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  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, Values
    • What is an Electric Cooperative
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      • Apply for electric heating sales tax exemption
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What is an Electric Cooperative?

The Great Effort of Bringing Power to the Countryside

The business model of electric cooperatives is unique and based on grassroots efforts. Learn more about electric cooperatives in this informative video!

Electric cooperatives are private, independent electric utilities, owned by the members they serve. Democratically governed businesses, electric cooperatives are organized under the Cooperative or Rochdale Principles, anchoring them firmly in the communities they serve and ensuring that they are closely regulated by their members.

Electric cooperatives were created after President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) in 1935. The Executive Order establishing the REA and the passage of the REA Act a year later marked the first steps in a public-private partnership that has, over the last 80 years, bridged the vast expanse of rural America to bring electric power to businesses and communities willing to organize cooperatively and accept responsibility for the provision of safe, affordable and reliable electric power.

Today more than 900 electric cooperatives power Alaskan fishing villages, dairy farms in Vermont and the suburbs and exurbs in between. They provide reliable and technologically advanced service to 42 million Americans while maintaining a unique consumer-focused approach to business.

7 Cooperative Principles

The Seven Cooperative Principles

 

        

 

 

About Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives

Your electric cooperative is more than just an energy provider for your local community.  It's part of something bigger.  As a member co-op of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, we belong to an alliance of electric co-ops across the nation made of more than 740 local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives in 46 states.  Touchstone Energy co-ops collectively deliver power and energy solutions to more than 30 million members every day. Electric cooperatives distribute power for 56 percent of the U.S. land mass over 2.4 million miles of power lines.

Electric cooperatives were established to provide electricity to rural America, and now make up the largest electric utility network in the nation. Touchstone Energy is the national brand identity for that network.

 

What Makes Our Cooperatives Different

Touchstone Energy co-ops are owned by the members they serve and are committed to providing reliable electricity at the lowest price possible. In short, co-ops “look out” for the members they serve.

Touchstone Energy co-ops provide high standards of service according to their four core values: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.

You're more than just a customer. You're a member and an owner.

All individuals or entities that use electricity from Beltrami Electric are members of the cooperative. They are entitled to participate in cooperative elections and to share in capital credits.

 

Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE)  

The primary purpose of ACRE is to provide monetary support to federal and state legislative candidates who support rural electrification. ACRE is a non-partisan political action committee that represents the interests of the nation's electric cooperatives and their member-owners. ACRE members can include electric co-op directors, managers, employees, their spouses and co-op members. The issues affecting electric cooperatives today are available on the Cooperative Action Network website.

 

 

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  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, Values
    • What is an Electric Cooperative
    • Board of Directors
    • Management Staff
    • Annual Meeting & Annual Reports
    • FAQs
    • Legal Information
    • Rates
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Your Account
  • Products & Services
  • Community
  • Energy Services
  • News/Events
  • Safety
  • Outage Center
© Copyright 2016. Beltrami Electric Cooperative | 4111 Technology Dr. NW, Bemidji, Minn, 56601

Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives is a national network of electric cooperatives across 46 states that provides resources and leverages partnerships to help member cooperatives and their employees better engage and serve their members. By working together, Touchstone Energy cooperatives stand as a source of power and information to their 32 million member-owners every day.

  • Main menu
    • About Us
      • Mission, Vision, Values
      • What is an Electric Cooperative
      • Board of Directors
        • 2019 District Meetings
        • Director Qualifications
        • Nomination Process
        • What Does it Mean to be a Director?
      • Management Staff
      • Annual Meeting & Annual Reports
      • FAQs
      • Legal Information
        • Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws
        • Nondiscrimination Statement
      • Rates
      • Employment Opportunities
    • Your Account
      • Update My Account Information
      • New Member Information
        • Beltrami Electric Member Handbook
        • Membership Application
      • Member Privacy
        • Authorized Contact Agreement
      • View/Pay Bill
        • SmartHub
      • Payment Assistance
      • Payment Options
      • Billing Information
        • Budget Billing Program
          • Budget Billing Form
        • How to read your bill
      • Capital Credits
      • Smarthub
      • Electric Heating Sales Tax Exemption Info
        • Apply for electric heating sales tax exemption
    • Products & Services
      • Sign Up for Service
        • New Electric Service Information
        • Upgrade Your Existing Electric Service
      • Transfer Your Service
      • Generlink
      • Marathon Water Heaters
      • Steffes Storage Heaters
    • Community
      • Community Room
      • Co-op Connections® Card Program
      • Indoor Garage Sale
      • Lignite Education Seminar
      • Operation Round Up
        • ORU Grant Guidelines & Application
        • Operation Round Up Q & A
        • Operation Round Up Opt-out form
      • Power Plant Tours
        • Photo Gallery
        • Power Plant Tour Registration
      • Project Green Touch
      • Scholarships
      • Touchstone Energy Open
      • Touchstone Energy Community Award
      • Youth Tour-Washington, D.C.
    • Energy Services
      • Energy Profile
      • Rebates/Incentives
      • Energy Saving Tips & Tools
        • Energy Efficiency Tips
        • Going on Vacation?
        • Energy Saving How-to Videos
        • Your Family's Energy Guide
        • Electric Heating Today
        • Fuel Cost Comparison
        • MyMeter
      • Electric Evaluations
      • Electric Heating Systems
      • Just for Kids
      • Water Heating
      • Load Management / Off-peak Heating
        • Electric Heating Sales Tax Exemption Certificate
        • Load Control Status
        • Current Status
        • Load Control Plans
      • Renewable Energy
        • Northern Solar
        • Infinity Renewable Energy
        • Distributed Generation Interconnection
      • Beneficial Electrification
      • Electric Vehicles (EVs)
      • Electrical Contractors & Inspectors
      • Value of Electricity
    • News/Events
      • Submit a Classified ad
      • Member Newsletter
      • E-Newsletter-WATTS UP!
      • News & Information
      • Utility Scams-Beware!
      • Bill Inserts
      • Cold Weather Expo
      • 75th Anniversary Member Cookbook
      • Follow us on Facebook
      • Follow us on Twitter
      • Grassroots
        • Co-ops Vote
      • Links & Resources
    • Safety
      • Right-of-Way Clearing
      • Safety Presentations
      • Surge Protection
      • Electrical Safety Articles
      • Call Before You Dig
      • Electrical Inspections
      • Generator Safety
      • Per Mar Security Services
      • Power Line Safety
    • Outage Center
      • How Power is Restored
      • How to Report an Outage
      • National Weather Service
      • Outage Map
      • Outage Preparation & Tips
      • Outage Texting
      • Why does my power blink?
      • Winter Storm Preparedness