All incumbents re-elected
(FARMINGTON, MN) April 24, 2026 – Dakota Electric Association® members gathered on April 23 at the cooperative’s headquarters in Farmington for the annual meeting, receiving updates on the cooperative’s financial health, system planning, future growth and other key topics.
During the meeting, members and guests heard reports from the Board of Directors and senior leadership on key issues facing the cooperative, including electric rates, long-term facility needs, projected load growth, and power supply planning.
Board Chair Paul Bakken, Board Treasurer Cyndee Fields, and CEO Ryan Hentges each provided updates on the state of the cooperative and outlined how Dakota Electric is positioning itself to reliably and affordably meet member needs in the years ahead.
“As we navigate a changing energy landscape, Dakota Electric is not only adapting to change, we are helping lead it,” said Bakken. “By focusing on member satisfaction, operational resilience, cost efficiency and innovation, we are building a strong foundation for the future.”
In addition to business updates, the cooperative highlighted upcoming opportunities for member engagement. Dakota Electric’s annual Member Appreciation Event will take place Tuesday, July 21 at the Minnesota Zoo and is free for members and their immediate families.
The meeting concluded with the announcement of the Board of Directors election results. The following candidates were elected to serve on the Board, with newly elected and re‑elected directors noted in bold:
District 1 (three-year term)
John (Jack) DeYoe (incumbent) (3,058 votes of total votes for 48.5%)
Laurie (Rieb) Bolin (1,566 votes of total votes for 24.8%)
Jeff Nelson (1,681 votes of total votes for 26.7%)
District 2 (three-year term)
Bill Middlecamp (incumbent) (3,624 votes of total votes for 57.3%)
Roberta Oveson (2,705 votes of total votes for 42.7%)
District 3 (three-year term)
Margaret D. Schreiner (incumbent) (5,596 votes of total votes for 100%)
District 4 (three-year term)
Paul Bakken (incumbent) (5,626 votes of total votes for 100%)
There were 107,974 eligible voters. The ballots received totaled 5,036 paper ballots, 1,393 electronic ballots, and three onsite ballots, with a total ballot return of 6,432, or 5.96% of eligible voters. Survey & Ballot Systems, an independent third party, distributed and certified the ballots.
Annual Meeting reports are available online for members who were unable to attend. They can be found at https://www.dakotaelectric.com/about-us/annual-meeting-election.
About Dakota Electric Association:
Dakota Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 118,000 members in and around Dakota County. Established in 1937, Dakota Electric is committed to providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to its members while actively engaging with the community and promoting energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.dakotaelectric.com or follow Dakota Electric on X, Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
