Mission
La Plata Electric Association, Inc. provides its members safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost while being environmentally responsible.
Vision
Member Powered, Future Focused, National Leader (Updated 10/15/25)
Strategic Goal
Our members will, on average, pay less for electric service than 70% of Colorado cooperatives, and by 2030 we will reduce carbon emissions by more than 80% from 2005 levels, surpassing state climate goals. (Updated 10/15/25)
Board Commitment
As Directors of the LPEA Board, we are committed to leading with integrity, governing with respect, and honoring the trust placed in us as stewards of LPEA’s future. (Updated 10/15/25)
2026-2030 Strategic Plan
Adopted 10/15/25We stand at a turning point in our cooperative’s history. For more than 85 years, LPEA has delivered safe, reliable, and affordable power to our members. That commitment has not changed. What has changed is the opportunity before
us: to take control of our energy future, invest in our own communities, and become a national model for what a modern electric cooperative can achieve.
LPEA was founded in 1939 during the wave of rural electrification that brought light, heat, and opportunity to places the big utilities overlooked. Our founders pulled together, pooled resources, and proved that by working as a cooperative, communities could achieve what once seemed impossible. That same spirit drives us today.
In 2026, LPEA will achieve power supply independence. This is more than a contractual shift. It is a transformational moment. We will source power on our own terms, keeping decisions local and aligned with the priorities of the people we serve. Energy dollars that once left our region will stay here, fueling new projects, new jobs, and new opportunities. This is community power in action.
LPEA now has a new opportunity through the Southwest Power Pool to connect the Western Slope to a vast regional electricity network spanning the central and eastern United States and linking into California’s grid. This unprecedented access gives our cooperative the ability to tap into a diverse mix of electricity, including clean natural gas, solar, and other low-carbon resources, while maintaining local control over how power is delivered. By participating in this regional transmission organization, we can balance supply and demand more efficiently, lower costs, enhance reliability, and position LPEA as a national leader in innovative, future-ready energy solutions.
The energy landscape is evolving faster than ever. Demand for electricity continues to grow as homes, businesses, and entire industries modernize. Our community is not immune to new risks, from rising costs to wildfire threats, and the choices we make today will determine how well we meet these challenges tomorrow.
Our theory of change is simple: by embracing energy independence and leveraging our cooperative principles, we will deliver the greatest possible value to our members. Local control means local priorities come first. Innovation in clean energy and storage means a more reliable, affordable grid. Investment in broadband, resilience, and economic development means stronger communities across our territory. And a commitment to education and engagement ensures that members remain at the center of every decision we make.
This plan lights the way for 2026–2030. It builds on the foundation of our unchanged mission and carries forward a clear vision: to be member powered, future focused, and recognized as a national leader in energy innovation and member service.
Together, we will create a cooperative that is ready for today and prepared for the next generation, where power is more than electricity. It is community, opportunity, and trust.