Mohave Electric Cooperative would like our members to show their Co-op spirit by participating in our Photo Contest. Thank you to the dozens of members who submitted photos this last round. There were so many great ones! Please see below for the winner and the runner ups.
Yvette won a $25 power credit for her photo, “Sunset Helicopter Trip Over Grand Canyon.”
The dream of a college degree might be a much more realistic goal for Mohave Electric Cooperative members, thanks to a partnership between Western Governors University (WGU) and Arizona’s six electric cooperatives.
WGU is a fully accredited, nonprofit university that offers degree programs in over 60 disciplines. Already known for its affordability, WGU is seeking to make the attainment of higher education less cost-prohibitive for electric cooperative members with their “Power Your Future” scholarship program.
A total of $50,000 has been allocated for new WGU students who are either employees of, members of, or live in a household served by any electric co-op in the nation. Each scholarship is valued up to $3,000 and will be applied at a rate of $750 per six-month term. Recipients will be selected based on financial need, academic records, readiness for online study and current competency, among other considerations.
access to advanced degree programs. The flexibility of online coursework allows students to remain in their own communities as they pursue career paths in K-12 Education, Business, Nursing/ Health Care or Information Technology.
As a completely online university, WGU is a great fit for nontraditional students, such as working adults or those wishing to complete a degree they may have started many years ago! WGU has conferred more than 6,500 degrees across the Grand Canyon State, and 3,000 Arizonans are currently enrolled.
Students can take courses at their own pace, and curriculum dependent, can complete bachelor’s degree programs in under three years. A master’s degree can be earned in 18 months. As students pay one flat semester rate, regardless of credit hours, an accelerated graduation plan can save a student thousands of dollars.
“This partnership will make the dream of a college degree a more attainable reality for Mohave Electric Cooperative members. Through the ‘Power Your Future’ scholarship, we are not merely extending financial support; rather, we are diligently working to remove barriers, fostering a pathway towards a future with boundless opportunities,” said Rick Benbow, Regional Vice President of WGU.
WGU aims to empower students in rural areas that have limited
“Mohave Electric Cooperative and WGU share a mutual goal of supporting and investing in the future of our community,” said Tyler Carlson, CEO of Mohave Electric Cooperative. “This partnership is a great opportunity to develop and retain local talent—and here at MEC, we believe in providing the tools and the resources to inspire students for success, when we can.”
To be eligible for the Power Your Future scholarship, applicants must be officially admitted to WGU and enrolled in one of the university’s bachelor’s or master’s degree programs. Students must also complete the scholarship application at wgu.edu/power
This scholarship can be combined with other financial assistance programs, such as MEC’s annual college grant program, which awards recipients with up to $5,000 for the college or university of their choice.
MEC funds several programs that recognize the importance of education, including an established endowment at the Bullhead City Campus of Mohave Community College. Current or former MCC students interested in WGU can learn more about transferring credits at wgu.edu n
MEC’s electrical lines include 121.6 miles of subtransmission line, 1,078.88 overhead and 374.62 underground distribution lines. In 2022, MEC invested $791,606 to replace underground electric lines throughout our service territory. In addition to managing the lines, MEC is responsible for thousands of equipment items such as poles, insulators, guy wires, cross arms, arresters, jumpers, transformers, capaciformers, meters, capacitor and regulator banks, reclosers, terminators, avian protection devices – to name a few.
For the first time in several years, Mohave Electric is not only managing existing electricity lines, but currently finished a
new five-mile line near I-40 south of Hackberry Road in our eastern service territory. A project of this magnitude takes time to complete with improvements that included the new fivemile line, upgrading the single phase tie-in line to three phase, and a new transformer. When complete, this new line will create distribution redundancy to back feed power from MEC’s Hualapai Substation south to Wikieup.
Substations transform electrical voltage from high to low or reverse and are made up of thousands of different components. One of our substations in Bullhead City received a maintenance makeover, including a circuit breaker replacement.
Joe & Michelle Keunen, co-owners of Eagle Motorsports originally from Canada, had traveled throughout the United States and Arizona many times and wanted to one day make Arizona their home.
In 2014, while on their motorcycle they drove right by their current location, but Joe quickly turned the bike(safely) around and pulled into the empty yard. It was PERFECT! Joe then drove directly to the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce, and they were directed to the Bullhead City offices where they met with the Economic Development officer. They are grateful for the incredible local support of the Chamber and the City of Bullhead City in helping them get started in building their dream.
In April 2015, their dreams FINALLY became a reality when Eagle Motorsports, located at 2106 Highway 95, in Bullhead City, opened their doors. They originally opened, as Eagle Motorcycle Rentals and Service, but had always envisioned to incorporate something for use on the water.
In 2019, Joe began phasing the motorcycle rentals out replacing them with the beautiful Bentley Pontoons. The Bentley pontoons have up to 350 horsepower and can run up to 55mph. That’s enough power to pull a skier or a tube.
So, what’s the difference between a pontoon and a tritoon? A traditional pontoon boat consists of two aluminum tubes, called toons. A tritoon has a third toon in the center that allows for a
higher-powered engine. The Bentley Pontoon and Tritoon both run smooth and are not choppy in high winds and rough waters.
Eagle Motorsports is a dealer for Bentley Pontoons, Crownline, Mercury Marine, Honda Marine, Suzuki Marine, and Tahatsu boats. It’s comforting to know, Eagle Motorsports is a certified Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) dealership with certified technicians to take care of all your boating maintenance.
When you purchase your brand-new Bentley Pontoon it comes ‘water ready’, meaning you have everything you need to put you out on the water the same day! And when you show your Co-op Connections card, you’ll receive a free set of fenders and a compliance US Coast Guard Kit with your pontoon or tritoon purchase. That’s a $460 value!
With over 30 pontoon/tritoons to choose from, starting at $39,990, no two are alike. You can visit Eagle Motorsports Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., or look at inventory online at www.eaglemotorsportsaz.com. Have questions, give them a call at (928) 257-4332.
If you don’t already have your free Mohave Electric Co-op Connections card stop by Member Service at 928 Hancock Rd. to receive one or sign up online at www.coopconnections.com.
Thinking of becoming a Co-op Connections business member and not sure where to start? Scan the QR code or email us at coopconnections@mohaveelectric.com.
Before Lake Mohave was formed after the building of the Davis Dam, there was a huge formation of red rock and white sand projecting out of the Colorado River. The red rock formation was said to be a complete body of a bull, however, the rock that projected into the river was the head of a bull. The rock has witnessed a long period of history as a landmark on the continent dating back to 1540.
The Mojave Indians used this landmark as a safe place to cross the Colorado River as there was no treacherous quicksand, like in many other places in the river. Some other historical figures that explored the area and wrote of the Mojave Indians were Spanish explorer Melchor Diaz, in 1540 and Father Garces who was in the area in 1776.
This rock soon became a navigation landmark for the captains of the steamboats. The ships’ captains referred to their positions as being above the Bullshead Rock or below the Bullshead Rock. Steamers and freighters which used
to run up and down the Colorado River used Bullshead Rock to guide them safely through the swift dangerous currents.
In 1857, Army Lieutenant Edward Beale, led a caravan of 28 camels after being ordered by the War Department to chart a wagon road from New Mexico to California. It was Bullshead Rock that allowed him to find a safe crossing of the Colorado River with the camels.
A US Army Lieutenant, Joseph Ives, leading a federal expedition from the mouth of the Colorado River in a steel hull steamer named the “Explorer” in 1858, was there to visit the Mojave Indians and as he approached the rock he had this to say, “For several miles our course lay through the foothills, when the river narrowed and entered a canyon through the gate, one side of which looked like the head of
a bull.” While visiting the Mojave Tribe, Ives noticed Spirit Mountain and asked Chief Ireteba about it as it was a prominent landmark of the tribe located in Nevada, and was clearly visible from Bullshead Rock. The story goes that the Chief warned him that “anyone that dares to visit the mountain would be struck dead.”
More recently, Damian Holther, a local engineer was quoted as saying that, “ In 1858, Lt Ives Map No. 1, Rio Colorado of the West shows Bullshead Rock to be at approximately 35 degrees, 12 minutes north by 114 degrees 34 minutes west. Today’s U.S. Geological Service shows the top of Bullshead Rock to be approximately 35 degrees, 11 minutes north by 114 degrees, 33 minutes west.” The elevation of Bull’s Rock is approximately 676 feet above sea level, and the Bureau of Reclamation states the maximum surface of Lake Mohave is 646.49 feet above sea level. This data indicates the crest of Bullshead Rock has never been below the surface of Lake Mohave. n
We will be featuring a Historical page in our upcoming edition. Do you have an interesting local historical story and/or photos you’d like to share? Send to mecpa@mohaveelectric.com.
As a member of an electric cooperative (also known as a co-op), you’re part of something special! Read the facts about co-ops below and use the word bank to fill in the blanks. Check your work in the answer key.
1. Co-ops don’t have customers. Instead, they have
2. Co-ops are local organizations and businesses, so they understand the local _________________ they serve.
3. All co-ops are guided by the same set of cooperative
Word Bank: Electric Principles Members Communities Co-ops
4. _________________ are led by the members they serve.
5. You’re a member of an co-op, but there are also housing, grocery and other types of co-ops.
Mohave Electric Cooperative and their employees support local causes through charitable contributions, volunteerism, and other activities that make a positive difference. One of the seven cooperative principles MEC follows is Concern for Community. While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members. Our community commitment is an integral part of where we work, what we do, and why we do it. We support education, heath care, economic development, and other areas that contribute to the quality of life in our community.
Here’s what MEC has been up to the past few months.
It was a beautiful morning as MEC set up for the Sixth Annual Kiwanis Kids Expo on Trane Rd. Over 80 white pop-up sunshades lined both sides of the street. Keeping kids busy, healthy, and safe is what the day was all about. We anxiously waited for our first youngsters to stop by our table for information regarding electrical safety. We handed out electrical safety coloring books, paint pages and hard hats for all the kiddos. We like to make learning fun and with Kato’s Electrical Safety coloring and activity book we hit the mark. Kato, a cat, shares that electricity is a good thing, but if not used properly electricity can be dangerous like flying a kite.
On another evening, MEC employees set up interactive displays at the Desert Star Academy Family STEAM Night. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math – STEAM is an educational approach that encourages creativity and problem solving.
MEC brought their game, so to speak, to STEAM night. The staking team brought a surveying transit tool and explained how it’s used in the field. The IT team brought their Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, aka Drones, that are used to survey power lines, transmission towers, and other infrastructure for signs of damage or wear and can help identify potential problems before they become serious. The evening was filled with handing out hard hats, talking about electricity, touching and handling the tools, trying on protective rubber/leather gloves and goggles.
MEC also attended the Twelfth Annual Winter Expo held at the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce. We had our colorful prize wheel on hand. Attendees stopped by to say hello, spin the wheel, and walked away with some MEC swag.
The Second Annual Bullhead Laughlin Air Show took place in April and included a Touch-A-Truck area. MEC’s operations
team volunteered, bringing a bucket truck, tools and interactive stations for the kiddos, and adults, to interact as a day in the life of MEC. And of course, the ever-popular hard hats were given to all the kids.
Last but not least, MEC helped sponsor River Fund’s Second Annual Great Duck Pluck. But took it a step further, when Tyler Carlson CEO volunteered to be one of ten ‘celebrity duck pluckers’. Adorned in his duck costume and blacked out goggles, Tyler chose seven winning ducks from the mass array of yellow rubber ducks.
All money raised from sponsorships to ‘duck adoptions’ will be used to help those facing a crisis or emergency situation, including assisting members with their electricity bills. n
SHELBY SINCLAIR
ABOVE: Journeyman
Lineman
Shelby Sinclair is a Journeyman Lineman at Mohave Electric.
Although born in Orange County, California, Shelby spent his beginning years in Lakewood, California and moved to Arizona at the age of four years old. Shelby learned to hunt as a young lad and has enjoyed hunting personally and competitively. His favorite game meat is elk due to its unique and palatable flavor. Shelby also enjoys harvesting his own food when he hunts.
Shelby has always been an overachiever. Prior to working with MEC, he held two jobs, working construction during the day and as a driver for Schwan’s Food Company in the evening. Shelby has been with MEC for more than 20 years – quite the accomplishment. When hired, Shelby started as a groundman, and after three months, he was offered an apprenticeship position and completed the required four-year program to become a journeyman lineman. This program consisted of studying, exams, and on-the-job training. Shelby is an experienced lineman and always has a positive attitude. He even gracefully stepped into a leadership role as Bullhead Line Construction Supervisor. After approximately six years, Shelby decided he wanted to build his family forever home in Kingman and transferred to MEC’s Kingman facility serving all of our eastern service territory which covers Valle Vista to Nelson, Arizona and south past Wikieup.
A typical day of a journeyman lineman is never the same day to day. Shelby is part of a team that in one day could be doing preventive maintenance, replacing a pole or transformer, or he could be seen responding to customer concerns and even billing questions. He does it all. When asked what his favorite part is working for MEC, he expressed he felt enjoyment in providing service to our members and the appreciation linemen receive for their hard work. One of the many community events Shelby volunteers for is our yearly Annual and District Meetings. He enjoys being a point of contact and shaking hands with members. Shelby’s care for the community has been a valuable contribution to the MEC Operations team.
Today, Shelby continues to be an overachiever and still has a second job. His love for construction never stopped, and he opened his own licensed general contracting business, Juniper Ridge Solutions, LLC, at the beginning of 2024. He wanted to fill a void in the community through reliable construction and repair services. To begin his new business as a licensed contractor, Shelby studied for and passed tests to obtain KA Dual Engineering and KB-2 Dual Residential and Small Commercial licensing, as well as securing local business licenses, insurance, and bonding. Shelby is never afraid of a challenge. Hard work and perseverance are shown in his work every day. If you see him around, say hi! n
Andrea has been baking these delicious bars for five years for her family. They’re kid approved and an adult favorite!
Banana Bread Bars
1 cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
½ cup (one stick) butter, softened
2 eggs
4 ripe bananas, mashed
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
¾ tsp salt
½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate
chips (optional)
Browned Butter Icing
5 tbs butter
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp milk
Baking Instructions
Heat oven to 375F.
Grease and flour 15”x10” sheet pan.
In large bowl, blend together sugar, brown sugar, sour cream (or plain yogurt), butter, and eggs until smooth. Blend in mashed bananas and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking soda, and salt, and blend for 1 minute. Stir in walnuts (optional).
Spread batter evenly onto sheet pan. Sprinkle top with semi-sweet chocolate chips before baking (optional).
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Icing Instructions
While banana bread cools, melt butter in a small pan over medium heat, stirring until it turns a medium brown color. Watch closely, so it doesn’t burn!
Take off the heat and whisk in powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, mixing completely after each addition. Add milk and vanilla extract, and blend until well combined. You can add more powdered sugar or milk to achieve your desired consistency.
Pour icing over cooled banana bread and spread evenly. Icing will thicken as it cools. When cooled, cut and serve.
Mohave Electric Cooperative continues to support members in saving money with programs such as Operation Cool Shade. Trees help beautify your home and yard (businesses too) as well as help you save money on energy costs. Shading the wall of a home or building can lower the outside wall temperature and therefore lower your energy costs up to 20%. The energy you don’t use doesn’t need to be generated, which is good for the environment and your wallet.
This year Operation Cool Shade offers four tree varieties: Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak, Desert Willow ‘Sweet Bubba Seedless’, Bonita Ash, and Chaste Tree. The cost is $9 each, limit 8 trees per member. Tree sales are first come, first served. Mark your calendars! Tree sales begin August 26 through October 4 and can be purchased in person at 928 Hancock Road or by calling Member Service at 928-763-1100 between 7:00am and 5:30pm.
Trees and their root structure also help prevent soil erosion by holding the soil in place and improving the drainage of the soil. Roots create tunnels, networks, and grids that bind the soil particles together to make them harder to move by wind or water.
Before planting, consider how your family or business uses the outdoor space where you are thinking about placing your trees.
Plant at least three trees where they can provide enough shade to shield structure and outdoor living space. Shade east, west and south facing walls. At maturity, the trunk and branches of the tree should have at least 15 feet clearance from driveways, patios, sidewalks, and block walls. Most importantly, NEVER plant trees where their growth will interfere with overhead power lines.
An instructional video on planting trees is available on our website or scan the QR code to view! The Master Gardeners will be hosting a tree planting class on Thursday, October 17. For more information call Savannah 928-753-3788 Ext 16. As with any digging, be sure to contact Arizona 811 at 800-782-5348, or online at arizona811. com, to create a ticket to ensure you’re not digging up any utility lines when planting your trees. Even if you’re hiring someone to dig for you, it is your responsibility to contact Arizona 811. n
June 1
SunWatts Education Grants application submission opens
June 6 D-Day
June 6 34th Annual Chefs Food Fest
June 14-21 Washington Youth Tour
June 14
Flag Day
JULY 1
JUNE 19 Juneteenth
June 16 Father’s Day
JUNE 21
BINGO at BHC/MV Association of Realtors
Last day to submit photos for Currents Photo Contest
JULY 3
MEC’s 78th Anniversary
AUGUST 26
Operation Cool Shade tree sales begin
AUGUST 30 SunWatts Education Grants application deadline
JULY 4
MEC Office closed for Independence Day
JULY 6 International Day of Cooperatives
new applications, the information can often be gathered elsewhere.
Customers can call their utility or find application materials on utility websites.
As with any construction project, before any tools are brought out, it is important to ask, “How are we doing this?”
That plan is the responsibility of the utility’s engineering department. At utilities such as Central Electric Cooperative in Central Oregon, a field engineer heads out to the soon-to-be-electrified site to get the lay of the land.
“Engineers then design the infrastructure, considering the specific requirements and site conditions,” says Brent ten Pas, CEC vice president of member and public relations.
Engineers consider the most efficient way to add the service and calculate the additional cost of providing that service. The best way to connect a location to the power grid varies based on location and terrain.
Sometimes, it can be as simple as running a short wire to connect houses in a new subdivision into a central hub. Sometimes, it could mean running miles of wires and poles through steep woods to reach an isolated barn. Each job has different engineering challenges and costs.
Similarly, if the new customer is building a subdivision, factory or a resort, their power needs may present larger planning questions for a utility, depending on whether or not the current infrastructure can handle the increased electric load.
“CEC engineers evaluate the projected loads to determine the potential impacts to the system and whether upgrades are needed,” Brent says. “If needed, the developers are responsible for the associated costs of upgrading the system to deliver the required power for their projects.”
Utilities are constantly monitoring their systems to make sure they are capable of delivering the full power demand. At Northern Lights, there is a five-year construction plan as well as a 10-year forward-looking plan.
“We’re always trying to look forward so that we’re not going to
Lineworkers at Benton REA in Southern Washington string power lines to provide increased electric load to a local business.
have a capacity issue,” Kristin says.
In a construction project, it is necessary to follow local laws, codes and guidelines.
Depending on the town, county and state, new service can require electrical permits as well as any easements needed for the property a power line would cross to reach the new service. While the customer must typically get all of these permits, utilities can often help point them in the right direction.
Once the plans have been developed, lineworkers head into the field, construct a connection to the customer’s meter, and soon enough, a lightbulb turns on for the first time.
“Honestly, that’s the short thing usually,” Kristin says.
At the construction phase, the biggest hurdle is ensuring all of the necessary building materials are on-site. The whole world has faced supply chain challenges during the past four years. For utilities, this has meant difficulties acquiring components, such as transformers and power poles.
“Things have cooled off a little bit, but compared to the pre-COVID supply chain, it definitely has changed things,” Kristin says. “Last year, we ran out of elbows for underground connections. It’s just the most bizarre thing.”
In Alaska, challenges can come even if the materials are on hand. Alaska Village Electric Cooperative has nearly 50 power plants serving 58 communities across western Alaska. In most of those communities, materials must be shipped by barge or airlifted, which requires months long planning.
“We’ve got to have every nut and bolt figured out in advance,” says Bill Stamm, AVEC president and CEO. “If a lineman gets there and is short on materials, it can scuttle the job until we can regroup and get materials out there, which isn’t going to be just a drive to the hardware store. It will be a couple days or a couple weeks.”
Bill says AVEC accountants and auditors came to a realization recently.
“They realize that we are kind of a construction company that does utility service on the side, just because we always have something that’s being built in one of our locations,” he says. n
Happy Anniversary MEC members! On July 3rd, MEC celebrates 78 years of providing electric service to the area.
Summers can be tough in Arizona. Last year, we experienced temperatures of 110 degrees or hotter every single day for 31 days in a row. That’s HOT even for here. The higher the temperatures, the greater the electricity use from our members. From a resource perspective, MEC tries to adequately plan each year for an increase in electricity demand. Unlike previous years, this summer we will have two battery energy storage systems (BESS) in place to help with our daily peak periods from 5pm – 9pm. In the future, the Mohave Energy Park natural gas generation project will be able to supply ample power for our members. Please see pages 4 and 10 for more information.
Tyler Carlson
Still MEC recommends taking cold showers, drinking lots of water, and closing blinds, shades, and curtains to reduce heat and remaining cool in the summer. Additionally, keep your a/c vents clear of obstructions, change your filter once a month, and have an HVAC technician check your coolant levels, pressure, and electrical components.
Extreme temperatures can easily increase member electric bills. If you need bill assistance, please contact our Member Service Department at 928-763-1100, or reach out to River Fund for bill and appliance assistance, or seek out designated Cooling Centers throughout Bullhead City and Mohave County.
In addition to high temperatures, summers can often bring monsoons that can be troublesome for the area. It’s always best to keep your trees trimmed and secure your carports and outdoor items such as patio furniture and awnings for high wind events and gusts. Lightning, trees, and furniture are top causes for outages during monsoons. For those who use generators during an outage, keep fuel in a cool, dry location, not in the home. Most importantly, those members who plug a generator directly into the home’s wiring through an outlet, be careful of backfeed. Backfeeding not only sends electricity to the house, but back through the lines and can electrocute utility lineworkers and cause permanent damage to household electronic devices. For more tips on outage safety visit our website at www.mohaveelectric.com/outages-safety/.
Our commitment 78 years ago, today, and in the future is to our members. So let’s all stay safe and have a great summer.
For further information, call Andrea Harless at (928) 763-4115 before 5 p.m. July 8. Elections are held at district meetings. Any incumbent may be re-elected if nominated.
