Generous giving

In 2020 the Otter Tail Power Company Foundation provided donations that helped local organizations fund medical and safety supplies, build homes for those in need, offer student scholarships, provide meals for those who are hungry, educate young minds, and support local art, recreation, and nature facilities. And it prioritized charitable giving to organizations supporting those affected by COVID-19.

Volunteers are the heart of our communities and our employees are always finding ways to lend a helping hand. Otter Tail Power Company Edgeley Service Representative Steve Powers and Network Engineer Cody Lehmann make an Otter Impact through volunteering as firefighters.

We encourage our employees to be a part of their communities in ways that matter most to them. Every summer Otter Tail Power Company’s Fergus Falls Relay for Life team participates in the West Otter Tail Relay for Life event to raise money for the American Cancer Society, which funds cancer research and Hope Lodge stays for those impacted by cancer.

Our service area is home to incredible beauty—from thick forests and open prairies to rushing rivers and serene lakes. We’re good stewards of our surroundings and those who inhabit them, helping create vibrant and vital communities.

Now, more than ever, it's important to unite our communities and give back to those in need. United Way plays an integral role in this, focusing on the education, financial stability, and health of our community members. We continue to be one of United Way's largest supporters in Otter Tail and Wadena Counties

Community is a force for good. And for more than a century our company and employees have partnered with the communities we serve to create meaningful impact.

It’s hard to believe, but 2021 is just around the corner! Our week-eight challenge is to pause and reflect on 2020, celebrate the good, and continue to look for ways to bring light to life in 2021.

Over the past several weeks, Otter Tail Power Company focused on bringing light to life through a series of fun and impactful challenges.

During our week-two #BringLightToLife challenge of giving artfully, we introduced our festive Ollie the Otter coloring page so kids, and kids at heart, could take a moment to color the season with cheer. We sent the page out in some happy mail to elementary schools throughout our three-state, 70,000 square-mile service area and asked for kids to share their pages by December 2 for the chance to be featured in a local newspaper.

As we close out 2020, let's all do what we can to bring light to life. Over the next eight weeks we'll help through a series of fun—and impactful—weekly challenges! This week we expressed appreciation for our veterans.

Otter Tail Power Company's new sustainability website, otpsustainability.com, is live. This interactive and mobile-friendly site is a one-stop shop for the whats, whens, and whys driving the company’s sustainability. It supplements its customer-focused website, otpco.com.

Have you upgraded to light-emitting diode (LED) holiday lights? If not, consider making the switch this year. On Wednesday, November 28, and Thursday, November 29, Otter Tail Power Company will host holiday light exchanges in Bemidji and Fergus Falls, Minnesota.