WHAT WE DO: MEMBERS OF CONSUMER-OWNED ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES are connected by more than electricity. They’re connected by a network of people—starting at their local electric co-op where men and women are working hard to energize communities and rural economies across the West. Working together, the electric co-op network is able to produce and deliver the reliable, affordable electricity that’s an essential part of everyone’s lives. Along with providing the power that helps communities thrive, electric co-ops deliver value to their members by offering energy efficiency products and programs, investing in local renewable energy projects and staying steadfast to their long-standing commitment to the communities they serve. In the cooperative spirit, electric co-ops banded together decades ago, pooled their resources and with a common goal, formed their own power supply cooperative. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is a wholesale electric power supplier owned by the 44 electric cooperatives that it serves. Tri-State generates and transmits electricity to its member systems throughout a 200,000 square-mile service territory across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. Ultimately serving a population of 1.5 million consumers, Tri-State was founded in 1952 by its member systems to provide a reliable, cost-based supply of electricity. Headquartered in Westminster, Colo., approximately 1,200 people are employed by Tri-State throughout its four-state service area. Tri-State’s power is generated through a combination of owned baseload and peaking power plants that use coal and natural gas as their primary fuels, supplemented by purchased power, federal hydroelectricity allocations and renewable resource technologies. Tri-State’s mission is to provide its member-owners a reliable, cost-based supply of electricity while maintaining a sound financial position through effective utilization of human, capital and physical resources in accordance with cooperative principles. As consumer-owned electric cooperatives, Tri-State and its 44 member distribution systems are independent electric utilities, owned by the members they serve. Democratically governed businesses, electric cooperatives are closely regulated by their consumers, who value and benefit from the electricity that energizes their communities. The unique geographic and system load diversity that characterizes the Tri-State network provides strength to the association. Tri-State’s members serve a variety of seasonal loads in a territory from northern Wyoming to southern New Mexico and across the Rocky Mountains. Tri-State takes seriously its responsibility and works closely with its member systems to protect member-owners—regardless of class, affiliation or association—from market, operational, financial and regulatory uncertainties affecting power production and transmission capabilities. The cooperative business model’s democratic structure provides for self-regulation and governance by and for its members. Decisions are made at the local level by members of the co-op in the best interests of the organization and its membership. Since co-ops are governed and operated by the people and for the people, the sense of independence is a vital component of co-ops’ can-do attitude. Tri-State’s self-reliance has helped secure and maintain an efficient and stable electric generating resource portfolio and transmission network. A concerted effort is made to manage the numerous risks that are inherent in the electric utility industry while developing future resource options that provide a measure of long-term certainty. Although the majority of its operational and resource planning activities are carried out in an autonomous manner, Tri-State’s board and management stringently abide with the various regulatory and compliance processes in place while pursuing opportunities that ultimately provide the greatest benefit to the membership. As their wholesale power supplier, Tri-State works closely with its 44 member systems on a number of different fronts—from planning and constructing needed transmission infrastructure, to developing local renewable energy projects, to creating and implementing energy efficiency programs and products. Although independent by nature, the cooperative business model is made stronger from co-ops’ ability and willingness to work together toward common goals. Cooperatives are committed to the communities in which they reside and that they serve. Not only do electric co-ops energize communities with a reliable, not-for-profit supply of electricity, but they also drive economic development, fund scholarships, support local charities and work to make life better in the areas they serve. Tri-State’s job is to keep the lights on for its 44 member co-ops and the people they serve, providing them with a long-term reliable, affordable and responsible supply of electricity – today and for years to come. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association • P.O. Box 33695 • Denver, CO 80233 • Wholesale power supplier to 44 electric cooperatives in Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wyoming.
WHAT IT MEANS:
AFFORDABLE ELECTRICITY
Together, we deliver the electricity that’s essential to life here in the West.