What Great Lakes Energy does

Great Lakes Energy is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative headquartered in Boyne City, Michigan, founded in 1937 and serving more than 130,000 meters across 26 counties in western and northern Michigan. It is the largest member-owned power company in Michigan and the third-largest Michigan-based electric utility, operating one of the nation's largest distribution footprints at more than 8,500 miles of overhead and underground power line. The cooperative serves residential, commercial and industrial, and agricultural members through regulated electricity distribution, with member-elected governance and annual capital credit allocations returning margins to members rather than outside shareholders.

Core technology is built around owned distribution infrastructure, advanced Sensus cellular smart meters (deployed since 2022) that record 15-minute interval data and transmit hourly with AES-256 encryption, and a member-facing digital platform anchored by the SmartHub web portal and a native mobile application supporting bill payment, outage reporting, energy usage monitoring, and push notifications. A four-stage automated outage notification system (reported, verified, crew dispatched, restored) and a 2024-launched consumer analytics dashboard layer onto this stack. The Truestream sub-brand extends GLE infrastructure into rural fiber internet and voice services.

The revenue model is a regulated subscription: monthly fixed charges cover operations, maintenance, support, capital costs, and margins, with energy charges per kWh and Power Supply Cost Recovery (PSCR) adjustments for fuel cost fluctuations. C&I members pay demand-based rates. One-time installation fees, community solar subscriptions (SpartanSolar at $0.10/kWh credit), net metering ($0.056/kWh), Buy-All/Sell-All and Large Renewable programs ($0.065/kWh and LMP respectively), and a $150/$50 monthly smart meter opt-out fee contribute adjacent revenue. A November 2025 rate adjustment is recovering an estimated $155 million in March 2025 ice storm damage and rising supply costs, with FEMA Category F funding approved in March 2026 to offset eligible recovery outlays.

Name

Great Lakes Energy

Legal name

Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

Website

https://gtlakes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Great Lakes Energy is a member-owned electric cooperative headquartered in Boyne City, Michigan, delivering regulated electricity distribution and Truestream fiber internet to more than 130,000 meters across 26 western and northern Michigan counties through over 8,500 miles of owned power line infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Electric Cooperative

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric & Other Services Combined (4931)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)

Keywords

• Electric utility services
• Rural electric cooperative
• Electricity distribution
• Fiber internet service
• Energy efficiency rebates

Headquarters

HQ city

Boyne City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electric Power Distribution Services: GLE generates revenue through electricity distribution services to residential, commercial, and industrial members across 26 Michigan counties. The cooperative operates as a not-for-profit entity where revenues exceeding costs are allocated back to members as capital credits rather than distributed to shareholders. Revenue comes from monthly base rates, energy charges (per kWh), and fixed monthly charges covering operations, maintenance, and capital costs.
2. Commercial & Industrial Services: Specialized electric service offerings for commercial and industrial members with demand charges and custom service arrangements. C&I members have unique needs and receive dedicated account management.
3. New Service Installation Fees: Fees for new service installations including underground service at $11.50 per foot for residential (up to 800 feet), temporary service fees ($525-$775 flat rates), and various construction-related charges.
4. Community Solar Subscriptions: Revenue from SpartanSolar community solar array subscriptions where members purchase panel subscriptions for 15 years at $600/panel upfront or $10/month for 5 years, receiving solar credits on their bills.
5. Smart Meter Non-Communicating Opt-Out Fees: Members who opt out of smart meter cellular communication pay a one-time $150 setup fee plus $50 monthly for manual meter reading.
6. Energy Wise Rebates: While rebates are a cost to GLE, they incentivize energy efficiency purchases that increase member engagement and long-term consumption optimization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Great Lakes Energy is a member-owned electric cooperative that distributes electricity to more than 130,000 meters across 26 counties in western and northern Michigan, operating over 8,500 miles of power lines. The cooperative also provides high-speed fiber internet and voice services through its Truestream brand, offers member renewable energy programs (community solar, net metering, buy-all/sell-all), and runs the Energy Wise rebate program for energy-efficient equipment. Members receive capital credits from margins and benefit from community programs including the People Fund grants and economic development loans.

Product overview

Great Lakes Energy is a member-owned electric cooperative serving over 130,000 meters across 26 counties in Michigan. The core offering is electricity distribution and service, paired with Truestream fiber internet as a subsidiary communications brand. The company provides integrated member services including SmartHub online account and GLE mobile app for account management, bill payment (FlexPay, Auto Pay, Budget Billing), and energy usage monitoring. Energy Wise is a comprehensive rebate program for energy efficiency upgrades. Renewable energy options include Community Solar (SpartanSolar), Distributed Renewable Energy (net metering), Buy-All/Sell-All, and Large Renewable Energy programs. Community engagement programs include People Fund grants, GLE Next leadership education, and safety demonstrations. Infrastructure includes Sensus smart meters with cellular communication enabling automatic outage detection and consumer analytics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Truestream: High-speed fiber internet and voice services provided to GLE members in rural western Michigan.
• Truestream Fiber Internet

Products and services

• Great Lakes Energy Electric Distribution Service

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 50% of electricity delivered is carbon-free
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Wolverine Power CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLE purchases all of its power from Wolverine Power Cooperative in Cadillac, MI. Wolverine is a generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative owned by several other distribution cooperatives like GLE in Michigan. This is the core power supply partnership for the entire cooperative.
• TrueNorth Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Pathways Program, which helps members struggling with energy bills. TrueNorth provides Self-Sufficiency Coaches who help members with energy management practices and bridge financial gaps toward self-sufficiency.
• Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGLE depends on NLEA's expertise to ensure loan applications meet program guidelines and are professionally presented. Applicants are required to retain NLEA's professional economic development loan services at their expense. Contact: Dave Kronberg, NLEA Director of Business Growth.
• Michigan Electric Cooperative Association (MECA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMECA partners with GLE on Youth Tour to Washington D.C., covering travel, lodging, and program costs for selected students. MECA also provides the Amazon Marketplace for energy-efficient products through the Energy Wise program.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerNRECA partners with GLE on Youth Tour to Washington D.C. Along with MECA and GLE, NRECA covers travel, lodging, and program costs. NRECA also supports cooperative advocacy efforts.
• Ameren IllinoisminorOthersReferenced as a partner utility for safety information resources through www.safeelectricity.org.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cherryland Electric Cooperative: Member-owned electric cooperative serving Michigan's northern lower peninsula with a similar rural distribution model, residential/commercial/agricultural member base, and recurring regulated revenue structure that closely mirrors Great Lakes Energy.
• HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative: Michigan-based electric cooperative serving a multi-county rural service territory with a comparable cooperative governance model, member programs, and electric distribution focus—an apples-to-apples structural peer for Great Lakes Energy.
• Midwest Energy & Communications: Member-owned cooperative operating electric distribution and broadband (direct fiber) services across southwest Michigan and northern Indiana, providing a near-perfect direct peer in terms of dual utility/broadband offerings and cooperative structure.
• Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op: Michigan electric and gas cooperative explicitly named in Great Lakes Energy's March 2025 ice storm response, with similar northern Michigan service terrain and severe weather exposure—directly comparable in storm resilience and recovery operations.
• Connexus Energy: One of the largest member-owned electric cooperatives in the U.S. (Minnesota-based), serving over 145,000 members with a similar regulated distribution model, capital credit structure, and growing broadband/product diversification—an excellent scale benchmark for GLE.

Broad incumbents

• Consumers Energy: Michigan's largest investor-owned electric and natural gas utility, serving more than 6.8 million customers across the Lower Peninsula. Overlaps geographically with GLE's territory and competes for large commercial/industrial accounts while operating at a vastly larger scale under traditional IOU economics.
• DTE Energy: Major Michigan investor-owned utility with regulated electric distribution and a renewable energy portfolio across the state. While operating a broader portfolio than the rural cooperative model, DTE is a primary comparability anchor for Michigan electric distribution rates and infrastructure benchmarks.
• ITC Holdings (ITC Michigan): Michigan's largest independent electricity transmission company, owning and operating high-voltage transmission infrastructure that interfaces with distribution cooperatives like GLE. Relevant as the upstream network operator and infrastructure benchmark for GLE's distribution economics.

Others

• Wolverine Power Cooperative: Generation-and-transmission (G&T) cooperative in Cadillac, Michigan, supplying GLE with 100% of its wholesale power under a long-standing partnership. Not a competitor but a critical upstream supplier whose energy mix and PSCR costs directly shape GLE's rates.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA): National trade association for America's electric cooperatives, explicitly named as a partner for Youth Tour and advocacy with GLE. Not a competitor but a peer ecosystem participant that shapes federal policy, financing access, and cooperative governance standards relevant to GLE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@greatlakesenergy/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/greatlakesenergy
• Instagraminstagram.com/greatlakesenergymi
• Xx.com/glecooperative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-lakes-energy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Great Lakes Energy