July 2025 Board Meeting
PrintSDCEA board of directors meeting July 23, 2025
Wildfire Response and Power Outage Management: CEO Jon Beyer, who had just started his role at SDCEA a few days before a wildfire broke out north of Buena Vista on July 10, commended the cooperative staff for their preparedness and swift response to the incident. Upon learning about the wildfire, the operations department immediately took safety measures, including cutting power to distribution lines in the area to protect first responders working on the scene. The team also promptly advised members of the incident through the website and social media, which was well received.
Additionally, as the fire neared the Xcel Energy’s main transmission line serving the northern and western parts of the county, Xcel tripped that line offline to protect the safety of first responders and to minimize the potential spread of the fire The shutoff caused outages for SDCEA members between 1:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. While not all members experienced outages for the entire duration of that time, many faced extended power interruptions while Xcel crews took time to inspect the line that runs from Poncha Springs to the Twin Lakes area before re-energizing.
Looking ahead, Beyer said in reviewing the incident, discussions are underway with SDCEA’s wholesale power supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission, which manages local power delivery through Xcel’s transmission lines. These discussions aim to develop more efficient communication and operational strategies to improve the handling of similar potential incidents in the future.
Light Up Navajo: Five SDCEA linemen worked in the Four Corners region in June to bring electricity to Navajo Nation families in the Ship Rock and Red Mesa areas. SDCEA linemen Lucas Montgomery and Matt Overmyer answered questions from the board about the experience.
Launched in 2019, Light Up Navajo is a mutual aid training initiative designed to bring electricity to families in the Navajo Nation who have been living without it. The project operates on an expedited timeline, aiming to connect homes to the power grid as quickly as possible. Each year, electric crews from utilities across the country join forces in the Navajo Nation, working together to extend power lines and provide electricity to these communities.
Tommy Young Line: Work on the re-building of the 19-mile Tommy Young line, which runs from Cotopaxi north to Verdemont Road in Custer County, continues. Some components of the project are under review, which could result in significant cost savings for members. The rebuild of this section of line is part of a long-term project that will provide improved reliability in the area.
Staff lunch and learns: – SDCEA employees have been attending once a month Lunch and Learns – seminars over the lunch hour on various topics including electric transmission, equipment used in power delivery and more. The staff views this as an invaluable learning opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of electric grid operations.
Financial Report –
Total YTD revenues are 1.5% over budget. Increased revenues are driven by a very cold January. May and June sales were close to budget.
Total expenses are 3.9% over budget. April was 5.8 percent over budget. Delays in hiring open positions and more capitalized labor have mitigated some of this increase.
Factors contributing to total expenses being over budget include our purchased power expense, which includes increased kWh sales and above budget demand charges.
Furthermore, SDCEA’s Administrative and General expenses are higher than budgeted due to costs associated with, safety and computer expenses, along with labor costs associated with moving back to SDCEA’s permanent office.
Next board meetings: 10 a.m. August 27 and Oct. 22, SDCEA Board Room, Buena Vista; September is reserved for an educational session for board members. A regular meeting will not be held.
Agendas are posted 10 days in advance on SDCEA’s website: Board Meeting Agendas & Minutes – Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc.
Executive Session – The board adjourned into an executive session at 2:54 p.m. to discuss matters to be held in confidence. No action was taken after the executive session. The meeting was adjourned at 3:17pm.
