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100,000 milestone 71 years in the makingDakota Electric recently welcomed Todd Cao of Farmington as our 100,000 member, a milestone the small group of farmers that created Dakota Electric in 1937 probably never imagined. Although, there are many achievements, changes and struggles Some interesting things they would not have envisioned, such as having to fill labor shortages with German prisoners of war during World War II or being able to one day bury electrical lines. Most of the successes and changes would probably leave them astounded and proud. They likely never thought Dakota Electric would one day have more than 3,600 miles of line, nearly enough to go from Farmington, Minn. to Honolulu, Hawaii. Many would have also considered the technologies we depend on each day to be science fiction in 1937. For example, computers, now responsible for monitoring intricate substations, miles of lines, billing information and much more, did not enter Dakota Electric's headquarters until 1976. Like computers, many equipment advancements have helped Dakota Electric's employees and members. For nearly a decade, Dakota Electric's employees set poles manually, and until 1961, Dakota Electric did not use bucket trucks, a utility fleet staple today. As Dakota Electric becomes one of only two Minnesota electric cooperatives serving more than 100,000 members, we will continue to move ahead making changes and reaching milestones that will one day amaze current members and employees the way reaching 100,000 members would amaze our founders. |
throughout the past 71 years they probably never dreamed about.