most of our directors have taken part in those programs in one way or another. Some have completed formal certification programs, while others regularly attend workshops and conferences to stay up to date. A few of our board members also serve on state and national cooperative committees and boards, which gives us a direct line to broader industry discussions. Those relationships matter more than you might think. They help us bring ideas home and make better decisions for our membership.

I’ve tried to take advantage of those learning opportunities over the years myself. At the beginning of this year, I was fortunate to complete the Director Gold Credential Program. It’s the most advanced director credential NRECA offers. I don’t mention that to pat myself on the back, but rather to share how valuable the process has been for me. It builds on earlier coursework over the years and encourages continued learning over time to remain certified. After all these years, I can still say I’ve learned something new at just about every training I’ve attended.

The truth is, none of us ever has this role completely figured out. The electric industry keeps changing, too. Whether it’s new regulations, evolving technology, or shifts in how power is generated and delivered. Staying informed isn’t optional if we want to serve you well.

I’m also proud of the group of directors we have today. We have directors from all types of career backgrounds. We represent communities across our service territory, and we bring different perspectives to the table. That’s important. It leads to better discussions and better decisions.

At the same time, there’s a shared commitment among the board to keep learning and improving. Whether it’s through formal certification programs or simply showing up to meetings prepared and engaged, every director puts in the effort to understand the issues facing our cooperative.

What I’ve come to appreciate over the years is just how much there is to learn, and how important it is to stay engaged in that process. The decisions we make today have long-term impacts on the reliability, affordability and direction of your cooperative, and that’s something none of us take lightly.

Our responsibility is to serve the membership with care and good judgment. That means doing the homework, leaning on the knowledge we’ve gained and being willing to keep learning as the industry changes around us.

It’s been an honor to be part of that work, and I’m grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me and in this board.

Right-of-Way Maintenance Taking Place Throughout Service Area

PCEC is committed to continuously improving system reliability for our members. To support this effort, you may see contractors spraying herbicide and clearing right-of-ways throughout our service area over the next few months as part of our ongoing vegetation management program.

This vegetation management maintenance is necessary for ensuring safe and reliable power in our communities. PCEC has created an interactive map, where you can see if we will be in your area. Please visit www.pcec.coop/reliability to view the map and learn more about right-of-way maintenance, PCEC polices and state statutes.

If you have any questions or concerns about the application of products or other line clearing activities, please don’t hesitate to contact PCEC at (816) 628-3121.