By Hillary Knox
La Plata Electric Association
On Monday, Oct. 25, and Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m., La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) will host two virtual town hall meetings to update members on the most recent developments in LPEA’s future power supply negotiations.
“The topic of LPEA’s future power supply has been a hot one for the past several years, with a diversity of opinions regarding how LPEA should be powering our communities,” said LPEA CEO Jessica Matlock. “We are excited to be able to share more concrete details about this ongoing process. It’s taken a lot of hard work and a strong partnership with Tri-State to get to this point. We look forward to sharing this progress with our members and hearing their questions and concerns.”
In August 2019, the LPEA board passed Resolution 2019-10, requesting that staff pursue multiple contract options with Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which currently supplies LPEA with 95 percent of the electricity it delivers to its members in a contract running through 2050. These options include (1) amendments to LPEA’s current contract to allow for more flexibility (2) a partial exit from the contract and (3) a full exit from the contract.
The resolution aimed to ensure that LPEA powers its communities with affordable, reliable and low-carbon electricity. After years of work and negotiations, LPEA and Tri-State will present the latest developments in this process, including a closer look at the partial contract option, which would allow LPEA to secure half its power from Tri-State and half from other sources.
“As part of Tri-State’s Responsible Energy Plan, our member distribution utilities — including LPEA — are working together to ensure each can advance their individual energy, environmental and economic goals,” said Tri-State CEO Duane Highley. “Together, we are making great progress on flexible contract options that can be a win-win for LPEA and our member cooperatives, and Tri-State and the generation and transmission cooperative business model.”
Participation is free, but preregistration is required. For more information on LPEA’s future power supply discussions and to register for a virtual town hall meeting, visit lpea.coop/powersupply.
If members cannot attend, they are encouraged to still register, as LPEA will email the video recording and presentation slide deck to all registrants after the event.
