About Us

Your Local Electric Cooperative 

Freeborn Mower Cooperative Services (FMCS) has a long history of providing honest-to-goodness value. We are a member-owned electric cooperative providing energy to over 18,000 members-owners primarily located in Freeborn and Mower Counties in Southeast Minnesota. Our service area covers approximately 1335 square miles, which includes 2967 miles of distribution line and 27 substations.

We are proud to be a Touchstone Energy Cooperative serving our members with integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to excellent customer service, outstanding value and innovative services designed to meet your changing needs. As a national alliance of electric cooperatives, we are part of the largest electric utility network in the nation, providing power to over 40 million member-owners in 47 states, and serving more than 80% of the geographic area of the U.S.

Our electric energy is supplied by Dairyland Power Cooperative. Dairyland supplies the wholesale electric requirements of 25 electric distribution cooperatives and 14 municipal utilities. These utilities in turn sell energy at retail to nearly half a million people in a five state service area. Dairyland Power is owned by FMCS and 25 other electric distribution cooperatives.

Local ownership and a deep sense of accountability to our member-owners and communities are key aspects to meeting your energy needs - not just today, but for many years to come.

What sets us apart from other electric companies is:                                                                                                                                                                     

• We're owned by the members we serve
• We're operated by local management and employees 
• We're a not-for-profit organization
• Our members contribute to and control the capital of the organization 
• We return profits above expense, to our members
• Organized under the Seven Cooperative Principles 

We've been part of the community for over 82 years.  

Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services provides power to members in Southern Minnesota, primarily Freeborn and Mower Counties through approximately 2,000 miles of power lines, both overhead and underground.   

The Seven Cooperative Principles

1. Voluntary and Open Membership. Because cooperatives are voluntary organizations, membership is open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2. Democratic Member Control. FMCS members have equal voting rights. It doesn't matter how much electricity a member consumes. When it comes to electing directors, each member has one vote.

3. Member Economic Participation. Members contribute equitably to the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative.

4. Autonomy and Independence. Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations, controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

5. Education, Training and Information. Cooperatives provide education and training for members so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative. They inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperation.  

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives. We are "working together, working for you," on many levels. Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-op movement by participating in local, state, regional, national and international cooperative organizations.

7. Concern For Community. This principle focuses on members' needs and prompts cooperatives to work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.