In his 40 years on the line crew, “Smitty” Smith kept the lights on for thousands of people in the Cloquet area and shared many cups of coffee with them. Communication was challenging. The men had to find landline phones to call in for their next assignment. And Smitty and his team set poles the old-fashioned way—with a shovel and plenty of elbow grease.

As an electrical engineer, Michelle Robbins helps new and expanding businesses get connected to power. She depends on her cell phone and computer to keep in close contact with the linemen. Michelle is proudest when she drives by one of those new businesses and sees its lights on.

Today, our employees bring economical, reliable energy to over 137,000 residential, industrial and commercial customers. Together, we’ve spent the last century powering your everyday tasks and lighting your memorable moments. And we want the next 100 years to be even better.