Agralite Electric Cooperative

What Agralite Electric Cooperative does

Agralite Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving residential, agricultural, and commercial members across Big Stone, Pope, Stevens, and Swift counties in west central Minnesota. Founded in 1938 and headquartered at 320 East Highway 12 in Benson, MN, the cooperative operates its own distribution infrastructure — substations, lines, and transformers — purchasing wholesale power from Basin Electric Power Cooperative, which supplies more than 130 cooperatives across nine states. Approximately 11-50 employees operate the utility, which serves a defined rural franchise territory under member democratic governance with capital credits returned to members rather than profits distributed to outside shareholders.

The cooperative's operational backbone is an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system that enables two-way wireless communication between each member meter and co-op systems, similar to cellular networks. Every meter independently communicates with the cooperative's outage and mapping software, allowing pinpoint outage detection and proactive response. AMI captures granular consumption telemetry — electronic kWh readings, time-stamped usage, peak demand, backwards rotation detection, blink counts, and power-loss durations. Members interact through the SmartHub web and mobile portal for bill payment, usage tracking, paperless billing, and automatic payments, with outage reports also handled through the Cooperative Response Center after business hours.

Agralite generates the majority of revenue through usage-based electricity distribution with rate classes segmented across residential, agricultural (with special rates for backup generators and load-management participants), and commercial/industrial accounts. Ancillary revenue streams include Community Solar panel purchases at $913.25 per panel (one-time), Renewable Energy Credit subscriptions at $1/MWh, LED security light leasing at $8.36/month plus energy charges, Marathon water heater sales, and energy-efficiency rebate programs for heat pumps, water heaters, and EV chargers. The cooperative is affiliated with the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives national brand and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) for shared marketing, training, and advocacy, and operates community programs including Operation Round Up (over $500,000 contributed since 1993), eight annual $2,000 scholarships, the Youth Tour to Washington D.C., and the MN Twins Youth Baseball Clinic.

Name

Agralite Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Agralite Electric Cooperative

Website

https://agralite.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Agralite Electric Cooperative is a member-owned rural electric distribution utility serving residential, agricultural, and commercial members across four counties in west central Minnesota via owned infrastructure, AMI metering, and demand-side programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI), Demand Response & Load Flexibility Services (EUAMAJAF), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD), Interconnection, Permitting & Grid Services for DERs (EUAMAJAH)

Keywords

• Rural electric distribution
• Electric cooperative services
• Member-owned utility
• Energy efficiency rebates
• Community solar programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Benson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Electricity Distribution Services: Agralite provides electricity distribution to member-owners in Big Stone, Pope, Stevens, and Swift counties in Minnesota. Members pay for electricity based on consumption and applicable rate structures, including demand charges for some accounts.
2. Membership Fees and Deposits: New members pay a $300 security deposit which earns interest and is returned after 12 months of timely payments. Membership application fees may apply.
3. Security Light Leasing: Monthly leasing and maintenance fee for LED security lights at $8.36 per month plus energy charges.
4. Community Solar Panel Purchases: Members purchase shares of solar panel output at $913.25 per panel, receiving monthly energy credits on their bills. Participants do not own panels but receive credits based on their portion of system production.
5. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs): Members can purchase RECs at $1 per MWh to offset their electricity usage with renewable energy. For example, a member using 1200 kWh per month would pay $1.20 plus tax monthly.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Agralite Electric Cooperative distributes electricity to member-owners across Big Stone, Pope, Stevens, and Swift counties in west central Minnesota. The cooperative supports its core electric service with AMI smart metering, load management programs, community solar panel shares, renewable energy credits, energy efficiency rebates, security lighting, and member services through the SmartHub online platform. It operates under the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives brand and is supplied wholesale power by Basin Electric Power Cooperative.

Product overview

Agralite Electric Cooperative is a member-owned rural electric utility providing electricity distribution to Big Stone, Pope, Stevens, and Swift counties in Minnesota. The cooperative offers a unified suite of products centered on its core electric service, augmented by technology-enabled platforms (SmartHub for member services, AMI Metering for grid automation) and demand management modules (Load Management, Storage Heat, Water Heating, Security Lights). Renewable energy options include Community Solar panel shares and Renewable Energy Credit purchases. The cooperative also operates community programs through Operation Round Up charitable grants and post-secondary scholarship programs. All services are delivered through Touchstone Energy Cooperatives affiliation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Service
• AMI Metering (Advanced Metering Infrastructure)
• SmartHub
• Community Solar
• Renewable Energy Credit (REC) Program
• Security Lights
• Load Management
• Water Heating
• Storage Heat
• Generator Programs
• Energy Efficiency Rebates

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $500,000 contributed to community organizations since 1993
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Touchstone Energy CooperativescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational brand partnership of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. Agralite displays Touchstone branding and participates in national energy efficiency campaigns like TogetherWeSave.com and Touchstone Energy TV.
• Basin Electric Power CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholesale power supplier providing electricity to over 130 member cooperatives in nine states. Agralite receives power from Basin Electric facilities including Antelope Valley Power Station. Also administers $2,500 scholarship program for Agralite members.
• Great River EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationLoad management control services provider. Controls water heating and other loads to manage wholesale power costs forAgralite members.
• Prairie 5 CACminorOthersCommunity Action Council serving Pope and Stevens counties for energy assistance programs under Minnesota Cold Weather Rule.
• West Central CACminorOthersCommunity Action Council for energy assistance referrals for members in the service area.
• Heartland CACminorOthersCommunity Action Council providing energy assistance referrals in the service area.
• NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational trade association representing cooperative utilities. Provides advocacy, education, and legislative support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MiEnergy Cooperative: Touchstone Energy-affiliated member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa, also supplied through Basin Electric. Highly comparable rural co-op with similar AMI, load management, and community solar offerings.
• Stearns Electric Association: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Melrose, Minnesota, also part of the Touchstone Energy network. Comparable size and central-Minnesota rural service territory with AMI metering and load management programs.
• Runestone Electric Association: Touchstone Energy cooperative serving west central Minnesota including parts of Douglas, Grant, and Traverse counties adjacent to Agralite's territory. Similar member base of farms and small towns, with comparable AMI and rebate programs.
• Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association: Member-owned electric cooperative serving Meeker and McLeod counties in central Minnesota under the Touchstone Energy brand. Similar structure, scale, and product set including AMI, load management, and rebates.

Broad incumbents

• Basin Electric Power Cooperative: Wholesale generation and transmission cooperative supplying power to 130+ member co-ops across nine states including Agralite. Not a direct competitor but a key counterparty and structural peer within the cooperative utility ecosystem.
• Great River Energy: Minnesota generation and transmission cooperative providing load management control services to Agralite and dozens of other distribution co-ops. Functions as both a wholesale supplier and operating partner in Agralite's load management program.

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: National cooperative brand network of which Agralite is a member, providing shared marketing, TogetherWeSave energy efficiency campaigns, and cooperative branding. Functions as a peer network / industry association rather than a competitor.
• NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association): National trade association representing electric cooperatives including Agralite, providing advocacy, education, and shared services. Industry peer representing the broader cooperative utility ecosystem Agralite belongs to.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/agralite
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agralite-electric-cooperative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Agralite Electric Cooperative