Powerlines October 2026

The Cooperative Difference: Why Membership Matters

by Jack Johnston, CEO

October is National Cooperative Month—a time to celebrate what makes cooperatives different and, more importantly, what makes DMEA different.

As a member-owned cooperative, DMEA exists for one reason: to serve you. We don’t answer to shareholders or investors. Our members are our owners, and that means the decisions we make, such as investments in our electric system and how we approach rising costs, are made with our community in mind.

That distinction matters, particularly as the cost of providing reliable electricity continues to increase. Like many electric cooperatives, DMEA is facing pressures from rising wholesale power costs, equipment and material expenses, and the investments needed to maintain a safe, reliable system. We are committed to managing those costs responsibly and looking for ways to minimize their impact on members.

The cooperative model gives us a different perspective. Our board of directors is elected by our members and is accountable to the communities we serve. Any margins generated by DMEA are reinvested in the cooperative and, when financially appropriate, returned to members through capital credits.

And our commitment goes beyond the electric meter. From scholarships and Operation Round Up to economic development, community partnerships, and supporting our neighbors when they need us most, we invest where we live because this is our home, too.

Being a DMEA member means more than receiving electricity. You have a voice, an ownership stake, and a cooperative that is committed to serving you. That’s the cooperative difference. And it’s worth celebrating.

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Round Up. Make Change.

Your cents make a big difference in people's lives.

When you sign up for DMEA’s Operation Round Up and pay your electricity bill, you are helping others in our community.

Ways to Sign Up for Operation Round Up:

Visit dmea.com/operation-round-up or call 877-687-3632.

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24/7 Chat

Accessible & Convenient

Elevate is expanding its customer support experience by launching 24/7 chat support, providing another convenient way to connect with Elevate whenever assistance is needed.

A New, Always-on Service

Elevate’s chat is designed to make customer support more accessible and flexible. Questions and connectivity needs don’t always happen during traditional business hours and Elevate’s chat support meets people where they are.

Assistance Outside of a Standard Workday

With 24/7 chat, customers have another option that fits their schedule and their communication preferences.

Find Elevate chat support at elevateinternet.com/support.

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What to Consider When Going Solar

If you are considering installing solar on your home or business, DMEA encourages you to research your options carefully and obtain multiple quotes before deciding. Solar can be a great investment for some members, but every property, energy usage pattern, and financial situation is different.

Before signing a contract, contact DMEA for accurate information about:

Net Metering: How net metering with DMEA works with your system and on your bill.
Your DMEA Bill: How solar generation may affect your monthly electric bill.
Interconnection: DMEA’s interconnection requirements and process.
What to Expect: DMEA’s interconnection requirements and process.

DMEA does not endorse, recommend, or partner with any specific solar sales company, installer, or contractor. Make sure you understand how solar works with your electric service so you can make an informed decision.

Before signing a solar agreement:

Contact DMEA’s Energy Services Specialist Rod Geiger at rod.geiger@dmea.com or 970-240-1258.

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The Legend Is Here

Have You Spotted Him?

It's the time of year when monsters, kitty cats, and pirates are on the prowl, and this year you just might spot Gigfoot out there. Just don’t be surprised if he appears and your internet suddenly gets faster and more reliable.

Need to make sure you don't miss a moment of suspense and thrill during that scary movie? Elevate's Streamer plan is making a legendary appearance with 1 Gig internet for just $59.95/month for your first three months.

Switching Isn't Scary

Elevate is full of friendly, local experts who know the communities they serve. And if you happen to spot large footprints leading to your front door, don't be alarmed. Just be sure to keep some cheeseballs on hand in case Gigfoot stops by.

Grab this Streamer offer before it disappears after dark, or check out our other packages at elevateinternet.com/internet.

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Concern for Community

Celebrating Young Women with Tradition

The Cedaredge Women’s Literary Club (CWLC) celebrated 75 years of consecutive events honoring the Cedaredge Graduating Girls with the annual Senior Tea. This year, DMEA’s Operation Round Up contributed $250 for this event.

In the event’s inception in 1951, the women of the Literary Club wanted to thank the high school girls for all the help they gave in setting up the town’s library, and a tradition was born. Since then, the Cedaredge Women’s Literary Club has hosted this event every spring. A menu is carefully planned for luncheon delights, preparation is divvied up among club volunteers and they decorate with fresh flowers, and white linens.

Books and other gifts are given to each graduate. Each girl is invited to share their future plans, and a motivational speaker highlights the accomplishments of graduating. The spirit of the event honors each girl, and expresses the good wishes the mature women of the area have for their individual and collective futures.

“We hear from the mothers, and even grandmothers, of the girls being honored this year who remember their own Senior Tea. This long-time tradition celebrates the accomplishments of young women in Cedaredge and highlights our vision of promoting literacy in the community.”— Susan Wilmot, CWLC Treasurer

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How You Can Help:

Sign up for Operation Round Up or support the club through membership, financial contribution, or volunteering they can continue honoring future generations of Cedaredge girls and promoting literacy. Contact them via their Facebook page: Cedaredge Women's Literary Club.

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National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

By Phillip Marshall, IT Manger

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which makes it a natural time to talk about passwords, phishing, software updates, and all the technology designed to keep us safe online.

Slow Down Before You Click

Before clicking, ask a few questions. Was I expecting this? Does the request make sense? Is the sender really who they claim to be? Can I verify this another way?

Protect Your Digital Identity

Using a unique password for each account helps prevent one compromised password from putting several accounts at risk. Multifactor authentication, or MFA, adds another layer by requiring additional proof that you are really you. That might be an authenticator app, security key, biometric check, or another verification method.

Updates Matter

Updates frequently include security fixes for vulnerabilities discovered after software was released. This applies beyond the computer on a desk. Phones, tablets, web browsers, applications, smart devices, and home networking equipment run software.

Layer Good Judgment and Technology

ElevateIQ provides tools to manage and monitor the home network while adding built-in protection against viruses, malware, and other online threats. Tools like these do not replace good cybersecurity habits, they support them.

Get ElevateIQ today!

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The Electric Strip

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