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East Central Energy cooperative is now taking applications for a seat on the Board of Directors representing the Chisago County area. (See map.)  Residents of North Branch were recently brought into the ECE service territory when the city sold its municipal electric assets to ECE.  There are three districts with expiring terms across the cooperative area.  Candidates will be voted on later this spring by mail-in ballot which  are sent out in March.  The Districts are 1, 3 (Chisago) and 6 and terms are four years.

To apply to be on the ballot there are a few steps required. You need 25 signatures of support for your nomination, among other qualifying conditions.  

See the ECE website for details or plan to attend a candidate information session January 29 at 1 p.m. at the coop’s headquarters in Braham.

The 90th annual meeting for 2026 is at the Braham Event Center, April 23, where winners of the election are announced.

ECE also reminds those in its service area that the rate adjustment for 2026 is effective January 1. It will be applied to the due-February 2026 bill.

ECE performed a cost of service study and the Board determined the hike of $1 per month of the basic service fee to be necessary.  

The monthly fee is $46 as of Jan 1. 

To check your energy usage and monitor your costs the coop advises using SmartHub.  Also,  go on a budgeted billing program where costs are spread over 12 months and are more consistent. Also, if considering new equipment look into ECE rebates for energy efficiency models.

Chisago County is in District 3, right.

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