LA CROSSE, WI—Dairyland Power Cooperative’s 2026 Annual Meeting was held today at the La Crosse Center. Mark Kingland, Chair of the Board and Director representing Heartland Power Cooperative, presided over the meeting.
The theme of the meeting was Building the Bridge: Past to Present to Future, reflective of how Dairyland is building on its 85-year legacy to navigate the current energy landscape while investing in a resilient future. It represents Dairyland’s commitment to delivering safe, reliable and cost-effective electricity to its members – guided by the Strategic Priorities of Safe Outcomes, Financial Strength, Organizational Development, Reliability, Member Satisfaction and Environmental Stewardship.
Dairyland President and CEO Brent Ridge highlighted Dairyland’s strong trajectory under Board guidance. “From sustained safety performance improvements to rate stability, generational infrastructure projects and strategic asset optimization, Dairyland will continue to build on this year’s successes while advocating for the communities we serve.”
Ridge underscored that long-term planning, cost discipline and innovation will enable Dairyland to meet obligations in its four-state service territory as the cooperative nears its centennial milestone. “Sustainability as a critical services provider requires a steadfast focus on safety and accountability, with a growth mindset.”
North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) Senior Vice President, Strategy and External Engagement, Camilo Serna provided the keynote address and Reliability Outlook. “The pace of change across the electric grid is accelerating and complexity is increasing, and with that comes new reliability and security risks,” said Serna. “Ensuring dependable service across the Upper Midwest and the grid as a whole will require proactive planning and investment to safeguard reliability.”
Dairyland Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (EVP & CFO) April Wehling provided a 2025 Financial Report: “Dairyland Power Cooperative continues to uphold its Vision as a premier member-driven cooperative. Maintaining top-quartile wholesale rate competitiveness remains a core strategy set by our Board of Directors. Total margins for the year were $25.3 million, which reflects stable financial performance in a dynamic market environment.
“As of 2025, Dairyland’s member equity represents 22.7% of total assets. This strong equity position places us solidly within the range of “A” rated Generation and Transmission Cooperatives, ensuring continued financial stability and member confidence. “Dairyland’s commitment to returning value to our members remains steadfast. In 2025, our Board of Directors approved capital credit retirements totaling $5.7 million, continuing our legacy of delivering tangible benefits to our Class A member cooperatives and reflecting one of the core advantages of the cooperative business model. Since our founding, Dairyland has returned $165.8 million in capital credits to our members.
“Dairyland continues to maintain strong credit ratings. Standard & Poor’s rates Dairyland at ‘A+’ with a stable outlook. Moody’s rates Dairyland at ‘A3’ with a positive outlook—a notable improvement from the previous ‘stable’ outlook. These ratings reflect confidence in our financial strength and strategic direction,” said Wehling.
The Annual Meeting, which was live-streamed for employees and members who were unable to attend, included a Q&A session with Executive Team members, recognition of award recipients and an Energy Expo with educational booths.
About Dairyland Power Cooperative:
Headquartered in La Crosse, Wis., Dairyland provides the wholesale electrical requirements for 24 distribution cooperatives and 27 municipal utilities. These cooperatives and municipals, in turn, supply the energy needs of approximately 800,000 people in the four-state service area. Dairyland delivers electricity over 3,700 miles of transmission lines and 400 distribution substations located throughout the system’s 44,500 square mile service area. Visit www.DairylandPower.com.
