North Dakota electric cooperatives recognized for 2022 safety achievements

The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) is proud to recognize three individuals and 11 North Dakota electric cooperatives for safety achievements in 2022. Safety is a top priority in the electric utility industry, and NDAREC applauds its members for their accomplishments.

On Jan. 12, NDAREC held an awards ceremony and presented the following awards:

• The Life Saver Award recognizes heroic actions that contribute to life saving efforts of another person. This year, NDAREC presented the award to Kevin Voeller and Pat Gingles, Verendrye Electric Cooperative.  

• The Stepping Up for Safety Award recognizes an outstanding safety advocate who inspires all employees to commit to safe job performance and who has greatly influenced their cooperative’s safety culture. The recipient of this year’s award is Todd Melland, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative.

• The Certificate of Safety Achievement recognizes successful participants of the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP), a national safety program that encourages electric cooperatives to achieve and maintain high safety standards for the protection of employees and the community. The following cooperatives earned this certificate for 2022:

  • Capital Electric Cooperative

  • KEM Electric Cooperative

  • Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative

  • Nodak Electric Cooperative

  • North Central Electric Cooperative

  • Roughrider Electric Cooperative

• The Safety Performance Award is presented to cooperatives with zero recordable injuries for one year. Cooperatives and contractors that achieved this safety initiative between Dec. 1, 2021, and Nov. 30, 2022, are:

  • Capital Electric Cooperative

  • Cavalier Rural Electric Cooperative

  • Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative

  • KEM Electric Cooperative

  • McLean Electric Cooperative

  • Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative

  • Slope Electric Cooperative

Through its safety awards and recognition program, NDAREC has recognized outstanding safety performance for 59 years.

NDAREC is the statewide trade association for 16 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives operating in North Dakota. These distribution cooperatives provide electricity to more than 250,000 North Dakotans. NDAREC services include legislative advocacy, lineworker safety training, professional development and cooperative business development. The association also provides its members with a variety of communication services, including publication of the North Dakota Living magazine.