Freeborn Mower Electric Coop history

The first annual meeting was held December 8, 1937.

The first line was energized on February 26, 1938 after a wholesale power contract with Interstate Power Company had been secured.

Although FMCLPA was a young cooperative, as early as 1942, an emphasis was already being placed on educating members in the safe use of electricity, as well as conservation techniques.

Cooperative members and all employees subscribed $3,625 to the Minnesota REA Bomber Campaign by purchasing War Bonds in 1943.

To save the cooperative money, self meter-reading and self-billing with a payment booklet was introduced in July 1944.

As early as 1945, the cooperative was already educating members about evening peak loads and the costs associated with meeting increasing peak loads.

The loan would be repaid in full on August 14, 1946.

Since 1951, the cooperative has purchased all of its energy needs from Dairyland Power Cooperative.

In April 1952, the cooperative moved into a handsome headquarters building, complete with warehousing facilities.

In 1960, the cooperative’s name would be changed to Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative (FMEC). At year-end 1960, members had used a total of 1,396,018 kWh.

In 1961, the cooperative’s density was 2.9 members per mile of line, served by 29 employees.

By the end of 1962, the number of members had grown to 4,976, with the average monthly consumption of 780 kWh.

With the aid of technology, the cooperative still operates with 29 employees in 2007.