LPEA, our local electric co-op, is well managed, always keeping the interests of its members in mind. Whenever I have been seeking advice or information, the staff has been knowledgeable and helpful. In addition, I am continuously impressed with LPEA’s Round-Up board, an independent foundation funded by members’ rounding up their electric bills. The foundations board, different from the LPEA board, carefully selects grants recipients funding programs of local nonprofit organizations.
I find it amazing that despite 25% inflation over the past five years, doubling or more of equipment costs and Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association’s rate increases, LPEA has managed to keep its rate increase to about 1.5% per year, an accomplishment that is rarely acknowledged.
By leaving Tri-State, our co-op is finally not restricted to a 5% local generation limit. As a result, LPEA was able to enter into a contract with the Vallecito hydropower plant providing local electricity for about 850 homes. The more local generation, be this hydro power or another solar plant, rooftop solar on individual homes or battery storage, the greater our network resiliency. Also, LPEA can now purchase electricity at beneficial rates on the national market. These are the benefits of being independent and making use of our free market system.
In summary, I am thanking LPEA’s Board of Directors and our co-op staff for having undertaken the challenging exit from Tri-State keeping money local and supporting our community.
Werner Heiber
Durango
