- An Alliance For Community Action
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The importance of rural electric cooperatives
As we approach November’s critically important General Election, we should take a moment to appreciate another set of consequential elections that take place this summer — rural electric cooperative
board elections.
Rural electric cooperatives are a way for rural communities to have democratic control over their energy, anyone who buys power from one is not just a customer, but also a member-owner of the cooperative. As a member-owner, you get a say in who represents you on the board of directors to make energy decisions such as where your power comes from, who you get it from, what sources are used, and what energy rates you pay. The difference between good boards and bad boards can be drastic, potentially resulting in poorer air quality, less local control of energy, and higher energy prices. This year, Western Colorado Alliance is focused on two particular co-ops — Grand Valley Power (GVP) and Delta Montrose Electric Association (DMEA).
DMEA member-owners turned out for their board member elections in record numbers in June to ensure they will continue to receive top-tier service at affordable rates. DMEA has consistently been among the best rural electric cooperatives in the state of Colorado for a reason; they have always put their member-owners first, have been forward-thinking in transitioning to cheaper, cleaner energy sources, they provide better and more services to those in their territory (such as broadband internet!), and do all of that at rates that are stable and affordable for their community.
We would like to congratulate all three of Western Colorado Alliance’s endorsed candidates and clean energy supporters Ryan Sedgeley (District 1), Steve Metheny (District 2), and Kevin Williams (District 5) on winning their seats on the board where they will serve a three-year term.
On top of their top-tier service and record, DMEA has been a leader in ensuring accountability and transparency for their board. A prime example of this is that for the first time, DMEA allowed digital voting through their bill-pay portal or registered emails on top of traditional methods such as mail-in voting and participation at their annual meeting, which granted more member-owners the chance to easily participate and make their voices heard in their elections process. This resulted in a more than 50% increase in voter turnout, speaking volumes to the importance of increased voter access and how pleased DMEA member-owners are with the trajectory of the current board.
The second co-op we are watching this year is Grand Valley Power, whose member-owners will begin voting on July 8 and close out their elections on August 8, 2024. Three seats are up for election this year, where the top three vote-getters will win a seat. The stakes are high at GVP, where major decisions are soon to be made such as how to handle their transition away from Xcel energy to Guzman Energy, the hiring of a new CEO in the coming years, how solar users at individual, community, and commercial
levels will be handled, and rate changes.
Unlike DMEA, GVP will not offer digital voting, so voting can only be done by mail-in ballot or dropping them off at GVP headquarters.
Rural electric cooperatives are special entities across the country that democratize our energy sources and their management, and this system only works when people like you participate. We count on you to vote to ensure a clean, resilient, and affordable energy future.
Tyler grew up in Grand Junction, graduating from Fruita Monument High School and attending Colorado Mesa University where he graduated in 2016. Since then, Tyler has spent the last six years working on political campaigns of all types from city council and school board up to presidential campaigns at the state level. Tyler is passionate about issues including conservation, energy, and responsible growth of the Western Slope.