As president of the board of directors, it is an honor to share this 2025 report and reflect on the continued strength and direction of Heartland REMC.

Heartland REMC is more than a utility provider. We are a community-owned cooperative, built by and for the people we serve. The Annual Meeting is one way we report back to you, our members, on the organization’s health, the progress being made, and the decisions that are shaping our future.

The strength of the cooperative is measured by more than poles, wires, substations, or financial statements. It is found in our resilience, mission, and commitment to reliable service. Unlike investor-owned utilities that answer to distant shareholders, Heartland REMC answers to you.

Over the past year, we have faced rising material costs, changing industry conditions, and unpredictable weather. Even so, Heartland REMC remains on solid footing. That strength allows us to invest in the electric system, support a dedicated local workforce, and return capital credits when financial conditions allow.

A strong cooperative plans for the future while meeting today’s needs. That means strengthening infrastructure to help prevent outages, maintaining a workforce that lives in and cares about the communities we serve, and making decisions with long-term value in mind. We are built to last because we are built by the people we serve.

In recent years, reliability has come to mean more than keeping the lights on. High-speed internet is essential for families, students, businesses, farms, and rural communities. Heartland REMC’s move into broadband is rooted in the same cooperative spirit that brought electricity to rural areas decades ago: when there is a need, and others are not meeting it, cooperatives step forward.

A major milestone was Heartland REMC’s development of Heartland Highspeed Fiber LLC, which included assuming control of the broadband network serving our territory. This brought local equipment, services, and fiber operations under Heartland REMC’s direction, strengthening accountability and keeping decisions close to the members and communities affected.

This also allows us to move forward more efficiently as we work to reach rural and underserved areas, ensuring members are not left behind because they live outside a town or city.

The energy and technology landscape is changing quickly, but Heartland REMC is prepared. With the development of Heartland Highspeed Fiber, continued investment in the electric grid, and our commitment to reliable service, we are helping build a strong foundation for the next generation of members.

Thank you for your membership, trust, and support. You are the heart of this cooperative, and it is a privilege to serve you.