Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative

What Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative does

Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative (FMEC) is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Albert Lea, Minnesota, serving Freeborn and Mower Counties in southern Minnesota. Founded on December 8, 1936 originally as the Freeborn County Cooperative Light & Power Company to electrify rural farms under the REA program, FMEC now distributes electricity to approximately 18,405 member-owners across 21,092 account locations through 2,947 miles of electric line and 25 substations spanning 1,235 square miles. Wholesale energy is purchased exclusively from Dairyland Power Cooperative, of which FMEC is a part-owner alongside 23 other distribution cooperatives.

The cooperative's core product is regulated electric distribution service billed monthly to member-owners, with revenue mechanics structured as subscription/recurring utility rates and excess margins returned to members through Capital Credits retirements (a $837,774 general retirement approved for 2025). Member-facing technology centers on the SmartHub platform — an online portal and iOS mobile app for bill payment, account management, and outage reporting — alongside digital self-service kiosks and a web-based outage center. The product surface extends into energy services (load control programs managed through Dairyland's systems, Home Energy Audits, Farm Energy Estimator, Summer Shift seasonal rates), rebate programs (HVAC, water heaters, EV chargers, new homes, appliance recycling), and renewable energy offerings (Evergreen Program, Utility Scale Solar, interconnection information).

The business model is vertically integrated only at the distribution layer; generation and transmission are handled upstream by Dairyland. Customer segments are primarily Residential, Commercial & Industrial, and Agricultural/Farm members, with secondary community engagement through Operation Round Up (bill-round-up grants averaging ~$6/member/year), Youth Tour, scholarships, and the Member Engagement Group. FMEC is part of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives national network, a founding member of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC, est. 1969), and operates under a nine-member elected board of directors under the Seven Cooperative Principles.

Name

Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative

Website

https://fmec.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility serving approximately 18,405 member-owners across Freeborn and Mower Counties in southern Minnesota through 2,947 miles of electric line and 25 substations, with wholesale power supplied by Dairyland Power Cooperative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI)

Keywords

• Electric distribution utility
• Rural electric cooperative
• Member-owned utility
• Electric service
• Energy rebates

Headquarters

HQ city

Albert Lea

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electric Distribution Service: As a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, FMEC operates at cost to provide safe and reliable electric service to member-owners in Freeborn and Mower Counties. Revenue from electricity rates covers operational costs, and excess margins are returned to members through capital credits retirement.
2. Capital Credits: The cooperative returns allocated Capital Credits to members as a patronage refund. The Board of Directors determines annual retirement amounts based on financial position - in 2025, the Board approved a general retirement of $837,774.
3. Operation Round Up Program: Members' electric bills are automatically rounded up to the next nearest dollar with the difference (average ~$6.00 per member per year) deposited into the ORU fund to provide grants to non-profit community organizations in Freeborn and Mower Counties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative that delivers safe and reliable electric service to 18,405 member-owners across 21,092 account locations in Freeborn and Mower Counties, southern Minnesota. Electricity is purchased wholesale from Dairyland Power Cooperative and distributed through 2,947 miles of electric line and 25 substations covering 1,235 square miles. Beyond core power delivery, FMEC offers energy efficiency rebates, load control programs, renewable energy options, member account self-service via SmartHub, and community programs including Operation Round Up grants and scholarships.

Product overview

Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution utility serving Freeborn and Mower Counties in southern Minnesota with approximately 17,340 members, 21,092 account locations, and 2,947 miles of electric line across 25 substations. The cooperative operates as a not-for-profit entity providing a comprehensive suite of electricity services including power distribution, outage management, and energy programs. Its primary member-facing products include SmartHub (online account management and bill payment portal available as iOS mobile app), various rebate programs for energy efficiency upgrades, and community programs such as Operation Round Up (community grants), Youth Tour (Washington D.C. trip for high school students), and scholarship programs. Energy services encompass load control programs, energy audits, renewable energy options through the Evergreen Program, electric vehicle resources, and outdoor area lighting. The cooperative also offers service infrastructure capabilities including line clearance, vegetation management, new construction, and service upgrades through Dairyland Power Cooperative as its wholesale energy supplier.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Operation Round Up: A non-profit program administered by FMEC that provides grants to organizations in the community. Members' electric bills are automatically rounded up to the next nearest dollar amount, with the difference donated to the ORU fund to support local charitable organizations.

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 2025 general retirement of Capital Credits totaling $837,774 returned to members
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dairyland Power CooperativecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1951Dairyland Power Cooperative has supplied all of FMEC's energy needs since 1951. DPC supplies wholesale electric requirements of 24 electric distribution cooperatives and 17 municipal utilities in a four-state service area. DPC is owned by FMEC and 23 other electric distribution cooperatives.
• Touchstone Energy CooperativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouchstone Energy is a national network of electric cooperatives providing resources and partnerships to help member cooperatives better engage and serve their members. FMEC is part of the largest electric utility network in the nation serving over 40 million member-owners in 47 states.
• America's Electric Cooperatives PACminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerica's Electric Cooperatives PAC provides opportunities for co-op members to participate in the political process and raise their collective voice on legislative issues affecting electric cooperatives. No rate dollars are used - contributions are 100% voluntary.
• Heartland SecurityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHeartland Security is a service offered through the cooperative, likely providing home security monitoring services to FMEC members.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Youth TourminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe National Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour sends high school students to Washington D.C. annually to learn about America and the role electric cooperatives play in developing strong rural communities. FMEC sponsors students from their service territory for the June 15-20, 2026 tour.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dairyland Power Cooperative: Wholesale power supplier and member-owner of FMEC since 1951. Dairyland is a generation-and-transmission cooperative serving 24 distribution co-ops and 17 municipal utilities across a four-state region — directly comparable in cooperative structure, though it operates upstream in the value chain.
• Connexus Energy: Minnesota's largest electric cooperative by membership, serving the north metro and rural areas. Comparable member-owned distribution model but at significantly greater scale, providing a benchmark for FMEC's growth potential.
• Great River Energy: A generation-and-transmission cooperative serving 27 distribution co-ops in Minnesota, comparable to Dairyland's role. Provides wholesale power and services to member distribution cooperatives similar in structure to FMEC.
• Alliant Energy: Investor-owned utility serving parts of Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin with electric and natural gas service. While not a cooperative, it serves overlapping geography and provides a comparison point for electric distribution economics and rates in FMEC's region.

Direct peers

• MiEnergy Cooperative: A fellow Dairyland Power Cooperative member-owned distribution cooperative serving rural Minnesota and Iowa. Operates as a Touchstone Energy member with similar electric distribution services to member-owners in a comparable agricultural service territory.
• People's Energy Cooperative: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative in southeastern Minnesota, also part of the Dairyland Power Cooperative system and Touchstone Energy network. Directly comparable business model serving rural members with similar programs (rebates, capital credits, community grants).
• Stearns Electric Cooperative: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving central Minnesota, also a Touchstone Energy affiliate. Operates with similar member programs (capital credits, rebates, community grants) in a comparable rural service territory.
• East Central Energy: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving east-central Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Directly comparable cooperative structure, member services portfolio, and Touchstone Energy affiliation.

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: National branding and services cooperative network that FMEC belongs to, representing over 40 million member-owners across 47 states. Functions as an enabling organization providing shared marketing, branding, and operational resources to distribution co-ops like FMEC.
• National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC): Member-owned financial institution serving approximately 1,050 electric cooperatives nationwide. FMEC is a founding member since 1969 — not a direct competitor but a core capital and financing partner relevant to FMEC's funding strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FMCSCooperative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freeborn-mower-electric-coop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative