Bayfield Electric Cooperative was formed by a group of rural pioneers who saw the need for electric service to our rural area and decided to do something about it. We presently serve Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer and Vilas counties in Wisconsin and Gogebic in Michigan.
 

The system was energized on January 25, 1945. We have approximately 8,700 members served by nearly 1,900 miles of distribution line. Your Cooperative employs 23 people and has assets of 26.0 million.

Each summer your Cooperative holds an Annual Meeting. That meeting is to elect directors and to give you the opportunity to meet and talk with fellow members and Co-op employees.

The nine member board elected by you holds regularly scheduled meetings every month as well as special meetings when needed. Day-to-day operations are handled by the General Manager.

Local control through your locally elected directors ensures all members an equal voice in the operation of the Cooperative. The one member-one vote system has proven to be a unique and effective way of doing business.

Bayfield Electric Cooperative purchases power from Dairyland Power Cooperative and sells it to you at rates which allow for the cost of the purchased power and to cover maintenance of the distribution system. Any margins over the actual operating expenses are returned to you in the form of Capital Credits.

Bayfield Electric Cooperative is one of about 1,000 electric cooperatives serving over 25 million Americans nationwide. Electric Cooperatives own and maintain nearly one half the nation's power poles and lines stretching across 70 percent of the United States.

Bayfield Electric Cooperative serves an average of four members per each mile of line compared to investor-owned utilities which average 31 customers per mile of line and municipal utilities which average 65 customers per mile of line.

The mission of Bayfield Electric Cooperative is to provide the best possible electric service at the lowest possible cost.