General Manager & CEO Chris Tackmann
Our Annual Meeting is set to be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Recreation Park in Tomah. All members in attendance will receive a $15 Culver’s gift card and Culver’s fresh frozen custard. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the business meeting starts at 9 a.m., please come early for doughnuts and refreshments.
The Articles of Incorporation for Oakdale Electric Cooperative (OEC) were executed on April 24, 1936. This year marks our 90th anniversary. While many aspects of our cooperative have evolved over the decades, our dedication to delivering safe, reliable, and competitively priced energy services remains unwavering.
In 2025, OEC actively pursued multiple construction projects, investing approximately $6.0 million in new construction, electric line upgrades, and the addition of 233 new services. The approved capital budget for 2026 allocates $5.6 million towards system improvements, with initiatives planned in Mauston, Plymouth, New Lisbon, and Oakdale. To further strengthen power capacity, completion of a substation in the Armenia area is scheduled, along with an upgrade to an additional substation in Tomah.
OEC had another successful year in sales and financial performance. Annual sales surpassed 395 million kilowatt-hours, setting a record for the co-op. Due to rising costs and to fairly allocate cost among members, a residential demand charge was implemented in 2026, reflecting a $0.25 per kW charge. This change has raised most residential members’ bills by an average of $2.50. Looking ahead, further increases might be necessary, but we are committed to doing everything possible to reduce the impact on you.
OEC received another clean report from external auditors for its financial systems and controls. We are pleased with this achievement and the ongoing retirement of capital credits. In the past year, OEC gave back $1.3 million in capital credits to our members and aims to retire another $1.4 million by the end of 2026.
In 2025, thanks to the generosity of members participating in rounding up their electric bills to the nearest dollar, we awarded $105,600 to various organizations within our local communities. This represents the largest amount distributed within a single year, in OEC’s history. We sincerely appreciate your ongoing support of this community-focused initiative.
Our members play a vital role in the cooperative business model. Oakdale Electric Cooperative owes its success to your support, feedback, and appreciation. We are grateful—thank you!