Northern Plains Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving 11,711 on 6,721 miles of line in North Central North Dakota. Specifically, a 50-70 mile wide area from south of Jamestown, ND to the Canadian border. Northern Plains is one of 16 distribution co-ops in the state; the largest geographically. Formed from the consolidation of Tri-County Electric Cooperative and Baker Electric Cooperative in 1997, Northern Plains is one of 640 electric cooperatives across the nation that are branding themselves as Touchstone Energy Partners. As a Touchstone Energy Partner, Northern Plains must undergo a compliance process every other year to document that it serves its customers with the highest levels of excellence. It must also provide evidence that it truly "has the power" of the Touchstone Energy brand: integrity, innovation, accountability and commitment to community. Northern Plains distributes electricity supplied by Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Western Area Power Administration. A member of the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Northern Plains is governed by a board of directors that are elected by members in district elections held each year.