As a longtime Durango resident and LPEA member, I am increasingly troubled by a lack of transparency around our electric co-op’s financial contributions to nonprofit organizations. While many of us support worthy causes, LPEA is spending money collected from ratepayers – yet we have little to no say where those funds go or how they are used.
Recently, a member formally requested financial information under LPEA’s own Policy 108. The goal was simple: find out whether our co-op has provided donations or in-kind support to advocacy groups like San Juan Citizens Alliance or Local First – organizations that are deeply involved in shaping LPEA policy and board elections. The request was met with partial responses and redacted data.
Why should LPEA, the entity we all pay into, get to decide what its own members are allowed to know? Worse still, we now know that San Juan Citizens Alliance has given thousands of dollars in campaign support to LPEA board candidates in the form of in-kind contributions.
This raises real questions: Has LPEA ever directly or indirectly funded groups that are simultaneously trying to influence its governance? If so, that is not just a conflict of interest, it is an accountability crisis.
This co-op belongs to its members, not to any one political group or agenda. Co-op members should be provided more financial transparency from the LPEA board.
Gerry Cuca
Durango
