Tricounty Rural Electric Cooperative’s 89th Annual Meeting was held virtually on Wednesday, September 16, at 10:00 a.m., broadcast on the co-op’s YouTube channel. 

Board election results were announced, with two districts up for election this year:

• District 2 trustee winner: Incumbent David Clapp (representing Washington and Liberty Townships in Henry County) was reelected.
• District 3 trustee winner: Matt Ohlrich (representing Pleasant, Napoleon, Flatrock and Marion townships in Henry County and Liberty and Van Buren townships in Putnam County) was elected to the board.

This year’s trustee elections were conducted by mail and allowed for electronic voting through Tricounty’s website. Voting ran from Aug. 1 through Aug. 31 and was administered by Survey and Ballot Systems, an independent third-party company.

Members who tuned in to the meeting heard reports on the co-op’s financial standing and operations from board leadership. Board President Marvin Green relayed that $744,847 was invested in the utility plant this year, which included the completion of the Maroe Substation, upgrades to equipment, building new lines, and rebuilding of aging distribution lines. Nearly $721,000 was also invested in maintenance and right-of-way work across Tricounty’s 624 miles of line.

Green reported that nearly $823,000 was returned to current and previous members in December 2025 through Capital Credits retirements and estate payments, marking the 48th consecutive year of general retirements. Since 1950, the co-op has returned more than $23.4 million in capital credits to its member-owners. Over $640,000 will be returned through Capital Credits to current and previous members in December 2026.

Reliability was also a key focus of the meeting. Tricounty Rural Electric Cooperative CEO Brett Perkins highlighted the importance of the ongoing work to strengthen the system through line rebuilds and a 12.5-mile tie line between the McClure and Maroe substations.

“These investments strengthen reliability for our members,” Perkins said.

On rates, Perkins explained that while controllable costs have risen only 1-2% annually, uncontrollable expenses such as fuel and transmission have all risen at a pace of over 10%. These have impacted Tricounty’s wholesale Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) line item on members’ bills.

“Our goal is always to keep rates competitive while maintaining financial strength,” Perkins said. “However, there is a strong likelihood that a small rate adjustment will be needed in 2027.”

Tricounty also reported another year with no lost-time accidents or electrical contacts. The co-op continues to prioritize safety through monthly employee trainings, high-voltage safety demonstrations, and safety education in the Ohio Cooperative Living magazine.

In addition, Tricounty hosted its annual Member Appreciation Day at Sauder Village in July, where nearly 500 members and guests attended.

Perkins closed the meeting by thanking members for their continued support.

“Our mission is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity, 24/7, 365 days a year,” he said. “We encourage members to contact us with any questions about their co-op.”

Members can view the annual meeting broadcast online here or call the office at 419-256-7900 with questions.