Meet the NLI Board: Steve Klatt

By Elissa Glassman

When Northern Lights appointed Steve Klatt to its board of directors in May 2022, it felt like coming full circle. Steve serves District 4, an area covering the southern portion of Bonner County—from the Long Bridge to the Kootenai County line and the Cocolalla Lake area.

His involvement with the cooperative has grown as he continues to learn more about the challenges and opportunities of operating a consumer-owned utility.

Steve’s connection to NLI runs deep. Born in Ritzville, Washington, he moved to the Bonner County area with his family when he was 3. Raised in scenic Garfield Bay, Steve has called this beautiful corner of Idaho home for most of his life, and it is here that he feels a strong sense of belonging. His roots are intertwined with both the land and the electric cooperative that serves the community.

“Northern Lights brought my family here, and I grew up with a personal connection to the co-op,” Steve says.

His father was hired as an NLI engineer in 1955, and the cooperative has been part of the Klatt family ever since.

Growing up, Steve often watched the line crews at work, fascinated by their equipment and skills. The most memorable moment was accompanying his father up to Priest Lake, where he witnessed the line crew’s extending service along the lake’s east side. These experiences left a lasting impression, sparking a lifelong interest in the electrical industry.

“I have always had a great admiration for the line crews and the work they do,” Steve says. “It is a rewarding feeling to be a part of something that is not just a job, but a way of life for so many in our community.”

Steve’s path to the NLI board was shaped by varied experiences. After graduating from Sandpoint High School, Steve briefly attended Eastern Washington University before realizing his passion for business, which led him to a career in construction, project management consulting, and later political involvement. He worked for Bonner County, eventually retiring after running the road department, a role he says required creativity and resourcefulness to stretch limited budgets while improving local infrastructure.

Steve has also served on the Sandpoint City Council and as a Bonner County commissioner. These roles provided valuable experience in balancing the needs of constituents, employees, and fiscal constraints—all while keeping an eye on the future of the area

Through it all, Steve’s heart remained with the rural lifestyle supported by the cooperative he now represents.

Steve’s family life mirrors his deep ties to the land. He and his wife, Susie, raised their daughter, Rachel, who is now married and living in Wyoming with her daughter, Leah. Along the way, Steve and Susie opened their home to a variety of animals—horses, rabbits, chickens, cats, and dogs. Today, they are companions to 2 dogs, Drifter and Finn, and a cat named Pumpkin.

Steve enjoys fishing in the waters of Garfield Bay, tending to his garden— especially harvesting garlic and carrots that he can dig up even in the winter— and relishing the camaraderie of family and old friends.

Serving on the NLI board has given Steve a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the electric industry.

“The more I learn, the more intrigued I become by the paradoxes of electric reliability, the growing demand for power, and the challenges of aging infrastructure,” Steve says. “But I find it rewarding to represent NLI in regional associations, where we work together to ensure we maintain our place in securing affordable electricity for our members.”

For Steve, being a member of the NLI board is about much more than policy and decision-making—it is about preserving the community he grew up in.

“I feel very fortunate to be part of preserving and enhancing the culture of providing affordable and reliable electricity to the rural lifestyle that means so much to our members,” he says.

Through his service, Steve remains committed to ensuring that Northern Lights continues to serve the needs of its members, just as it did for his family all those years ago. In doing so, he keeps the spirit of community and service alive in Bonner County—where the lights continue to shine brightly for generations to come.