Your voice matters at Kootenai Electric Cooperative (KEC). For 87 years, we’ve been owned and governed by those we serve. Your participation in our Annual Meeting and vote in our election is one way your voice helps our cooperative.
Join us for KEC’s 87th Annual Meeting on September 13, 2025, at Woodland Middle School located at 2101 St. Michelle Dr. in Coeur d’Alene. This is a great way to stay informed about what’s happening at your cooperative. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the business meeting starts at
9 a.m. Each member household attending the Annual Meeting will have a chance to win a prize. Members must be present to win.
After the meeting, stop by our Member Appreciation Event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at nearby Bluegrass Park located at 6071 N. Courcelles Pkwy. in Coeur d’Alene. The event includes a free grilled hot dog lunch and gifts, as well as fun activities for the whole family including inflatable slides, a 360° camera, face painting and a kids’ activity booth.
2025 Election Details
In late July, watch your email and mailbox for details about KEC’s election. For your convenience, you will be able to vote by mail ballot, online, or via SmartHub. The election will run from July 28-August 18, 2025. The results will be announced at the Annual Meeting, online and in our newsletter. Please note: in-person voting will not be available at the Annual Meeting.
Board of director districts 1, 4 and at-large are up for election in 2025. Elected directors serve three-year terms. Visit www.kec.com to learn more about the board candidates.
KEC’s board of directors are also recommending the ratification of five proposed amendments to KEC’s bylaws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the total members voting on each of the proposals summarized below will effect those changes.
Proposal 1: Modernizing and Clarifying Existing Bylaws:
This proposes updates to outdated language in the bylaws to improve clarity without changing their original intent. This includes replacing terms like “notwithstanding” with more commonly understood language. The update also removes the unnecessary requirement for directors to physically sign amended bylaws, reducing administrative burden while maintaining legal compliance through meeting minutes.
Proposal 2: Expanded Definition of “Close Relative”:
To maintain board objectivity, the definition of a “close relative” will now include individuals in a domestic partnership (i.e., living together), not just those legally married. This reflects modern relationships and helps prevent potential conflicts of interest earlier.
Proposal 3: Updated Petition Process for Board Candidacy:
Currently, members can run for the board by collecting signatures from just 15 active members—a threshold unchanged since 1938 which then represented 8% of all active members. The proposal increases the number of required signatures to 5% of active members. The change is intended to ensure candidates meet a level of support and qualifications comparable to those vetted by the independent Nominating Committee.
Proposal 4: Streamlined Process for Filling Board Vacancies:
If a director resigns mid-term, the board currently must hold elections at the next annual meeting—even if only a short time remains in the term. This proposal allows appointed replacements to serve out the full remaining term, reducing disruption and preserving continuity. Ultimately, and crucially, the membership ratifies the appointed director the first time that seat comes up for re-election following the appointment.
Proposal 5: Code of Conduct for Directors:
To support professional, respectful, and engaged board governance, this proposal authorizes the adoption of a director Code of Conduct. It includes expectations for meeting preparation and decorum, and enables disciplinary action by board supermajority in serious cases. Directors removed for cause would be barred from future board service. Such a provision is needed to ensure the decorum that currently exists is preserved and safeguarded.
A full version of KEC’s bylaws and the proposed changes are available on our Bylaws & Policies page or by calling our office at 208.765.1200. I encourage you to take the time to vote.