As a member you are a part owner of Brown County Rural Electrical Association and you have a say in how the cooperative is run.
View our member handbook, Articles of Incorporation, and By-Laws below.
New Member Handbook Articles of Incorporation & By-Laws Service Agreement
If you see a downed power line, stay away from it, and call 911 or the co-op at (800) 658-2368 to report it immediately. Always assume downed power lines are energized and never drive near or over them. When severe weather causes widespread damage, sometimes outages can be extended. Great River Energy (GRE) and Brown County REA work hard to restore your power quickly and safely. First, we remove any threats to public safety and then following established priorities for making repairs that will restore the most cooperative members first.
To learn more and watch a video about the steps electric cooperatives take to restore power click the link below to learn more.
If you're starting a new project here are 5 steps for safe digging:
- Notify: Call 811 or make a request online 2 - 3 days before you plan to start your project.
- Wait: Wait 2 - 3 days for a response to your request.
- Confirm: Confirm that all affected utilities have responded by comparing the markers to the list of utilities the 811 call center notified.
- Respect: Respect the markers and use them as a guide for the duration of your project.
- Dig Carefully: If you can't avoid digging near the provided markers, consider moving your project.
Click the link below to learn more about 811 or to submit an online request.
BCREA 85th Annual Meeting
More than 400 Brown County REA members, spouses, employees, and guests filled the Sleepy Eye Event Center on March 31st for the Annual Meeting. A total of 253 members were registered. During the business meeting Board President, Tom Hayes, reflected on the past year and highlighted Great River Energy's Coal Creek Station and its sale later this year. CEO, Mike Heidemann, reviewed the 2021 financial report.
Incumbent Directors Jim Hanson (District 1), Jim Mickelson (District 4), and Bill Berg (District 5) ran unopposed and were re-elected. A proposed amendment to the cooperative by-laws was approved. The 2022 Operation Round-Up scholarship recipients were also named. Click below to view a few photos from the meeting.
Heartland Security is owned by your local electric cooperative. They design and install security systems to protect your home, family, and valuables. The alarm systems are monitored by highly skilled and certified professionals. Heartland Security offers an easy to use Personal Emergency Reporting System (PERS) if you or a loved one is worried about a medical condition or emergency happening at home.
Click the link below to be directed to Heartland Security's homepage for more information or call them at (888) 264-6380.
Energy Assistance Program (EAP) helps pay for home heating, water costs, and furnace repairs for income-qualified households. EAP is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Grants are:
- For renters or homeowners
- For households with income at or below 60% of the state median income
- Based on energy cost, household size, and income
Please click the link below for the application and instructions or visit MVAC's website at www.mnvac.org. You can also call (507) 345-6822 to get an application.
MVAC Energy Assistance Application
Please click the link below to be directed to the MN Department of Commerce Energy Assistance Program website.
Thinking about replacing your aging heating and cooling system with a more energy efficient furnace or an air source heat pump? Or is your refrigerator failing to keep up? Not only can you save energy and money when you replace with more efficient equipment, you may be eligible for Brown County REA rebates if you purchase Energy Star products.
Click the link below to learn more about the rebates available.