News & Highlights

May 01

MEC’s Culture of Safety

National Electrical Safety Month Safety is a word that is often talked about but used loosely by many. A commitment to safety needs...

May 01

Act NOW Before It’s Too Late!

Request A Free Energy-Saving Kit Before They’re Gone For Good. In recent years, the Cooperative has mailed out free energy-saving LED light bulbs...

Apr 01

The Power Behind Your Power

You’ve likely noticed MEC’s line crews and tree trimming crews working on power lines and clearing right of ways in and around our...

Apr 01

Can You Dig It?

April is National Safe Digging Month When Should I Contact 811? Outdoor digging requires you to contact 811. Building a fence? Planting a...

Mar 01

87th Annual Meeting

Feb 01

Breaking Down The Annual Meeting

Each year, the third Saturday in March is slated for the Cooperative’s Annual Meeting. This year is no different. On Saturday, March 18,...

Feb 01

ReCHARGE EV Charging Program

Turn Your Garage Into Your Very Own Fueling Station! ReCHARGE, MEC’s residential managed electric vehicle (EV) charging program, allows members to charge their...

Jan 01

A Review of Your Co-op In 2022

Manager’s Message It is with enthusiasm that I welcome 2023 and wish you, our valued members, a Happy New Year. As we enter...

Jan 01

Run for Office in 2023

Board of Trustee Election Packets Available January 5th For Districts 5 & 7 As a member-owned electric cooperative, MEC is governed by a...

Jan 01

Energy Partners Annual Update

With warm wishes of a Happy New Year in 2023 to all the communities we serve, I am excited for the opportunity to...

Dec 01

The Season Of Giving

The holiday season is finally here. Some call it the most wonderful time of the year. That’s because we associate it with family...

Dec 01

Plug Into The Future of Transportation

MEC Members Can Take The Co-op’s 2022 Chevy Bolt For a Spin! Electric vehicles (EVs) are in high demand as gas prices continue...

Dec 01

Into The Great Wide Open

Ovando School Students Venture Beyond the Playground. Ovando School students, ages six to thirteen years old, put down their pencils and picked up...

Nov 01

What Are You Grateful For?

It is said that the things we can accomplish together, are far greater than what we can accomplish alone. I am proud to...

Nov 01

Washington D.C. For FREE!

We believe in investing in today’s youth, because YOU are our future! We know some of the brightest students reside within our district...

Nov 01

Tis’ The Season For Scholarships!

In years past, we have presented 16 annual scholarships to local students that chose to pursue their educational goals in Montana. In 2022,...

Oct 01

Celebrating National Co-op Month

Autumn is a busy time of year, and October is a particularly eventful month with school in session, fall sports in full swing...

Sep 01

Wildfire Prevention Starts With YOU!

Although unpredictable in nature, nearly nine of ten wildfires are human caused. This means that wildfire prevention is largely in our hands. An...

Aug 01

Engaging the Members of Tomorrow

As a member-owned electric cooperative, we aim to set the bar high when it comes to serving our members. Traditionally, you would think...

Jul 01

You’re Invited to Electrify the Big Sky!

I am pleased to announce that in partnership with Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association (MECA), the Beneficial Electrification League (BEL) and the Department of...

Jul 01

Charging Ahead This Summer

As summer begins to heat up, MEC will unveil the first level 3 electric vehicle (EV) fast charger in our service territory. The...

Jul 01

Operation Round Up® Updates

Jun 01

Wildfire Mitigation Plan Update

The Western United States is one of the most fire-prone areas in the United States. No stranger to wildfires, Southwestern Montana is among...

May 01

Annual Meeting Recap

MEC’s 86th Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, March 19 at the University of Montana. After two years of event cancellations and postponements,...

May 01

Breaking Down The New Rate Design

Did you know electricity delivered to your home has to be generated at the same time you’re using it? If you think about...

Apr 01

Changing Rates for Changing Times

With all of the advancements in technology and connected devices in our world, the importance of a reliable and affordable electrical supply is...

Apr 01

Managed Electric Vehicle Charging

With rising gas prices, many are taking another look at electric vehicles (EVs) as an option. Some of the top automotive manufacturers have...

Feb 01

We Love Serving Our Members!

February may be the shortest month, but it’s packed with special observances like Presidents’ Day, Black History Month and Valentine’s Day, in addition...

Feb 01

Ways To Save When Working From Home

Today, more Americans are working from home than ever before. If you’re punching the clock from home, there are four easy ways you...

Feb 01

Annual Meeting

Join us for our 86th Annual Meeting of members. Date: 03.19.2022 Registration: 9:00am – 11:00am Meeting Begins: 11:00am Location: University of Montana UC...

Jan 01

Reflecting On 2021

There were a number of notable events and accomplishments at your Cooperative in 2021. The first event that I’d like to reflect on...

Jan 01

Generator Safety

Know how to use your generator safely. Incorrect use of your generator can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, electrocution or fires. Use a...

Jan 01

Energy Partners Annual Update

I remember as a kid thinking that a year seemed so long, but the saying is definitely true, “As you get older, the...

Dec 01

Holiday Cheer Throughout The Year

As we prepare to deck the halls and welcome a new year, we encourage our members and employees to embrace the holiday “slow...

Dec 01

Ring In The New Year With A Scholarship!

Very merry, indeed! Every December, MEC invites members to apply for one of seventeen $1,000 Scholarships. Our General Scholarship offers eligible students the...

Dec 01

A Cowboy Christmas

They say that the magic of Christmas lives in the hearts of the young and old – a magic that’s cultivated over the...

Nov 01

Giving Thanks This November

When I sat down to write this article, I struggled to summarize the many things I am thankful for this year. Of course,...

Nov 01

Win The Trip Of A Lifetime!

Now Accepting Applications for Youth Tour 2022 We believe in investing in today’s youth, because YOU are our future! We know some of...

Sep 30

A Celebration Is In Order

October is National Co-op Month! ACE Hardware, State Farm, REI, Land O’Lakes and Missoula Electric Cooperative all share something in common: each organization...

Sep 30

Take a Crack at Creating Strong Passwords

In honor of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I wanted to stress the importance of creating strong passwords. Data security is tested constantly. At...

Aug 11

MEC’s 85th Annual Meeting

Event Details: Saturday, September 18th Registration begins at 9 am | Event begins at 11 am University of Montana | 3rd Floor UC...

Aug 01

What Is An Annual Meeting?

The benefit and importance behind MEC’s annual member event As Missoula Electric Cooperative’s (MEC’s) 85th Annual Meeting draws near, I wanted to take...

Jul 01

Utility Scams On The Rise

Don’t Fall Victim To Utility Scams Every day, millions of Americans are targeted by scammers. Whether scammers strike online, via phone calls, emails,...

Jul 01

MEC’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan

The Cooperative’s Approach To Wildfire Prevention The Western United States has experienced some of the most devastating wildfires in the nation’s history. In...

Jun 01

And The Thunder Rolls

Summer Storm Preparedness Now that summer is in full swing, we welcome the opportunity to get out of the office and head outdoors!...

Jun 01

Lolo Creek Steakhouse – Rare, Yet Well Done.

Nestled along Highway 12 in Lolo, Montana, sits local gem and MEC member, Lolo Creek Steakhouse. Known for their mouth-watering steaks, customers will...

Jun 01

You’ve Got Mail!

Capital Credit Checks Hit Mailboxes in Late-May You’ve got mail… well, maybe. In 2021, Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) will be returning $1 Million...

May 01

In The Clear

The Co-Op’s Approach To Vegetation Management In our service territory, there is certainly no shortage of rugged terrain, abundant wildlife and thick vegetation....

May 01

Safety Snapshot

A peek inside MEC’s Safety Program In honor of National Electrical Safety Month, we sat down with MEC’s Operations Specialist and Safety Program...

Foreman, Mitch Dupree, changing a cross arm at Salmon Lake.

Apr 01

The POWER of our Team

If our community members were asked to think of one thing that represented Missoula Electric Cooperative, a common response, would most likely be...

Apr 01

ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE

Who: All MEC members are invited to attend. Come mingle with the board, hear co-op updates & enter to win prizes! What: Mark...

Mar 01

CHANGE-ing Lives Since 1989

The Operation Round Up® (ORU) program was developed by Palmetto Electric Cooperative, of South Carolina, in 1989. The goal of the program, was...

Mar 01

Weathering The Storm

The anticipation of what the new year would bring, was at an all-time high, as we closed the door on 2020. Mere weeks...

Feb 01

Taking Electricity to New Heights

Periodically, we host a critical internal meeting, which we refer to as MEC’s Strategic Planning Session. This two-day meeting is held at an...

Feb 01

Do More With Less

Helping Members Save Energy AND Money in 2021 By Dan Rogers Doing more with less. That is the essence of energy efficiency –...

Feb 01

2021 Annual Meeting Postponement

MEC members received a letter in mid-January, notifying them that the Cooperative had officially decided to postpone the 2021 Annual Meeting, which was...

Jan 01

Choose Your Way to Pay

In Person Members can make a convenient payment, with cash or check, at our drive-thru window, weekdays from 8 am – 5 pm....

Jan 01

Energy Partners Annual Update

The past year was one of the most challenging years our community has faced, both personally and professionally. As we reflect on 2020,...

Dec 01

Apply For A Chance To Win Some “Dough”

Every December, MEC invites members (and/or dependents) to apply for one of seventeen $1,000 Scholarships. Our General Scholarship offers eligible students the opportunity...

Dec 01

Run For A Board Position in 2021

As a member-owned cooperative, Missoula Electric is governed by a democratically-elected Board of Trustees. In 2021, Trustees for Districts 1 and 3 will...

Dec 01

Giving Back This Holiday Season

The holidays have arrived and many of us are ready to greet 2021 with arms wide open. I think most will agree that...

Nov 01

A Month Filled With Gratitude

November is a month dedicated to expressing gratitude. When I look back on this year, grateful and thankful is exactly what I feel....

Nov 01

2021 Youth Tour Replaced With Scholarship

Montana’s electric cooperatives have elected to withdraw from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) 2021 Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. due to...

Oct 01

Celebrating the Cooperative Difference

For more than half a century, cooperatives across the nation have joined together, in October, to celebrate National Co-Op Month. Since it became...

Oct 01

Then. Now. Always.

Proud to Power Your Life Who would have fathomed that this Spring, COVID-19 would test our community and our nation? The ever-changing circumstances...

Sep 01

News From The Boardroom

As the old saying goes, “change is inevitable.” And while many of us at Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) were aware that a change...

Aug 03

A Proactive Approach to Outages

As a member-owned utility, Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) strives to uphold a commitment of service excellence, while delivering safe, affordable, and reliable electricity...

Aug 03

When The Lights Go Out

The wind is howling, a blizzard is brewing and the lights begin to flicker. “Honey, will you grab the flashlight and I’ll light...

Jul 01

Communication is Key

It’s no doubt that we live in a device-driven world. From smart phones and tablets, to laptops and smart home gadgets, like Alexa,...

Jul 01

Big Enough to Serve, Small Enough to Care

Energy Partners, LLC (EP) is a leading propane supplier in Western Montana. Serving homes, farms and local businesses, Energy Partners has proudly provided...

Jun 01

2020 Work Plan Update

As a member-owned utility, Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) strives to uphold a commitment to service excellence, while delivering safe, affordable, and reliable electricity...

Jun 01

Don’t Fall For A Scam – Call Us First!

The energy industry is undergoing rapid change and technology is paving the way for innovation in the way energy is used, produced, stored...

Jun 01

Smart Thermostats

Heating and cooling costs account for around half of a user’s energy bill according to the U.S. Department of Energy. One of the...

May 05

Here For You – No Matter What

Greetings MEC Members. I hope that this time finds you and your families safe and healthy. As I write this article in mid-April,...

May 05

May is Electrical Safety Month

4 Common Culprits of Electrical Fires Outdated wiring and overloaded circuits are the most common causes of electrical fires. Check the following areas...

Apr 02

Lineworkers – Providing You With The Power To Live Your Life

Lineworkers serve on the frontlines of our nation’s energy needs, and on April 13, 2020, MEC, along with hundreds of electric cooperatives across...

Apr 02

Our Earth. Our Future.

Manager’s Message Earth Day is considered to be one of the world’s largest civic events, and on April 22, we can all be...

Apr 02

Service Award

Celebrating 15 Years! Danny Baker, GIS Data Specialist Thank you for your dedicated service over the past 15 years! It is because of...

Mar 02

Candidate Profiles – 2020 Trustee Election

The candidate submissions, below, were unaltered and are showcased as they were received. Raymond G. Cebulski – District 5 Current Trustee for District...

Jan 27

Engaging The Next Generation

You’ve heard the old adage, “The youth is the hope of our future,” and here at MEC, we place a strong emphasis on...

Jan 27

When The Power Goes Out, So Do We

Blizzards, rainstorms and bears, oh my! The Linemen and Tree Trimming Crews at Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) have worked under a variety of...

Jan 27

It Pays To Be A Member at MEC

To say it pays to be a member at MEC is not an understatement! In 2019, Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) returned nearly $1...

Jan 01

A New Look For A New Decade

To kick-off 2020, we’re excited to announce some big news! To celebrate the new decade and new year, we are unveiling a new...

Jan 01

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I hope that you had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. With 2019 behind us, I want to take the...

Oct 31

Youth Tour – The Trip of a Lifetime

We believe in investing in today’s youth, because YOU are our future! We know some of the brightest students reside within our district...

Oct 31

Thankful & Grateful

When you think about Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC), you might associate us with the local community… and you would be right! Our leadership...

Oct 01

Celebrating National Cooperative Month

When we think of October, trick or treating, pumpkins and fall foliage come to mind. But at Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) and fellow...

Aug 29

When The Lights Go Out

Imagine the worst-case scenario. A major storm was predicted, and this time…the predictions were right. Power lines are down and electricity is predicted...