DMEA Addresses Copper Theft Incident, Urges Public Vigilance

Montrose, CO— Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) is calling attention to a serious copper theft incident in April. It caused a service disruption at one of its substations and interfered with routine meter data collection.

The theft damaged critical infrastructure and created a ripple effect that impacted the billing process for members in specific billing cycles. As a result, some members may notice that their bills reflect an unusually short or extended billing period. While the timing of the billing may look different, the total energy usage is still accurate and fully accounted for across the two affected cycles.

“Copper theft is not a victimless crime,” said DMEA Chief Administrative Officer Kent Blackwell. “It threatens the safety of our crews, disrupts electric service, increases operational costs, and ultimately affects our entire membership. We are working closely with law enforcement and enhancing substation security to prevent future incidents.”

In response to the theft, DMEA has increased surveillance and installed additional security measures at substations. The cooperative also regularly reviews long-term infrastructure hardening strategies to protect the grid from similar threats.

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

“This type of crime impacts more than infrastructure—it impacts people,” said Blackwell. “We’re grateful for the support of our members and their help in protecting the integrity of the electric system.”

Members with questions about their bill or this incident can call DMEA’s customer support team at 877-687-3632.