Dakota Resource Council
Rural Power
Basin Electric's Leadership is Failing You - Here's What You Can Do
Basin Electric, once a trusted cooperative serving its members, has strayed from its core mission by making poor financial decisions that are raising rates for hardworking people and small businesses.
Today, Basin Electric is passing on nearly $400 million annually to ratepayers like you. This shift away from cooperative values is leaving hardworking families and businesses to bear the cost of mismanagement, while Basin continues to drift from its commitment to serving our communities.
You have the power to steer our cooperative back to its founding principles of affordable energy, transparency, and accountability.
Join us at Dakota Resource Council to make your voice heard—whether it’s signing a petition, attending meetings, or staying informed, every action counts in shaping the future of Basin Electric for North Dakotans.
Sign up Below For a Chance to Win a Free Month of Electricity!
Key Issues and Background
Overview of the Debacle
Basin Electric’s mismanagement has been highlighted by costly decisions, most notably its failed gasification project, which has resulted in significant financial losses and employee layoffs. The project, initially seen as a beneficial investment for member-owners, has proven to be a financial drain, with Basin making us as members pay over $470 million in 2021 alone to cover its losses. In addition to these bad investments, Basin’s leadership has spent excessively on unnecessary luxuries, such as private jets, further straining the cooperative’s finances. These decisions have placed an undue burden on member-owners, increasing our electric rates while Basin drifts away from its cooperative values.
Framing the Issue
Basin Electric is a celebrated part of North Dakotan history, but it has lost its way, turning its back on the cooperative principles it was built on. Instead of putting member-owners and communities first, Basin Electric has made misguided financial decisions that prioritize costly, money-losing power plants over practical alternatives. This poor management has placed the burden squarely on families and businesses in North Dakota. These decisions have led to increased electricity bills, employee layoffs, and weakened local economies. We aim to hold Basin accountable, empower its members, and push for a return to community-driven energy priorities that truly benefit the people it was meant to serve.
Why Your Rates Keep Rising
Financial Burden on Members
Basin Electric’s mismanagement has led to a staggering $700 million in losses, primarily due to failed investments in outdated energy sources. These financial setbacks are not absorbed by Basin Electric, but passed directly onto member-owners like you, leading to higher electricity rates for hardworking families, farmers, and small businesses. As utility costs rise, local economies are strained, with many households facing increased financial pressure. In rural communities that rely on affordable energy, this burden disrupts economic stability, making it harder for businesses to thrive and for residents to make ends meet. Basin’s poor decisions are negatively impacting the entire region.
Call for Accountability
Member Owners Deserve Transparency
It is crucial that Basin Electric’s member-owners hold the cooperative’s leadership accountable for their poor decisions, which have led to significant financial losses and higher electricity rates. Basin’s leadership has strayed from its duty to serve the interests of its members, prioritizing corporate luxuries like private jets and making risky investments that failed to deliver. Member-owners deserve transparency and a say in how their cooperative is run. By demanding accountability and a return to cooperative principles, members can ensure that Basin’s future decisions prioritize the well-being of local communities and protect our financial interests.
Restore Cooperative Values
Basin Electric was founded with a cooperative mission: to meet the needs of its member-owners by delivering affordable, reliable energy while supporting community well-being. However, this mission has been undermined as Basin’s leadership has shifted toward corporate priorities, making decisions that favor a select few at the expense of the broader membership. For Basin to prosper and genuinely represent its members, it is critical for member-owners to reclaim control and return the cooperative to its original principles. By reasserting their voice and demanding accountability, member-owners can restore Basin’s focus on community service, ensuring decisions are made in their best interests and securing a strong, member-driven future.
