2026 is a year of celebration for RESCO, as we commemorate our 90 years of providing service to utilities throughout the Midwest and Northern Plains. And last month, we achieved another important milestone in the history of our cooperative, as ground was broken on the site of our new facility in Dilworth, MN

Situated on 15 acres, the 72,000-square-foot location (60,000 square feet of warehouse storage space and 12,000 square feet of office space) reflects our continued commitment to providing our electric utility members and customers with exceptional service and reliable inventory, as well as quick response to weather-related and storm damage needs. The facility will serve our member cooperatives and municipal utilities throughout the state of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

The new warehouse and offices will be located at 1606 28th Ave. N., Dilworth, MN 56529. Utility services for the facility will be provided by RESCO member Red River Valley Co-Op Power.

RESCO team members and product inventory at our current Moorhead, MN facility will transition to the new site upon its completion, which we anticipate will be in early 2027 (with full operations beginning in Spring 2027).

The Dilworth site will be our third new warehouse facility opened in the past five years (Elkhart, IA in 2022 and Stanley, WI in 2024).

Joining RESCO President and CEO Matt Brandrup and Regional Vice President Chris Pederson at the groundbreaking were Dilworth Mayor Chad Olson; Peyton Mastera, Dilworth city administrator; Rich Whitcomb, CEO of Red River Valley Cooperative Power Association; Melissa Beach, economic development administrator at Minnkota Power Cooperative; personnel from our architect firm, River Valley Architects; representatives from our builder, Market & Johnson; and other local officials.

On April 4, 1936, representatives from 14 rural electric cooperatives in the state of Wisconsin came together to organize the Wisconsin Rural Electric Cooperative (WEC), the nation’s first statewide electric cooperative and the forebearer of RESCO. The cooperative officially incorporated on April 30 of that year, with a mission to serve the state’s newly-established rural electric cooperatives and the families, businesses, schools, farms, and local governments that were their members.

And our mission and commitment to utility members and customers throughout the Midwest and Northern Plains continues to this day, as their trusted and reliable partner in the procurement of materials and equipment needed to run their operations successfully and efficiently. Over the years, we’ve expanded our service area throughout the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains, with 10 warehouses now servicing 11 states.

Our longevity and success through the years could not be achieved without the incredible support of our members and customers. We thank you for trusting us with your material needs and look forward to the next 90 years of serving your utility.

In recognition of our 90 years of service, here are a few facts about our cooperative:

• In 1936, the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative (WEC)–the cooperative now known as RESCO–is incorporated as the nation’s first statewide electric cooperative, with a goal to provide reliable electricity to the state’s farmers and rural areas.
• In 1940, WEC begins line materials distribution to its member cooperatives.
• In 1949, under the leadership of WEC President Bill Thomas, the cooperative secures deal with Reynolds Aluminum Company to begin national distribution of aluminum conductor.
• In 1966, WEC–along with the Arkansas and Kentucky statewide associations–creates ERMCO Transformer in Dyersburg, TN.
• In 1972, WEC reincorporates as RESCO to reflect an expansion into multiple states and a more active role as an electrical distributor.
• In 1981, Jerry Strom becomes president and CEO of RESCO until he retires in 2003.
• In 2009, Matt Brandrup becomes president and CEO of RESCO.
• In 2011, RESCO expands coverage back into Nebraska and Montana, in an effort to bring the not-for-profit cooperative distributor model – and all of the benefits of that model – to the pubic-power utilities in those states.
• In 2019, RESCO adds a warehouse in Kearney, NE to help us better serve utilities statewide.
• In 2022, RESCO moves its Iowa office and warehouse from Ankeny to Elkhart, more than doubling its inventory storage capacity.
• In 2024, RESCO begins operations at its new office and warehouse in the city of Stanley, WI, further increasing its storage capacities for its Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan members and customers.
• In 2025, RESCO begins to fully cover the states of Missouri and Kansas with a dedicated sale representative to bring our RESCO cooperative model to those states.
• In 2025, RESCO selects new site for expansion of its Moorhead, MN operations (in nearby city of Dilworth), further increasing its warehouse storage capacities and office space.

 

As we begin 2026, the improvements we’ve experienced in the product supply chain over the past year puts RESCO on very positive and firm footing to continue to deliver exceptional service and reliable inventory to our members and other customers, ensuring the success of their operations.

The return to pre-COVID conditions in the material supply chain has had a positive influence on the factors that impact our operations and those of our manufacturer partners, including inflation rates, lead times, and product availability.

YEARLY INFLATIONARY RATES NOW AT PRE-COVID LEVELS

The effect of the Covid supply chain disruption during the early part of this decade can’t be overstated within the electric utility industry: between 2021 and 2024, the cost of all of the distribution and transmission utility products RESCO supplies to members and other customers increased by over 50%.

Fortunately, the annual yearly inflation rate has dropped dramatically over the past two years to a rate more in-line with pre-COVID levels, and we anticipate annual increases between 2% and 4% moving forward. However, the large inflationary cost increases that impacted electric utility products from 2021-2024 will likely remain and, unfortunately, continue to place a significant burden on work-plan budgets for years to come.

LEAD TIMES IMPROVE

We are seeing shortened lead times for the majority of products that we sell. A few categories, however, continue to experience challenging and longer lead times. These include:

• Substation class power transformers (due to the vast build-out of transmission and substations nationwide).

• Primary underground cable and accompanying underground connector accessories (as utilities place more of their services underground).

(And as a service to our readership, we provide updated lead times for 17 product categories each month in our monthly newsletter.)

INVENTORY AT RECORD LEVELS AND GROWING

To counter extended lead times on the products mentioned above, members of our RESCO team continue to work with our members and customers like yours to plan out your material needs for the coming year. By doing so, we’re able to place more timely orders with our manufacturer partners, which, in turn, helps ensure that the products are delivered and ready when our members and customers need them.

Additionally, product inventory at our 10 regional warehouses is at record levels and continues to grow, enabling us to adequately weather any unforeseen disruptions in the supply chain that could impact lead times and product availability.

(As mentioned in the July 2025 edition of our Plugged-In With RESCO newsletter, our next phase of expansion will be just north of our current facility in Moorhead, MN, with the building of new offices and a warehouse on 15 acres of land. Once completed, the site will provide us with substantial indoor and outdoor storage space, as well as more office space to accommodate our growing team.)

RESCO’s approach in carrying very large amounts of electric distribution and transmission inventory proved invaluable during the COVID pandemic, and we continue to utilize this strategy in our current operations to ensure sufficient stock in the event of future challenges.

 

RESCO has announced a new service provider partnership with Mid America Testing & Supply, a full-service, high-voltage testing laboratory that utilizes state-of-the-art technology to test equipment efficiently and effectively.

Among the services offered by Mid America are:

• Lab testing
  • Rubber gloves
  • rubber sleeves
• Mobile Truck Testing
  • Visual operational inspection
  • Rotational gear check
  • Dielectric test on upper boom and lower inset
  • Dielectric test on bucket liner
  • Continuity test on truck ground

To learn more about the services offered by Mid America, click here.

 

On April 30, 1936, representatives of 14 rural electrification projects organized the Wisconsin Rural Electric Cooperative Association, with a mission to serve the state’s newly-established rural electric cooperatives and the families, businesses, schools, farms, and local governments that were their members.

The association is the forebearer of the RESCO you know and trust today.

In 1972, the association reincorporated as RESCO to focus on supplying its members and customers with the materials and equipment needed to run their utility operations successfully and efficiently.

Over the years, we’ve expanded our service area throughout the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains, with nine warehouses now servicing 11 states.

This year, we recognize and celebrate 90 years of providing your utility with industry-leading product pricing, reliable inventory, and dependable customer service. Over the next several months, we’ll be sharing highlights, figures, and interesting facts about RESCO in this newsletter and on our social media channels.

Our longevity and success through the years could not be achieved without the incredible support of our members and customers. We thank you for trusting us with your material needs and look forward to the next 90 years of serving your utility.

RESCO is pleased to announce that four industry professionals have been elected to its Board of Directors. These include two individuals from the state of Missouri, reflecting our growing commitment to servicing utilities in the state.

The new Board additions are:

• Kevin Dechant, general manager/CEO, Atchison-Holt Electric Cooperative (MO)
• Leroy Mostek, director, Cuming County Public Power District (NE)
• Frank Schieber, director, United Electric Cooperative (MO)
• Deon Vilhauer, director, Capital Electric Cooperative (ND)

The four individuals were welcomed to the RESCO Board of Directors during the RESCO Annual Business Meeting—held Sept. 24 in Madison, WI—and will be seated as directors at the November Board meeting. We thank them for their commitment to serve on the Board and their support of our cooperative.

Four current Board members were also re-elected. Continuing their service on the RESCO Board of Directors are:

• Robert Cornell, manager, Washington Island Electric Cooperative (WI)
• Mark Johnson, CEO, Elkhorn Rural Public Power District (NE)
• Dave Keninger, director, Franklin Rural Electric Cooperative (IA)
• Greg Rauschendorfer – Secretary/Treasurer, vice president, Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric Cooperative

Stepping down from their Board positions were Kim Rasmussen, director, Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative; and Bruce Tegtmeier, director, Norris Public Power District. The RESCO community recognized both individuals during the meeting.

                      Kevin Dechant

 

                              Leroy Mostek

 

                    Frank Schieber

 

               Deon Vilhauer

Maintaining and continually growing our product inventory remains a key focus area of RESCO’s operational model, as it ensures that our members and customers have quick access to the wide variety of materials, equipment, and supplies that we distribute.

Properly housing this inventory requires re-investment in our cooperative, primarily in the forms of newly-constructed warehouses and additions to existing warehouses. Over the past several years, we’ve built new warehouses in Elkhart, IA and Stanley, WI, as well as begun operations in Roundup, MT. We’ve also added square-footage to our warehouses in Mt. Pleasant, MI, and moved into a larger warehouse space in Kearney, NE.

Our next phase of expansion will occur just outside of Moorhead, as the RESCO Board of Directors last month approved the construction of a new warehouse and offices on 15 acres of land north of our current facility. Once completed, the site will provide us with substantial indoor and outdoor storage space, as well as more office space to accommodate our growing team.

Construction is slated to begin in early 2026, with operations beginning in early 2027. More details on the project and construction updates will be shared in future editions of the Plugged-in With RESCO newsletter and on our social media pages.

While destructive weather can impact our region at any time during the year, the spring and summer months are historically viewed as the primary storm seasons here in the Midwest and Northern Great Plains.

Tornadoes, lightning, micro-bursts, heat waves, and other weather occurrences can instantly turn normal operations into an emergency response situation at your utility. And when the power goes out at your members’ and customers’ homes, farms, and businesses, having an adequate inventory of equipment, materials, and supplies is essential to get back up-and-running.

Here are three tips from RESCO to help your utility best prepare for damage caused by inclement weather:

• Check your inventory early and often. Don’t get caught off guard and don’t make assumptions about what you currently have stocked. Inventory management is a year-round function, but paying close attention before the spring and summer storm seasons can help ensure your utility has the necessary equipment and supplies–and the appropriate quantity–to properly respond to emergency situations and repair work.

• Work with your RESCO account representative to identify current and future needs. Our professional and experienced team is always available to discuss your needs and provide recommendations, based on past purchase history, current inventory, and immediate necessities.

• Call RESCO Storm Response for additional products and supplies. Even thorough and diligent inventory management doesn’t protect utilities from material, equipment, and supply shortages due to large-scale, weather-caused damage. Thanks to our strategically-placed storm trailers, we’re able to quickly assist our members and cooperatives with the products they need to repair damaged equipment and restore service. To reach RESCO Storm Response, please call 866-273-5030.

While the calendar says that it’s now spring, that doesn’t mean that snow, ice, high winds, and blizzard conditions brought on by late season storms are over. In fact, RESCO assisted member and customer utilities throughout our service region in March that were impacted by severe weather fronts.

In mid-March, we supplied materials and product to utilities in Iowa and Nebraska, following a blizzard that dumped snow and ice and brought high winds and whiteout conditions to the region.

Later that month, our warehouse crews in Michigan and Wisconsin responded to a historic ice storm that hit northern Michigan, resulting in widespread power outages and a declaration of a state of emergency.

As your trusted operational partner, RESCO is always ready to assist your utility when storms and other weather-related occurrence strike. Our Storm Response service is on call 24 hours a day to deliver the materials your linemen and technicians need to restore power and to make necessary repairs.

Additionally, we recommend to all of our members and customers—whether impacted by these recent storms or not—to conduct a review of your current product and supply levels and work with your RESCO account managers and customer service representatives to ensure you have adequate materials in the event that a weather occurrence impacts your service area.

While no one can predict precisely when and where a storm will hit and the impact it will have, continual preparation can help you and your team better respond when it does. Let our team of professionals review your current inventory supplies to ensure you’re properly equipped to address storm damage and repairs year-round.

In response to the blizzard that impacted parts of the Midwest and Northern Plains last week, RESCO warehouse crews worked diligently to ensure quick delivery of needed supplies and materials to our members and customers impacted by the storm, which dumped snow and brought high winds and whiteout conditions to the region.

Shipments from our Kearney, NE warehouse included wire to Butler Public Power District; cable to the City of Wahoo, NE (to repair downed power lines); and ERMCO transformers to Norris Public Power District.