February 2021 Colorado Country Life

January 2021 Colorado Country Life

Don’t Get Scammed

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association (SDCEA) cautions consumers not to be fooled by impersonators who claim to be from SDCEA and threaten disconnection...

Awesome Summer Adventures Await

Attention high school students, if you are interested in an intriguing, all-expenses-paid experience this summer, please fill out an application for the electric...

Scholarship Applications Due in January

In 2021, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association will award one four-year scholarship at $2,000 per year (which is available to a graduating high...

December 2020 Colorado Country Life

SDCEA Prioritizes Vegetation Management

Everyone with electric service on SDCEA’s lines has a stake in protecting our region from the threat of a catastrophic wildfire. The threat...

November 2020 Colorado Country Life

Daly Earns Director Gold Certificate

SDCEA director Dan Daly earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Director Gold Credential, the highest level of achievement in NRECA’s Board Director...

Portable Generator Safety

The misuse of a portable generator following a storm can easily kill or sicken storm survivors. That misuse can also knock out more...

CCCF Awards $32,350 from SDCEA Community Grant Program

The Chaffee County Community Foundation awarded $32,350 in charitable grants in early July to 18 organizations serving Chaffee, Lake, Fremont, and Custer counties,...

SDCEA Earns CREA Safety Award

For the second year in a row, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association has been recognized with a No Lost Time Accidents safety award...

October 2020 Colorado Country Life

Considering Solar?

Are you thinking about, or has a company approached you about, installing solar panels? We want you to be an informed consumer before...

Capital Credit Refunds

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association (SDCEA) is a non-profit electric cooperative. At the end of the year, our financial statements show whether revenue...

September 2020 Colorado Country Life

Vegetation Management

Clearing SDCEA’s rights of way of trees and brush is an ongoing project expected to continue for the next several years throughout our...

Generation & Transmission Cooperatives

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association is a distribution cooperative, purchasing wholesale power from Tri-State to deliver along our lines. SDCEA is a rural...

August 2020 Colorado Country Life

SDCEA’s Business Model

Governance Sangre de Cristo Electric Association is a cooperative, a form of business owned and controlled by the people who use it— members,...

Vegetation Management Efforts Underway

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association’s vegetation management efforts, focused on the Cotopaxi and Howard areas in Fremont County earlier this year, have now...

Trout Creek Community Solar – Buy Local!

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association’s Trout Creek Community Solar program allows residential members to subscribe to either 1 kilowatt or 2 kilowatt blocks...

Kelly Re-Elected To Board

Suzy Kelly was re-elected to a three-year term on Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Board of Directors in the seat representing members in...

Contractors Working in Sangre de Cristo Electric’s Service Territory

In our efforts to provide safe and reliable electric service to our consumers, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association has contracted with Powerline Inspection...

July 2020 Colorado Country Life

Scholarships Awarded by SDCEA

Eighteen central Colorado students looking to pursue higher education this fall were awarded Sangre de Cristo Electric Association scholarships earlier this spring. High...

SDCEA 2020 Director Candidates Q&A

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit, corporate cooperative that provides electric service to about 13,000 accounts in five counties. SDCEA...

June 2020 Colorado Country Life

Preventing Disaster – SDCEA’s Vegetation Management Program

Work continues on SDCEA’s vegetation management project near the Cotopaxi and Howard areas. Later this summer, the project will shift to the Twin...

May 2020 Colorado Country Life

Helping Those In Need

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association looks forward to partnering with our regional communities to aid in the recovery effort from the impacts of...

2020 Annual Meeting Note

  NOTICE OF CANCELLATION: Due to current public health restrictions and the uncertainty surrounding future public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sangre de...

SDCEA Decommissions Wind Turbine

The Skystream 3.7 mini-turbine windmill, which was located near the entrance of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association’s headquarters in Buena Vista for 13...

April 2020 Colorado Country Life

Board Nomination Petitions Due Friday, April 24

Are you interested in how your electric cooperative is governed? Do you have leadership qualities and want to make a difference? Consider running...

Sangre de Cristo Electric Selects Three Students for 2020 Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.

Salida High School students Hannah Rhude and Daniel Richardson, and Cotopaxi Consolidated Schools student Jonah Bertolino will represent their respective schools, communities and...

March 2020 Colorado Country Life

Signs of Spring

Soon there will be signs of spring in central Colorado, and your thoughts may be turning to outside projects. Sangre de Cristo Electric...

February 2020 Colorado Country Life

SDCEA Working to Reduce the Risk Posed by Vegetation Near Power Lines

We understand our consumers value trees and vegetation around their properties, as does SDCEA. Vegetation is an important part of the natural beauty...

Annual Meeting and Director Elections

ANNUAL MEETING The Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Board of Directors set June 9, 2020, for the cooperative’s 80th annual meeting at Mt....

January 2020 Colorado Country Life

2020 Scholarship Applications – Due January 9th

SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE APPROACHING In 2020, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc. will award one four-year scholarship at $2,000 per year (which is available...

Apply by January 9th – 2020 Washington D.C. Youth Tour

APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHING Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc., is now accepting applications for the 2020 Washington D.C. Youth Tour. Current high school...

Vegetation Management to Increase in 2020

Sangre de Cristo Electric plans to increase its vegetation management efforts in 2020 to clear trees and overgrown vegetation along company rights-of-way. Due...

Why does SDCEA send Colorado Country Life to all members?

SDCEA is bound by state statute (HB 10-1098) and SDCEA bylaws to publish certain information in ways that are accessible to its full...

Accountants Association Meeting in Buena Vista

Hosted by SDCEA in Buena Vista, the Colorado Rural Electric Accountants Association meeting September 9–11 focused on current trends and practices of accounting...

Why Does My Bill Go Up In The Winter?

Your electric bill is based on the amount of power you use each month. During colder winter months, Sangre de Cristo Electric consumers...

November 2019 Colorado Country Life

Prepay Metering Program Added by SDCEA

Sangre de Cristo has a new program to manage your account – prepay. Prepay allows consumers to purchase electricity on a pay-as-you-go basis,...

SDCEA Welcomes New COO

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association recently named Bryon Stilley its new chief operations officer. As COO, Stilley will lead the oversight of all...

Crites Appointed to TFACC

SDCEA Accounting Lead Sarah Crites was recently honored with an appointment to serve on an advisory group that plans the national Tax, Finance...

October 2019 Colorado Country Life

COO Pat Bernhardt Retires

Longtime employee Pat Bernhardt retired from Sangre de Cristo Electric Association at the end of the summer. Pat rose through the ranks at...

SDCEA Hosts Electric Cooperative Managers

By Paul Erickson, Chief Executive Officer Electric cooperative managers from the four-state region served by Tri-State Generation and Transmission met in July at...

See an Animal Stranded High Up on a Power Pole? Call Us!

My cat (or another animal) is stuck high on a power pole. Now what? Never, ever attempt to climb the pole to reach...

Solar Panel Options For SDCEA Consumers

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association consumers interested in cutting their power bill by installing solar panels, please call our office first. We want...

2020 Youth Tour Scheduled: Applications Available Soon

The 2020 Electric Cooperative Washington D.C. Youth Tour is scheduled for June 18-25, 2020. Current high school sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible...

Myths & Misconceptions About Power Lines

Have you ever wondered why a bird can sit on a live wire or what you should do if a power line is...

Charitable Contribution Matching

We have some exciting news. Sangre de Cristo Electric Association wants to help you support charitable organizations. If you are a member of...

Colorado’s Electric Cooperatives Sponsor Junior Livestock Sale At State Fair

More than $500,000 went to rural young people who brought championship livestock to the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo in August. The annual...

Do You Know These People?

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc., has money for the people listed below. As an electric cooperative, SDCEA belongs to the people we...

September 2019 Colorado Country Life

Why Do I Pay a Service Availability Charge?

In order for electricity to be available at a home or business when a consumer wants to flip a switch or turn on...

Trout Creek Solar Wire-Cutting Ceremony

The Trout Creek Solar plant was celebrated in a wire-cutting (ribbon-cutting) ceremony July 12. SDCEA and its partners in the project gathered to...

August 2019, Colorado Country Life

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Annual Meeting

Sangre de Cristo Electric held its 79th Annual Meeting June 20 in Westcliffe at Cliff Lanes. Featured speakers at the meeting included Ellen...

Trout Creek Solar Plant

By Paul Erickson, CEO Earlier this summer, a major milestone was marked by Sangre de Cristo Electric Assn., Inc.: a celebration of the...

Happenstances with Hairy Creatures

Stories of unforeseen encounters with mammoth mammals By Dennis Smith | Outdoors@coloradocountrylife.org If you knock around the Colorado boonies long enough, you’re bound to...

Lighting the Way for Sillab

Oklahoma and Colorado electric cooperatives to bring first-time electricity to isolated village in Guatemala By Anna Politano Oklahoma Living Magazine Editor Sitting at 2,700...

Keeping Pets (And Energy Bills) Comfortable

By Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen We love our pets and we love saving energy. This month, we’re answering some common energy efficiency...

July 2019, Colorado Country Life

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Always Assume a Downed Power Line is Deadly

Overhead power lines carry thousands of volts of electricity. If a line is down, always assume it is energized and dangerous, even if...

S’more Morsels of Deliciousness, Please!

A change of perspective on the sweet staple

Cotopaxi Scholarship Winners

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc., awarded 16 scholarships to students in central Colorado this spring. Cotopaxi High School recipients included Abigail McNeal,...

Let’s Get Creative

Take an art-themed trip through Colorado’s Western slope By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer Wine festivals, art gallery openings, farmers markets, rodeos, film festivals, studio tours...

Welcome Jenny Nall — New Customer Service Representative

Jenny Nall became Sangre de Cristo Electric Association’s new customer service representative in April. “It is nice being part of a cooperative and...

From The Editor

Exploring the artistic side

Buena Vista Now Boasts Most modern Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Buena Vista area drivers now have access to the most modern electric vehicle charging station available. Through a $39,000 grant awarded from the...

A Cache of Color

Add vibrancy to your garden with annuals By Vicki Spencer Master Gardener | gardening@coloradocountrylife.org It wasn’t long ago that our early season perennials,...

Remembering Dad

D-Day commemorations, Father’s Day brings back pleasant memories

Co-ops Support Energy Efficiency

State Science Fair finalists invited to attend Colorado Rural Electric Association’s Energy Innovations Summit

Customer Service Representative Jayme Greenfield Retires

A familiar face to most people who have walked through Sangre de Cristo Electric Association’s doors in the last decade, Jayme Greenfield retired...

Get Smart! Energy-Saving Apps and Devices

By Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen Every new piece of technology seems to come with a lot of promise, doesn’t it? Then we...

2018 Financials

New Legislative Rules Curb Greenhouse Gas

Colorado’s electric cooperatives will be reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted from their power supplies to meet new requirements stemming from Colorado’s...

Ahead of the Game

Use downtime now to prepare meals for future fast-paced days By Amy Higgins | RECIPES@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG “Be prepared.” Yes, this is the scout motto,...

June 2019, Colorado Country Life

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Clean Water for Guatemala

Colorado’s electric cooperatives are raising money for water filters for Guatemalan families. When the Colorado-Oklahoma international team heads to Sillab, Guatemala, in August...

Sangre De Cristo Electric Association 2018 Annual Report

By Joe Redetzke Board President and Paul Erickson CEO In 2018, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association experienced growth in the number of services provided to consumers...

Time for some Colorado adventures

By Mona Neeley Editor It’s June. Do you have weekend getaways and summer vacations planned? Since we live in Colorado, we don’t have to...

Annual Meeting

By Paul Erickson, CEO Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc. will hold its annual meeting beginning at 10 a.m. June 20 at Cliff...

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Awards 17 Scholarships

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc., awarded 17 scholarships to students in central Colorado this spring. High school, college and trade school students...

Board Member Profile

Q&A With Dan Daly, Director-at-Large Area you represent on the board: Director-at-Large, representing all of our nearly 13,000 members. Hometown? I grew up...

Scholarships

4-Year Scholarship, $2,000 a Year $1,000 Scholarships Sponsored Jointly by Tri-State and SDCEA $1,000 Scholarship Sponsored by Basin Electric 1-Year $2,000 Scholarship

Charitable Contribution Matching Program

We have some exciting news! Sangre de Cristo Electric Association wants to help you support charitable organizations. If you are a member of...

December 2018 Colorado Country Life

Local Business Spotlight — The View Cafe & Gifts

The View Cafe & Gifts The Best Western Vista Inn 733 U.S. Highway 24 N Buena Vista, CO 719-395-3100 • www.bwvistainn.com How long...

Employee Profile — Q&A with Christopher Eastin, Custodian

Job Description: Everything from making coffee to cleaning toilets, just not at the same time. Hometown? Towns. Willits, California; Washington, D.C.; Myrtle Beach, South...

Agreement Signed for Trout Creek Project Go-Ahead

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc., has announced that a 36-year site license agreement is in place to proceed with construction of the...

Employee Updates

Ryan Doke Named Line Superintendent Ryan Doke was named line superintendent at Sangre de Cristo Electric Association in July. Doke has worked at...

It Takes a Balanced Approach to Provide Power for Consumers

Every day we provide our consumers with safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and affordable power. We can provide this essential service because our power...

Local Business Spotlight — Alpine Lumber Company

Alpine Lumber Company 212 N. Colorado Avenue, Buena Vista, CO 719-395-8601 • alpinelumber.com Alpine Lumber Company is employee-owned and was founded in Englewood...

Do You Know Where These People Are?

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc., has money for the people listed below. As an electric cooperative, SDCEA belongs to the people we...

Chris McGinnis Earns Communications Certification

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc., is pleased to announce that Chris McGinnis, communications specialist, has earned recognition as a professional communicator in...

Fire Restrictions

In June, Sangre de Cristo implemented fire prevention procedures when restoring power after outages to reduce the risk of wildfire. During fire prevention...

Dana Douty Retires After 39 Years with SDCEA

Dana Douty, former Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Line Superintendent, retired from the company in July. “There’s no better job in the valley,”...

Your Bill Has A New Look

Consumers will notice a new look to Sangre de Cristo bills beginning in September. The company that produces SDCEA’s bills upgraded its soft-...

Tracy Linza Earns PHR Certification

Tracy Linza, administrative assistant III at Sangre de Cristo Electric, earned the prestigious Professional and Human Resources certification, or PHR, in July. To...

SDCEA Sponsors Students Attending June’s Washington D.C. Youth Tour

SDCEA sponsored five students who attended the 2018 Washington D.C. Youth Tour in June. Three of those students, Delilah Sander, A.J. Smethers and...

Annual Meeting Recap

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association held its annual meeting in Cotopaxi this year on June 20. Featured guest speakers included Mike McInnes, CEO...

SDCEA Announces New Chairman Of The Board

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc,. announced Vice President Joe Redetzke as the elected president of its board of directors, effective June 27....

It’s Not Just a Green Metal Box

You’re aware of those green metal boxes in neighborhood yards, but do you know what they’re for? These boxes contain pad-mounted transformers that...

Employee Profile — Q&A with Sarah McMahon, Chief Administrative Officer

Responsibilities include: Governance, IT, HR & benefits, communications and metering. Best way to describe my job: “Other duties as assigned.” Hometown? Born and...

SDCEA Summertime Operation Notices

SDCEA would like to let you know about a couple of operational items that may affect your power supply during the next few...

Play It Safe Around Lightning

There’s nothing like spending a warm day outside enjoying your favorite sports activity, whether it’s on the golf course, baseball diamond or a...

All in a Day’s Work

Earlier this spring, several power poles were replaced by SDCEA crews working in the Cotopaxi and Texas Creek area. Poles used in this...

Culp Closes Out Career At Sangre de Cristo

Lynn Culp, a 40-year employee of Sangre de Cristo Electric, retired June 1. Lynn was the company purchasing agent. He began his career...

July, 2018 Colorado Country Life

Report from the President and CEO

The 2017 Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Annual Report Narrative By Board President Don Kaufman and CEO Paul Erickson Sangre de Cristo Electric...

Financials

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Annual Report – Finances Comparative Balance Sheet Assets 12/31/16 12/31/17 Total utility plant $62,209,265 $63,466,790 Accumulated provision for...

77th Annual Meeting Minutes

Part of The 2017 Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Annual Report June 8, 2017 | Buena Vista, Colorado The 77th Annual Meeting of...

Looking Forward to the Annual Meeting on June 20

By Paul Erickson, Chief Executive Officer Sangre de Cristo Electric Association’s annual meeting is next month—10 a.m., June 20 at the Cotopaxi Consolidated...

Keep Track Of Your Electric Usage

Want some ways to keep track of your electric usage? Electric meters keep track of the electricity you use in your home. With...

Q&A With SDCEA Board Member Suzy Kelly

Name and area you represent on the board: Suzanne Kelly (Suzy). I represent Rural Chaffee/Lake Counties. Hometown: I was born in Ft. Dodge,...

Scholarship Winners Announced

Dependents of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association members recently competed for scholarships provided by SDCEA and in conjunction with power suppliers Tri-State Generation...

National Lineman Appreciation Day

Every year we take a day to thank our lineworkers who are dedicated to keeping the lights on in our homes, farms and...

Plan Ahead To Dig Safely This Spring

Before picking up your shovel for your next outdoor digging project, take the necessary steps for safety or you just might dig up...

Look Up and Watch For Power Lines

Things we see every day can almost fade from view, but failure to notice high-voltage power lines can be a deadly oversight. Safe...

Chad Lockhart, Working foreman, Westcliffe

Job Description: A working foreman is in charge of maintaining lines, construction of lines, and supervising line crew personnel. Hometown: Westcliffe How long...

Mike Allen

Name, Title: Mike Allen, Energy Use Advisor Job Description: Help members and key accounts understand their electricity use and ways to be more...

Carrie Morgan

Name: Carrie Morgan, Customer Service Representative III Job Description: Billing, adjustments, problem solving, project, helping members, answering phones, payments Hometown: Clearwater, Florida How long have...

Sangre de Cristo is Your Local Power Source

As we start the new year, we thought it would be good to review who we are as your local electric cooperative. Here...

Year in Review, 2017

A review of our year through photos to share memories.            

Sangre de Cristo Considers Solar Farm

SDCEA is currently exploring the feasibility of adding a 2-megawatt solar farm to our power portfolio. Plans include a portion of the project...

Renewable Energy Program

SDCEA’s renewable energy is supplied primarily through our wholesale supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, which contracts for hydro, solar and wind-generated power from...

Meet Len Gates,

Name: Len Gates, Meter Technician III Job Description: Work with meters, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, rates and net metering Hometown? Del Norte, Colorado How...

Capital Credits to SDCEA Members

As a non-profit cooperative, any margins we earn are allocated back to our members and account holders each year in the form of...

Operation RoundUp

Operation RoundUp gives members of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association an easy way to help out their communities. By agreeing to “round up” their...

2018 Washington, D.C. Youth Tour

Every June, more than 1,600 junior and senior high school students from across the United States embark on a chaperoned week-long, all-expenses-paid trip...

Get a $2000 College Scholarship

In 2018, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc. will award one four-year scholarship at $2,000 per year (which is available to a graduating...

Dana Douty, Line Superintendent

Job Description: Supervise line crews in Westcliffe and Buena Vista, take consumer complaints, manage work schedules Hometown? Buena Vista How long have you...

Solar Farm Project Brings Long-Term Stable Rates

Long-term electric rate stability at a reasonable price is the goal of a breakthrough solar farm project planned near Buena Vista. The feasibility...

Your Power Supply, Renewable Energy?

Do you know renewable energy comprises a significant portion of our power supply every day? As an electric co-op, Sangre de Cristo purchases...

Scholarships

A variety of academic and post-high school trade school scholarships are sponsored by SDCEA, Tri-State Generation and Transmission and Basin Electric each Spring....

Sangre Donates Books

Colorado Country Life magazine, the magazine of the Colorado Rural Electric Association in which this newsletter appears, receives a number of books each...

Tracy Linza, Admin Asst III

Name and Title: Tracy Linza, Administrative Assistant III Job Description: Benefits Administration; HR; basic office management duties; and assist our Board of Directors....

Matt Shepherd, Lead Lineman

As lead lineman, Matt is in charge of a work crew of two journeymen lineman. He maintains a service truck, does line work...

Howard Eggleston Retires from Board of Directors

Howard Eggleston of Fremont County announced his retirement from the Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc. Board of Directors in July. Eggleston began...

Performance in Safety Award

The 2016 Achievement of Excellence award for Performance in Safety was awarded to Sangre de Cristo Electric Association by the Colorado Rural Electric...

New Board Member, Geoff Gerk

Geoff Gerk was appointed to the Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc. Board of Directors during their monthly meeting in Buena Vista August...