Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative
Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative is owned by the members we serve. We serve over 13,000 farms, homes, businesses and industries in northwest Iowa - the heart of America's breadbasket.​
Our headquarters is located in Estherville, Iowa. The Cooperative has six service centers throughout our service territory, located in Estherville, Swea City, Emmetsburg, Pocahontas, Alta and Spencer.
The Cooperative owns 14 - 1.5 megawatt G.E. turbines that began generating electricity in March 2009. A 140-kW/AC, ground-mount solar system is located beside the Cooperative's headquarters. The panels began generating electricity on Oct. 3, 2016.
The Cooperative purchases wholesale electricity from generation and transmission cooperatives - Corn Belt Power Cooperative in Humboldt, Iowa and Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative in Le Mars, Iowa.​
The consolidation of Iowa's Buena Vista County REC, Pocahontas County REC, and D.E.K. REC in 1986 and the merger of Cherokee County REC in 1989 to form Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative has created a challenge by change and has succeeded with strength.
COOPERATIVE STATS
14
Person board of directors
4,735
Miles of energized line
640
Million of kilowatt-hours sold
$201
Million in total utility plant
(includes the two wind farms)
A Touchstone Energy Cooperative®
Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative®.Touchstone Energy is a national network of over 700 electric cooperatives in 46 states that provides resources and leverages partnerships to help engage with member-owners.
As a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, our core values consist of Integrity, Accountability, Innovation and Community.
Integrity
Members first. Every day. That’s the power of membership. Not for-profit electric cooperatives deliver energy to members at the cost of service, this differs from investor-owned utilities that distribute profits to investors not necessarily to those it serves.
Accountability
Electric co-ops belong to the members they serve. Decisions made benefit those in your community because co-op business is conducted through a locally elected board of directors who propose policies to be voted on by members.
Innovation
Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives offer state-of-the-art technology to better serve members with cutting-edge programs. They help co-ops forge relationships with business members through educational events, web conferences and ongoing communications.
Community
Touchstone Energy cooperatives work to improve the quality of life in their communities. They donate time, energy and resources to charities, schools and community events and take a leadership role in community development projects.