Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light & Power Association
A member-owned rural electric cooperative providing affordable, safe and reliable electricity and related energy services to members in Minnesota.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light & Power Association (commonly shortened to Minnesota Valley REC) is a member-owned rural electric cooperative based in Montevideo, Minnesota, in the United States. Its stated main purpose is to provide affordable, safe and reliable electricity to its members, and it describes itself as a member-owned rural electric cooperative that also offers many other programs and services to its members. The cooperative operates a local distribution utility serving rural areas of Minnesota, with a service area map, outage reporting, and a call-before-you-dig process for members planning new construction or excavation. Beyond basic electricity distribution, Minnesota Valley REC offers a range of member services. These include heating and cooling systems, energy improvements, electrical services, distributed generation information, Prairie Winds renewable pricing, and standby generators. The co-op also provides billing and rate information, online payment options, loan applications, and various member forms. It maintains an office in Montevideo at 501 S 1st St, P.O. Box 248, and can be reached by phone at 320.269.2163 or 800.247.5051, or by email at mnvalley@mnvalleyrec.com. The cooperative communicates with its members through newsletters and reports, a current newsletter, and a website that includes sections on member services, operations, billing and rates, and co-op governance. It publishes information about employees and board members, safety tips, and its Operation Round Up program, which is a common charitable fundraising mechanism among electric cooperatives. It also posts its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, a Statement of Non-Discrimination, and a privacy policy. In recent years the co-op has modernized its member-facing systems. It adopted SmartHub for online billing and account management, allowing members to pay bills, set up recurring payments, view and compare usage history, store payment methods, and receive email or text alerts. It also launched a Minnesota Valley Cooperative mobile app. The co-op publishes annual rate updates, including 2025 rates and new rates for 2026, and runs community-oriented programs such as the Minnesota Valley Youth Tour and a Minnesota Valley/Basin Electric Scholarship. As a rural electric cooperative, Minnesota Valley REC is owned by its members rather than by public shareholders, and it is governed by a board of directors elected from among the membership. Its operations are focused on the rural communities within its Minnesota service territory, and its activities are typical of a distribution cooperative: maintaining power lines, connecting new services, managing outages, and promoting energy efficiency and renewable options for its member-owners.
History
Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light & Power Association is a rural electric cooperative in Minnesota, United States. Like many rural electric cooperatives, it was formed to bring electricity to rural areas that were not served by investor-owned utilities. The cooperative is member-owned, meaning its customers are also its owners, and it is governed by a board of directors drawn from the membership. Its office is located in Montevideo, Minnesota, at 501 S 1st St, P.O. Box 248. The cooperative's core business is the distribution of electricity to its members. Over time it has expanded its offerings beyond basic power delivery to include heating and cooling systems, energy improvements, electrical services, distributed generation information, Prairie Winds renewable pricing, and standby generators. It also provides billing and rate information, online payment options, loan applications, and various member forms. The co-op maintains a service area map and provides outage reporting and a call-before-you-dig process for members planning new construction or excavation. In recent years, Minnesota Valley REC has modernized its member-facing systems. It adopted SmartHub for online billing and account management, which allows members to pay bills, set up recurring payments, view and compare usage history, store payment methods, and receive email or text alerts. It also launched a Minnesota Valley Cooperative mobile app. The co-op publishes annual rate updates, including 2025 rates and new rates for 2026. The cooperative engages with its community through programs such as the Minnesota Valley Youth Tour and the Minnesota Valley/Basin Electric Scholarship. It also operates Operation Round Up, a charitable fundraising program common among electric cooperatives, and publishes newsletters and reports for its members. Governance documents, including Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, a Statement of Non-Discrimination, and a privacy policy, are available on its website. As of the available evidence, the cooperative remains active and continues to serve its members in Minnesota. Specific founding dates, historical milestones, and financial details are not provided in the supplied sources.
Products and positioning
Member-owned rural electric cooperative focused on affordable, safe and reliable electricity and member services.
Electricity distribution
Affordable, safe and reliable electricity to members
Heating and Cooling Systems
Member services for heating and cooling
Energy Improvements
Programs to improve energy efficiency
Electrical Services
Electrical services for members
Distributed Generation Information
Information on distributed generation
Prairie Winds Renewable Pricing
Renewable pricing option
Standby Generators
Standby generator offerings
SmartHub Online Billing and Account Management
Online billing, payments, usage history, and alerts
Minnesota Valley Cooperative Mobile App
Mobile app for account access
Sources5 sources
- 1Home :: Minnesota Valley Coop Light & Power Associationmnvalleyrec.com
- 2Member Services :: Minnesota Valley Coop Light & Power Associationmnvalleyrec.com
- 3New Services :: Minnesota Valley Coop Light & Power Associationmnvalleyrec.com
- 4New Payment & Account System :: Minnesota Valley Coop Light & Power Associationmnvalleyrec.com
- 5Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light & Power Associationwikidata.org
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