Polk Burnett Electric Cooperative

09/14/2026

Over the next two months, Polk-Burnett contractors will be inspecting underground electrical equipment in the Bunyan and Jackson areas. Crews will:
✅ Check the structural integrity of green transformer boxes
✅ Verify that internal components are working properly
✅ Make sure boxes are safely locked and secured
Polk-Burnett Electric Co-op maintains 3,500 miles of power lines across 2,000 square miles—about 1,500 miles overhead and 2,000 miles underground. Proactive inspections and maintenance help us address issues before they lead to power outages or safety hazards.
For your safety: Please don’t landscape near transformer boxes, and never let children play on or around them. ⚡

09/11/2026

Reliability has been super awesome this summer, with very few storms and power outages. We sure would love more rain—but Mother Nature can keep her severe weather, destructive lightning, wind and hail!
Earlier this week, we finally received some much-needed rain, along with a flashy lightning show. A Polk-Burnett lineworker captured this photo of a tree damaged by lightning near Balsam Lake.
Be prepared for storms and potential outages. Visit our website for outage FAQs and the real-time outage map. Report outages 24/7 through SmartHub or by calling 800-421-0283.
We’re here 24/7 if you need us! ⚡🌧️ https://www.polkburnett.com/outage-center

09/10/2026

Drone pilots, be safe! NEVER fly near electrical equipment. Keep drones away from power lines, poles and substations. Drone crashes can cause injuries, expensive damage and power outages. If your drone crashes into utility equipment or becomes tangled in power lines, do NOT try to retrieve it! Stay clear and call 911. Always look up before you lift off and fly a safe distance away from power lines. Check out this video from our friends at Safe Electricity.

09/09/2026

When our members ask what the co-op is doing to hold down expenses, our load management program stands out as one of our most effective strategies, because it manages our cost for wholesale power. We call it shaving the peak, and it’s a big deal because the co-op’s cost to purchase wholesale power consumes 56% of our revenue, about $22 million annually. Learn how load management works, how we are modernizing the program and how you can help in our September general manager column.

September 2026 General Manager Blog

09/08/2026

September is storm preparedness month. Mother Nature is ready. Are you? This video checklist can help you plan for storms and power outages. See outage FAQs and real-time outage map on our website. https://www.polkburnett.com/outage-center

09/04/2026

Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone! Our offices are closed Monday, but our phones are always answered and we thank our lineworkers who are on-call and ready to roll if needed. https://www.polkburnett.com/outage-center

09/03/2026

Our co-op line crew is converting an overhead power line to underground on County Road M, east of Osceola near Nye. Polk-Burnett maintains 3,500 miles of power line across 2,000 square miles; about 1,500 are overhead lines and 2,000 are underground. Each year, we convert 25 to 35 miles of overhead line to underground to improve reliability.

08/31/2026

Our Siren line crew is converting an overhead power line to underground on Emerson Rd northwest of Hertel. Their work is part of our $5 million grid investment in 2026 to maintain the system, reduce outages and keep the lights on for co-op members.

08/28/2026

Your Sept. newsletter is here.

Email from Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative Supporting youth, Apply Now for Polk Burnett Scholarships Tip: If graphics do not display well in your email, View as Webpage Your September co-op newslett