Powerlines July 2025

Case Closed on the 2025 Annual Meeting

by Jack Johnston, CEO

After cracking the case on our annual gathering, a mystery-themed event, it was a privilege to share DMEA’s accomplishments in 2024 and reveal some of the clues that point to our cooperative’s bright future. I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with all of you who joined us at Hotchkiss K-8 School last month for an evening of cooperative business and family fun. We enjoyed watching over 400 attendees follow clues in our interactive mystery game, sleuthing out the answers to eliminate suspects, and finding whodunit! DMEA is proud to serve our communities with safe, reliable, and affordable electric service, and we hope each stop on your investigation led to a rewarding discovery.

As we wrapped up the fun and shifted our focus to the facts, one of the biggest revelations of 2024 is that your cooperative has kept electric rates steady for six years—a trend we’ve maintained since late 2019. We revisited our focus on safety for staff and members, and highlighted our strong performance on the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP). I was pleased to report that we had no lost time due to accidents or injuries in 2024–our most important responsibility.

Looking ahead to our future energy portfolio, we’re also advancing the case for providing members with reliable energy by taking more power than initially anticipated from the agrivoltaic Garnet Mesa Solar Array. This project will be in production soon and directly provide DMEA thirty megawatts, or approximately 20% of our peak load.

During the meeting, I presented more evidence of providing broadband internet to over 16,000 Elevate customers. Of those subscribers, 2,700 (and growing!) are signed up for our free ElevateIQ, our unique app which provides parental controls, cybersecurity, and prioritization services.

As with any great mystery, the final chapter brought resolution. Three Board of Directors seats were up for election each year as part of our three-year rotation across DMEA’s seven districts and two regions. Please join me in thanking all the candidates who ran and congratulating our re-elected board members, Jacob Gray in District 3 and Emily Sanchez in District 4; as well as our new board seat winner Ken Norris in the South Region.

Even if you couldn’t follow the clues to this year’s meeting, you can still catch a recording on DMEA’s Facebook page at fb.com/dmeacoop and view the annual report at dmea.com/annual-report. Thank you to all the members who joined us in person to participate in DMEA’s annual meeting. I look forward to seeing you at one of our other upcoming events!

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Proposed Bylaw Changes

The DMEA Board of Directors will be considering changes to DMEA bylaws at the board meeting on Tuesday, July 22. To learn more and review the proposed revisions, please visit dmea.com/board-of-directors.

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2025 Board of Director Election Results

The 2024 Delta-Montrose Electric Association’s (DMEA) Board of Directors Election concluded with two incumbent candidates retaining their seats for another three-year term. Members re-elected Jacob Gray in District 3, and Emily Sanchez in District 4. Ken Norris was elected in the South Region. Survey and Ballot Systems conducted the election and ballot tabulation. The final vote is as follows:

District 3

Jacob Gray 3,362 votes (70%)
Gary Hubbell 1,031 votes (21.5%)
Demitir Stelter 409 votes (8.5%)

District 4

Emily Sanchez 3,107 votes (66.4%)
Robert (Jeff) Hubbard 1,125 votes (26%)
Shelley Kelley 365 votes (7.6%)

South Region

Ken Norris 2,254 votes (47.6%)
Jock Fleming 1,280 votes (27%)
Joseph (Joe) Simo 1,200 votes (25.3%)

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See Something, Say Something

Copper theft is on the rise around the country and in DMEA territory–and it is not a victimless crime. It threatens the safety of our crews, disrupts electric service to you, increases operational costs, and ultimately aspects our entire membership.

DMEA is asking the community to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity near substations, power poles, or other utility equipment. Quick action can help prevent dangerous and costly disruptions to electric service.

See something suspicious near electrical equipment? Report it to law enforcement.

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Creating Future Legends

At Montrose County School District, students aren’t waiting for the future, they’re creating it. With Elevate Internet in every classroom, they’re doing more than learning—they’re launching.

From VR to coding, they’re gaining skills for careers that don’t exist yet. This is more than access. It’s acceleration. Elevate helps students face challenges, seize opportunities, and shape
their own stories.

And now, with new lower pricing, it’s easier than ever to bring the Elevate Legend home.

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Concern for Community

Left: A young participant displays their t-shirt at the Hotchkiss Library. Middle: Music coloring the ears of listeners at the Summer Music Series at Paonia Library. Right: An iris is recreated on a t-shirt at Cedaredge Library.

Summer Reading Program is Coloring our World

Hundreds of Delta County families participate in the Delta County Library District Summer Reading Program (SRP) every year. This community-sustained program inspires children, teens, and adults to read and explore through exciting and relevant programs, reading incentives, and special activities all summer long.

Registration for the Summer Reading Program, “Color Our World”, is open! This year’s program features a variety of creative activities designed to brighten minds and spark imaginations—including T-shirt decorating parties, workshops, and hands-on artistic adventures. The eight-week program offers opportunities for participants of all ages to read, learn, and connect—whether it’s coloring the pages of a new favorite book under the shade of a cottonwood tree, sharing a story on the back porch at sunset, or reading aloud in a pillow fort on a rainy afternoon.

Throughout the summer, readers will be “coloring their world” one book at a time—earning prizes along the way and filling their days with the magic of stories. Registration is free!

"This is the most fun I have ever had at a library!" — Teen Participant in Laser Tag Lockdown at the Paonia Library

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How we helped

Elevate contributed $3,000 to sponsor the Summer Reading Program this year in Delta County. The Delta County Libraries Foundation, Altrusa, Friends of the Libraries, and numerous businesses throughout Delta County have also contributed to this year’s program.

How you can help

Join your community at the libraries for a colorful, fun-filled summer! Drop in to one of the five Delta County Libraries or visit deltalibraries.org/summer-reading-program to sign up and find reading logs.

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Elevate 101 Fall Sessions

Feeling lost in our digital world? Elevate is here to help!

Learn the basics of internet use, streaming TV, smart devices, and more. All classes are from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and are free of charge! Refreshments will be provided.

Intro to Streaming - Two sessions

Join Elevate Internet experts to tap into the world of on-line TV. Learn about the differences between cable, live streaming, and on-demand TV, and figure out what’s best for you.

Tuesday, August 12, Montrose
DMEA Office, Grand Mesa Community Room
11925 6300 Road, Montrose

Thursday, September 25, Delta
Delta Library Community Room
124 E 6th Street, Delta

Participate to win fantastic prizes!

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The Electric Strip

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