Wright-Hennepin celebrates 88 years of Powering You Through Change and Challenge
Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association’s (WH) 2025 Annual Meeting was Thursday, April 24 at the cooperative’s headquarters in Rockford. This year’s meeting theme, “Powering You Through Change and Challenge,” centered on how WH plans to meet members’ electric needs amid increased stress on affordability and reliability.
Posted by Lauren Dublin on April 29, 2025
Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association’s (WH) 2025 Annual Meeting was Thursday, April 24 at the cooperative’s headquarters in Rockford. This year’s meeting theme, “Powering You Through Change and Challenge,” centered on how WH plans to meet members’ electric needs amid increased stress on affordability and reliability.
Attendees enjoyed more than 1,700 complimentary pork chop dinners prior to the business meeting, held from 7-8 p.m. Informational booths provided details on power quality and reliability, WH Holding businesses, and WH rebates and Energy-Saving Programs, as well as the opportunity to win gift card prizes. Attendees also enjoyed bingo games prior to the business meeting.
More than 750 registered members attended the Annual Meeting, and those who stayed through the meeting received a free pound of butter. Shannon Mattson of Rockford won the grand prize 2013 Ford F-150 extended cab retired from WH’s fleet.
Almost 70 children ages 4-10 checked into the children’s room to enjoy crafts and games hosted by the Rockford FFA chapter.
1,485 members voted in this year’s Director election for Districts 4, 6, and 8. Richard Dehmer was elected to represent District 4, and incumbents Michael Tieva, District 6, and Mark Skinner, District 8, were re-elected.
WH President and CEO Tim Sullivan illustrated how WH is managing the major changes shaping and challenging the delivery of safe, reliable, affordable and increasingly clean electricity to members. Sullivan highlighted WH’s unique diversified power supply mix, upcoming infrastructure construction and updates, and the cooperative’s work with a broad group of allies advocating for consumer-friendly energy policies at a state and national level.
“The bottom line is that safe, reliable, affordable, increasingly clean electricity is essential to American life,” said Sullivan.
Other speakers included WH Chief Financial Officer Susan Sorensen, WH Board Chair Erick Heinz, and WH Holding Board Chair John Reynolds.
The 2024 NRECA Youth Tour delegate Nick Olson of Annandale was also featured in a video recounting his Washington, D.C. experience. The Youth Tour brings together more than 1,800 high schoolers from around the country each summer. Attendees spend a week visiting historical sites, building friendships, and enjoying outstanding opportunities to meet with Minnesota’s national political representatives.
WH also recognized various organizations that received donations from members through Operation Round Up. Almost 90% of WH members are ORU participants, allowing their electric bills to be rounded up to the next dollar. The rounded amount is then used for donations supporting local programs. Members have donated over $5.4 million since the program began in 1994.
Both videos, as well as a full recording of the Annual Meeting, can be found on WH’s YouTube channel.
Read a recap and find all prize winners.
