Smart Choices Energy Efficiency Newsletter

The fifth cooperative principle: Education, Training, and Information, highlights how ongoing learning and clear communication help strengthen the cooperative and keep members informed, engaged, and connected.

Harvest season brings long hours and large equipment into the field, making electrical safety especially important. Prevent injuries, outages, and accidents by staying aware of power lines, maintaining safe clearance, and knowing what to do if equipment comes into contact with power lines.

It’s easy to become complacent about the weather, but severe weather claims hundreds of lives each year. Prepare and be aware to keep you and your family safe.

Explore how local control helps your cooperative stay focused on community needs while making investments that strengthen reliability for the future.

Back-to-school routines can also be energy-saving routines, as simple habits like adjusting the thermostat, turning off lights and devices, and sealing air leaks help families cut waste and lower household costs.

Damaging underground utility lines can cause service interruptions, injuries, and even death. Call 811 before digging or excavating.

This Independence Day, declare your freedom from energy-wasters that may be draining your wallet!

In July, Smart Choices focuses on the third Cooperative Principle: Members’ Economic Participation.

Recognize the signs of a hidden danger that could be lurking in lakes and other water sources: electric shock drowning (ESD).

This article was originally published in the April 2026 Special Edition of North West REC's newsletter and was written by CEO/General Manager Lyle Korver. Over the course of the last couple years, we have been providing regular updates regarding our increasing purchased power costs. We often report that approximately eighty percent (80%) of our operating expenses are what we pay for wholesale purchased power. This power is a blend of hydro, coal, wind, natural gas, solar and

Iowa’s electric cooperatives encourage members to participate in the statewide Shine the Light contest in June to celebrate and recognize local volunteers.

Your household may be home to potential safety hazards that put you and your family at risk. Take steps to identify these hazards and keep your family safe.