Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative

What Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative does

Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative (IEA), founded in 2007 and headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota, is a member-owned cooperative of cooperatives that delivers shared management and administrative services to four rural electric distribution cooperatives in North Dakota: KEM Electric, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric, Roughrider Electric, and Slope Electric. Collectively, these member cooperatives serve approximately 18,000+ meters across rural North Dakota counties. IEA's own operating model is structured as a cost-sharing alliance rather than a traditional fee-for-service provider; the cooperative estimates annual savings of at least $1.5 million for member cooperatives through pooled resources, and operates under a sales-led, direct-distribution model with no external customer acquisition.

The organization delivers a unified suite of eight functional service offerings to its members: Employee Services (recruitment, benefits, performance management), Engineering Services (system planning, environmental reviews, transmission and substation design, GIS), Finance and Accounting Services (budgets, payroll, revenue/expense management), Information Technology Services (system supervision, data security, network management), Managerial Services (leadership and strategic planning), Member Support and Communication Services, Regulatory and Legal Services (compliance across accounting, engineering, federal loans, insurance, legal, and safety), and Safety and Security Services (training, emergency preparedness, compliance). Beyond in-house services, IEA operates three jointly-controlled subsidiary partnerships: 3C Construction (cable plowing, pole change-outs, cut-overs, terminations), Maintenance Solutions Cooperative or MSC (substation metering systems design, installation, and verification), and West Dakota Diesel and Hydraulics (vehicle maintenance, hydraulic hose repair, DOT inspection certifications). No proprietary technology platforms or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed; technology consists of standard IT infrastructure, network management, and GIS tools supporting cooperative operations.

IEA is governed by an eight-member Board of Directors (two representatives per member cooperative), transitioned from LLC to cooperative status in November 2016, and operates from offices in Bismarck and Dickinson, North Dakota. The leadership team comprises Co-General Managers/CEOs Travis Kupper and Jason Bentz (the latter joined January 2023), CFO Alex Craigmile, Chief of Staff and General Counsel Andrew Fergel, CIO Charlie Dunbar, and department-level managers overseeing engineering, member support, and other functions. Go-to-market is relationship-driven and limited to member engagement; outreach occurs via the cooperative's website (iea.coop), Facebook presence, and direct member communications, with no third-party distribution or external sales channels. The organization has no external funding rounds, is privately held under cooperative ownership, and does not publicly disclose revenue.

Name

Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative

Legal name

Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative

Website

https://iea.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative is a member-owned cooperative of cooperatives providing shared management, engineering, finance, IT, regulatory, and operational services to four rural electric distribution cooperatives in North Dakota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Electric Cooperative Shared Services

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Cooperative management services
• Shared services cooperative
• Rural electric distribution
• Utility administrative services
• Engineering compliance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bismarck

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Member Cooperative Services: IEA provides shared management and administrative services to its four member-owned electric cooperatives. The cooperative model enables cost-sharing, with member cooperatives pooling resources to access services including engineering, finance, IT, HR, regulatory compliance, and safety. The organization estimates annual savings of at least $1.5 million through the alliance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative is a cooperative of cooperatives that provides shared management, administrative, and operational services to four member-owned electric distribution cooperatives in North Dakota. Services span employee services, engineering, finance and accounting, information technology, managerial leadership, member support and communication, regulatory and legal compliance, and safety and security. Through jointly controlled subsidiaries, it also delivers construction, substation metering/maintenance, and equipment repair services to its members.

Product overview

Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative is an energy services cooperative that provides shared management, operational, and support services to four member electric cooperatives (KEM Electric, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric, Roughrider Electric, and Slope Electric). The organization offers a unified suite of service offerings including Employee Services, Engineering Services, Finance & Accounting Services, Information Technology Services, Managerial Services, Member Support & Communication Services, Regulatory & Legal Services, and Safety & Security Services. Through subsidiary partnerships with 3C Construction, Maintenance Solutions Cooperative, and West Dakota Diesel and Hydraulics, IEA delivers construction, substation maintenance, metering, and equipment repair services to its member cooperatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Employee Services Recruitment, employee performance management, benefits and wellness programs, and policy and procedure maintenance for member cooperatives.
• Engineering Services System planning, environmental reviews, transmission and substation design, construction coordination, and GIS services for member cooperatives.
• Finance & Accounting Services Financial overviews, budget preparation and review, revenue and expense management, payroll processing, and invoice preparation for member cooperatives.
• Information Technology Services System supervision and maintenance, data security and protection, technology coordination, IT support, and network management for member cooperatives.
• Managerial Services Leadership, strategic planning support, and management of cooperative operations as the face and voice of the cooperative for employees and member-owners.
• Member Support & Communication Services Member engagement, information sharing, support services, feedback collection, and community building among member cooperatives.
• Regulatory & Legal Services Compliance guidance in accounting, engineering, federal loans, information technology, insurance, legal, and safety domains for member cooperatives.
• Safety & Security Services Safety training programs, safety materials and equipment, security measures, emergency preparedness planning, and safety compliance for member cooperatives.
• 3C Construction Cooperative-owned construction business providing infrastructure services including cable plowing, pole change-outs, cut-overs, and terminations for member cooperatives. Operates from Dickinson and Bismarck.
• Maintenance Solutions Cooperative (MSC) Provides substation maintenance, metering systems design and installation, and meter verification services (with five technicians) for member cooperatives.
• West Dakota Diesel and Hydraulics Provides hydraulic hose repairs, utility equipment maintenance, and Department of Transportation inspection certifications for member cooperatives. Operates as an independent repair shop with certified technicians.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual savings of at least $1.5 million through cooperative resource-sharing
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• 3C ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007A cooperative-owned business committed to enhancing infrastructure across the four member cooperatives. Provides skilled linemen services including cable plowing, pole change-outs, cut-overs, and terminations. Located in Dickinson and Bismarck with operational bases supporting cooperative projects and external work.
• Maintenance Solutions Cooperative (MSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Provides comprehensive maintenance and technical solutions for member cooperatives including building and maintaining metering systems within substations. Offers substation metering systems design, installation, and ongoing maintenance, plus meter verification services with five technicians.
• West Dakota Diesel and Hydraulics (formerly West Dakota Utility Services)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007A business owned by the four member cooperatives providing vehicle and equipment maintenance services. Started to support cooperatives with bucket trucks and utility equipment, now evolved into an independent repair shop with certified technicians specializing in hydraulic hose repairs and DOT inspection certifications.
• Basin Electric Power CooperativecoreOthersPower supplier for member cooperatives KEM Electric, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric, Roughrider Electric, and Slope Electric Cooperatives.
• Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)coreOthersFederal power marketing administration within the U.S. Department of Energy that markets and transmits wholesale energy. Primary transmission operator for electric cooperatives in the region, serving 15-state area.
• Upper Missouri Power CooperativecoreOthersPower purchasing cooperative in Sidney, Montana through which member cooperatives KEM Electric, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric, Roughrider Electric, and Slope Electric purchase power.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• East River Electric Power Cooperative: A South Dakota-based G&T cooperative providing wholesale power and shared services to member distribution cooperatives. Operates a similar shared-services/G&T hybrid model serving rural distribution co-ops in an adjacent state.
• National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC): A member-owned cooperative providing IT, software, and business solutions to electric cooperatives and other utilities. Closely comparable shared-services cooperative business model serving the same utility customer base.
• Upper Missouri Power Cooperative: A power-purchasing cooperative through which IEA's member cooperatives buy wholesale power. Operates as a tier-2 cooperative serving distribution members, structurally similar to IEA's shared-services role.
• Cooperative Response Center (CRC): A member-owned cooperative providing 24/7 customer service, outage management, and dispatch services to electric cooperatives. Operates a shared-services cooperative model serving a similar rural distribution utility customer base.
• Minnkota Power Cooperative: A regional generation and transmission cooperative serving distribution members across North Dakota and Minnesota. Comparable cooperative-of-cooperatives structure serving rural electric distribution utilities.
• Basin Electric Power Cooperative: A generation and transmission cooperative serving as the primary wholesale power supplier for IEA's member distribution cooperatives. Operates the same cooperative business model upstream in the electric utility value chain.
• Great River Energy: A Minnesota-based generation and transmission cooperative providing wholesale power and shared services to member distribution cooperatives. Operates as a comparable upstream cooperative in the regional electric utility ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Touchstone Energy Cooperative: A national brand network and service organization for electric cooperatives across the US. IEA's website is co-branded with Touchstone Energy, indicating direct affiliation as a member of the broader cooperative ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/iea.coop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovative-energy-alliance-cooperative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative