Prairie Land Electric Cooperative enters 2026 with a clear and forward‑looking theme—Reliable Today. Resilient Tomorrow. As we reflect on the past year, this message captures both our current strength and our long‑term commitment to the members and communities we serve. The energy landscape is evolving rapidly, with rising costs, increasing demand, and growing system complexity. Even in this environment, our mission remains constant: to improve the quality of life for our members by providing safe, reliable energy services and education. As a member‑owned, not‑for‑profit cooperative, we focus on long‑term value rather than short‑term gains. Our vision—to be your trusted energy advisor—guides every decision we make as we work to deliver on our promise of Power to Make Life Better, today and for the future.
Our work begins with reliability, which remains the foundation of everything we do. In 2025, Prairie Land achieved 99.9% reliability, meaning electricity was available nearly all the time when members needed it. Achieving this level of performance requires disciplined planning, strategic investment, and a culture of accountability across our organization. We continue to modernize our system, strengthen our workforce, and invest in technologies that support long‑term reliability. These efforts ensure we remain prepared for both everyday operations and unexpected challenges.
As we look beyond our system, we must also navigate the broader regional environment in which we operate. Prairie Land is part of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), a 14‑state regional grid where costs are shared by all ratepayers in its footprint. Because the grid is interconnected, large energy users and corresponding transmission projects across the region can influence local costs. At the same time, electricity demand continues to rise as high‑energy‑use industries seek dependable service. When a new business locates within our certified service territory, we are required to serve it—just as we do any home, farm, or small business —as our responsibility is the same for every member: to deliver reliable service in line with our mission and regulatory requirements. Communities decide which projects fit their goals, and our role is to ensure that any new infrastructure needed to serve a large load is fully funded by that business. These projects can also help offset regional cost pressures and support rural economies through jobs and investment. Through careful planning and disciplined financial management, we work to meet new demand responsibly while protecting the long‑term interests of all Prairie Land members.
Preparing for the future also means strengthening our resilience—the ability to respond and recover quickly when something goes wrong. To support this, our Board approved a four‑year, $36 million work plan focused on system modernization. This includes Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) technology that provides real‑time visibility, faster outage detection, improved safety, and more efficient restoration. We are also upgrading infrastructure across our system, including new tie lines, sub‑transmission improvements, and FEMA‑supported recloser replacements. Additionally, we have enhanced our facilities, such as the new Smith Center warehouse, which improves material staging and storm response.
Modernizing our system also means ensuring our workforce is prepared for the demands of today’s grid. Expanded training yards and a strengthened apprenticeship program ensure our employees are equipped to work safely and effectively in an increasingly complex electric system.
The March 2025 storm, which caused nearly $1 million in damage and required replacing almost 160 poles, highlighted the importance of both modern tools and the dedication of our employees. Our crews and staff worked tirelessly through blizzard conditions to restore service and support members. Their commitment, combined with ongoing system improvements, strengthens our ability to serve reliably today and in the future.
Financial strength remains essential to sustaining this work. Prairie Land ended 2025 in a strong position, reinforcing our ability to invest in reliability and resiliency while keeping costs under control. As a cooperative, margins are reinvested into the system and returned to members—not shareholders. In 2025, we returned $2.65 million in capital credits to our members, including patronage capital from our Generation and Transmission provider, Sunflower Electric Power Corporation. This strong performance reinforces the principle that financial strength must always serve our members, not the balance sheet. Responsible financial stewardship is not just about numbers; it is about ensuring stability today and sustainability for the future. Every financial decision is made with our members’ long-term interests in mind.
Together, these efforts reflect the cooperative difference. Prairie Land exists to serve its members, and that commitment shapes our approach to growth, infrastructure, financial management, and long‑term planning. By maintaining reliability as our foundation, strengthening resilience through modernization, and exercising sound financial stewardship, we are positioning Prairie Land to meet both today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.
Reliable today. Resilient tomorrow. And always committed to serving you.