Willmar, Minn., is newest member of Missouri River Energy Services

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) Board of Directors approved an agreement April 23 granting membership to Willmar, Minn., in MRES.

MRES, headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D., is a not-for-profit joint-action agency that provides electric energy and energy-related services to its member communities in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Willmar becomes the 61^st member and the 25^th from Minnesota.

Willmar, like most MRES members, has an allocation of power from the federal government’s Western Area Power Administration, which markets electricity produced in this region at federally owned hydroelectric facilities along the Missouri River. Willmar also has contracts to purchase power from other regional utilities and owns some electrical generating facilities in the community.

In addition to the MRES membership agreement, MRES and the Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (WMMPA) approved a power sale agreement with Willmar under which Willmar will purchase from MRES all of the electricity it needs to supplement its existing purchases beginning June 1, 2019. WMMPA provides financing for and is the owner of electrical generation and transmission facilities that are used to serve MRES members. Its membership includes most of the Minnesota members of MRES.

 “We are excited to welcome Willmar to MRES,” said MRES CEO Tom Heller. “We don’t add new members often, but when we do, our goal is to make sure it is a mutually beneficial move for the new member and for our organizations and our existing members. Willmar certainly meets that goal.”

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For more information, contact Member Services and Communications Director Joni Livingston at Missouri River Energy Services, phone: 605-261-3637 or email: joni.livingston@mrenergy.com.