Tri‑County was incorporated on February 7, 1938 after two years of correspondence with REA. Information was mailed to Mr. William F. Short and Mr. C.L. Christensen, both of Juanita, North Dakota
On January 20, 1937, W.P. McDonald, Foster county agent, asked that information be mailed to 37 people in the Glenfield, Sutton, McHenry, Grace City, Juanita areas. The Glenfield Commercial Club also became involved. On March 26, 1937, Mr. McDonald submitted an application for a loan signed by the officers of the Glenfield Commercial Club. This application included 78 miles of line construction to serve 390 signed applicants in Eddy, Foster and Griggs counties.
The application ran into delay at the main office. The reason given that the funds had been depleted for 1937 and that it would have to wait for the 1938 appropriations.
At this time the power supplier to the towns of Glenfield and McHenry was the Otter Tail Power Company Their rates were $2.50 per KW demand charge and a 1ยข per KWH energy charge which was considered too high for the project.
These villages decided that they would discontinue service from the supplier if power could be obtained from some other source.
Tri‑County became incorporated with the following officers:
President C.F. Bohner, Grace City
Vice‑President F.H. Stafford, McHenry
Secretary-Treasurer W.R. Bronaugh, Glenfield
Directors: K.A. Olsen, Sutton Charles A. Hazlett, Juanita Anton Stene, Brantford Joseph Kreps, Barlow
Attorney C.B. Craven, Carrington
Acting Manager Andrew I: Sharpe, Carrington.
Administrative Order No. 252, dated May 27, 1938, signed by Administrator John M. Carmody, gave approval for an allotment of $102,000 to the Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. subject to the following conditions:
1. "Substantial reduction in wholesale rates quoted by Otter Tail Power Company shall be made." Monarch Elevator Company shall discontinue service to the town of Glenfield, and elevator and town residents shall become customers of the cooperative."
Bids on "A" section were opened on July 25, 1938, for the construction of 81 miles of line to serve 402 members. Rue Construction Company, Bismarck, was the low bidder. The first section of this contract was energized at 6:00 p.m. February 17, 1939. This went from Barlow to Sutton.
The first minimum rate was established at $1.50 per month for which 10-kilowatt hours were allowed. Other farm minimums were established up to $15 per month depending on the distance from the line.
Otter Tail Power Company reduced their original price for the wholesale power so they became the supplier of the power. The first wholesale power bill paid to them was $178.69 for 12,000 kilowatt hours to 280 members for an average use of 43 kilowatt hours per ‑ member for March 1939.
The venture was such a success that construction began to mushroom out in all directions, until the war in 1941 caused a shortage of materials. During 1947 an extensive study was set up by Ulteig Engineering Corporation of Fargo for further development. At this time Tri‑County had 321 miles of line serving 950 members to 4,200 member connects in 1952. In 1963 3,500 miles of lines were in service.
Major problems to the cooperative have been ice storms. In 1958, 1300 poles were lost.
Some of the services that the cooperative provides are:
Calculate and advise on electric heating installations and estimate annual costs of operation. Promote the use of electric appliances through the local appliance dealers and encourage proper service by dealers at a savings to members.
Offer mercury vapor yard lighting service on a cost of service basis.
Provide free planning service on wiring, water and sewer systems, feed processing and all applications of electric power on the farm and in the home.
Help membership obtain financing on water systems and appliances.
Free advice on electrical problems.
Work with rural area development groups and associated organizations in making the Tri‑County area a better place to live and work.
Assist 4‑H groups, vocational agriculture and home economics departments in providing educational projects.
Work with county extension agents in providing planning assistance for things involving the use of electric power.
Attend meetings with our membership to better acquaint them with their organizations, the Tri County Electric Cooperative.
What changes did electricity bring about in the lives of the rural population? All one needs to do is look around the premises and see the part electricity plays in the person's every day life, or just think of the time when the power was not available due to a sleet storm or some other problem.
Besides the lights, heat, appliances that are used in the homes, electricity is important in many other operations on the modern day farm. It has taken much of the hard work and drudgery from farm life and has made it possible for farm families to raise their standard of living.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 105