Electric co-ops showcase commitment to safety

Safety is one of Great River Energy’s core values. Every employee at Great River Energy is empowered to speak up about safety or stop work if there is a concern, regardless of role or tenure.

It is part of Great River Energy’s culture to encourage employees to raise safety concerns, halt work when necessary and support others who do the same. This shared responsibility helps create a safe workplace and fosters a psychologically safe environment where everyone feels comfortable speaking up.

“Safety is at the heart of everything Great River Energy does,” Great River Energy President and Chief Executive Officer David Saggau said. “It’s not just a priority — it’s a value that shapes decisions, drives actions and reinforces our commitment to protecting people across the organization.”

Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives share in this culture of safety. Stearns Electric Association employees recently achieved a significant safety milestone in December: 2 million miles driven without an accident. This marks the first time the cooperative has attained this achievement.

Since September 2022, Stearns Electric employees have safely logged more than 2 million miles across the cooperative’s 72-vehicle fleet, which includes bucket trucks, digger derricks, material trucks, pickup trucks and SUVs.

“Reaching 2 million miles driven without an incident is a remarkable accomplishment, especially given Minnesota’s challenging winter driving conditions,” Stearns Electric Chief Executive Officer Matt O’Shea said. “Safety, for both our employees and the public, is a top priority at the co-op, and this milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to doing our jobs safely every day.”