East Central Energy
Cooperative electric utility · Minnesota · #289 of 3,199 U.S. utilities by customers · EIA utility #5574
East Central Energy is a cooperative electric utility serving 68,154 customers in Minnesota, Wisconsin. In 2025 it sold 1,013 gigawatt-hours of electricity for $156.94M in revenue, an average realized rate of 15.49¢ per kWh across all customer classes and 17.60¢ per kWh for residential customers. Its reported service territory covers 13 counties. EIA records its activities as: distribution.
Customers, sales and rates by customer class (2025)
| Class | Customers | Sales (GWh) | Revenue | Avg realized rate | Share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 61,040 | 624 | $109.83M | 17.60¢ | |
| Commercial | 6,931 | 278 | $37.03M | 13.33¢ | |
| Industrial | 183 | 111 | $10.08M | 9.08¢ | |
| Total | 68,154 | 1,013 | $156.94M | 15.49¢ |
Average realized rate = revenue divided by sales as reported on EIA Form 861. It blends fixed charges, demand charges and riders into one per-kWh figure; it is not the utility's tariff rate. Estimated residential bill assumes the average residential customer's actual 2025 usage (852 kWh/month).
Operations by state
| State | Customers | Sales (GWh) | Residential rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 62,566 | 956 | 17.63¢ |
| Wisconsin | 5,588 | 56.8 | 17.20¢ |
Five-year trend
| Year | Customers | Sales (GWh) | Revenue | Residential rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 63,422 | 963 | $134.01M | 15.95¢ |
| 2022 | 64,243 | 979 | $133.61M | 15.54¢ |
| 2023 | 67,069 | 994 | $137.29M | 15.74¢ |
| 2024 | 67,593 | 971 | $142.29M | 16.87¢ |
| 2025 | 68,154 | 1,013 | $156.94M | 17.60¢ |
Reliability (2025)
Average outage time (SAIDI): 97 minutes per customer per year
Average outages (SAIFI): 1.03 per customer
Average restoration time (CAIDI): 94 minutes
As reported for Minnesota under the IEEE standard, with major event days included where the standard reports them. Lower is better; see the reliability rankings.
Energy supply (2025)
Net generation: — GWh
Wholesale power purchased: 1,067 GWh
Winter peak demand: 168 MW
Energy losses: 4.8% of energy handled
Meters & rooftop solar (2025)
Smart (AMI) meters: 99.9% of 68,154 meters
Customer-sited generation (net metering): 782 installations, 10.5 MW of capacity
Counties served
Aitkin, MNBenton, MNBurnett, WIChisago, MNDouglas, WIIsanti, MNKanabec, MNMille Lacs, MNMorrison, MNPine, MNSherburne, MNWashburn, WIWashington, MN
Other large utilities in Minnesota
- Northern States Power Co - Minnesota - 1,594,256 customers, residential 16.50¢
- ALLETE, Inc. - 153,192 customers, residential 15.86¢
- Connexus Energy - 148,716 customers, residential 14.11¢
- Otter Tail Power Co - 134,544 customers, residential 11.19¢
- Dakota Electric Association - 117,913 customers, residential 15.63¢
- Rochester Public Utilities - 60,963 customers, residential 18.58¢
- Wright-Hennepin Coop Elec Assn - 57,130 customers, residential 15.00¢
- Lake Country Power - 51,603 customers, residential 18.34¢
All Minnesota utilities and rates
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 2025 (filed by the utility; figures as published). Utility #5574 in the EIA frame.