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Saving Energy. Saving Money. Powered by Purpose.

March 30, 2026

You don’t think much about hot water – until you don’t have it. After a couple of days without hot water, Jennifer Walker of St. Joseph knew it was time to replace her family’s water heater.

“When our water heater went out, I called a contractor first and received a quote for a replacement,” Walker said. “I knew it would be expensive either way, so after I got the estimate, I called Stearns Electric. Since our old water heater was electric, I thought maybe the Co-op could help.”

“The person who answered the phone explained exactly what a new water heater would cost, but she also told me about rebates and financing options available,” Walker said. “When we learned we could finance through Stearns Electric and also receive rebates – that made our decision easy.”

The Walkers picked up their new Marathon water heater later that same day.

MARATHON WATER HEATERS
For years, Stearns Electric has offered highly efficient Marathon water heaters to members. 

These units are 92% energy efficient, making them a smart choice for members looking to save energy and money. Their design helps retain heat longer and resist wear over time.

Features include:

• Durable, molded outer shell that resists dents and scratches
• Seamless, rust-proof polybutylene tank
• Thick Envirofoam insulation to reduce heat loss
• Lifetime warranty for as long as you own your home

Stearns Electric offers 50-, 85- and 100-gallon models, along with replacement parts if repairs are ever needed.

“When it’s just the four of us at home, we never run out of hot water,” Walker said. “Sometimes when we have company and we are doing extra laundry, running the dishwasher more or when additional people are taking showers, we get low, but that’s not very often.”

WHY ENERGYWISE® MATTERS
Marathon water heaters enrolled in an EnergyWise® Program such as Stored Water benefit the member, Stearns Electric and the entire Cooperative membership.

By heating water during off-peak hours, when electricity costs less, members save money while helping the Cooperative control wholesale power costs.

Members who participate receive:

• A $7.50 monthly bill credit (minimum usage required)
• Access to rebates for qualifying equipment
• The option for the reduced EnergyWise® rate if alsoenrolled in the Dual Fuel Heating Program

EnergyWise® programs also help reduce peak demand during the times of day when electricity is most expensive. Lower peak demand means lower wholesale costs from Great River Energy, which helps keep rates competitive for all members.

Without programs like EnergyWise®, utilities like Stearns Electric would need to invest in additional generation and transmission infrastructure to meet growing demand.

“We received $400 total in rebates when we purchased our water heater,” Walker said. “There was a special promotion in 2025 for an additional $100 rebate or free water heater delivery to our home. We picked it up ourselves and opted for the additional rebate.”

“We picked up the water heater, had it installed and then waited over the weekend to get it checked out by a member of the Cooperative’s Energy Services department,” she said. “The only thing I wish I would have known ahead of time is to call the Co-op first instead of starting somewhere else.”

Today, the Walkers have reliable hot water and lower energy costs. “I have zero complaints about our electric water heater and being enrolled in the Stored Water Program,” she concluded. “We have hot water every day.”