Colorado Rural Electric Assn.

🔗80 YEARS OF CONNECTION - 1955🔗    Colorado's rural #electric cooperatives were created to meet the unique needs of #rural consumers, ensuring that even the most #remote households have access to #safe, #affordable, and #reliable electricity. ⚡️    Take a look at this map, showing how Colorado’s rural electric co-ops have never let high mountains stand in the way of #serving every possible member. In November 1955, 77,151 families were #connected to rural #power lines—over 94% of the state’s rural households.  🏡    At that time, co-ops had already invested more than $65 million in their distribution systems, with $22 million set aside for #generation and #transmission lines. All together, over 32,000 miles of lines stretched across the state. 💡

🔗80 YEARS OF CONNECTION🔗 🎉 2025 marks the 80th #anniversary of the Colorado Rural Electric Association! To celebrate, we're taking you on a journey through #history this month, highlighting #key moments that have shaped #CREA over the years. ⚡️  Let’s rewind to October #1952, when the #first edition of Colorado REA News—now Colorado Country Life magazine—was #published. Back then, it served as a vital #voice for co-op consumer-members, reaching 52,438 #consumers. Fast forward to today, Colorado Country Life has a fresh #new look! 🌟 Check out their Facebook and Instagram for an exclusive peek at the update! 👀 

All 22 electric #cooperatives in Colorado are committed to making a positive #difference in their #communities through #charitable giving programs that resonate with the unique needs of their #members and the areas they #serve. At Grand Valley Power, located in Grand Junction, #employees actively engage with local #nonprofits to create meaningful impact through community projects. Currently, #GVP is supporting Go Baby Go, a collaborative effort between Colorado Mesa University engineering students and Family Health West. This remarkable program provides #mobility solutions for children with #disabilities by modifying small #electric cars the children can drive. This is just the tip of the iceberg for GVP's community impact, as they support an abundance of #local organizations and projects. Thank you for all you do, #GVP! Discover how Colorado co-ops are giving back in this month's edition of Colorado Country Life:  https://lnkd.in/g5VG5NCF 📸 Photo courtesy of Grand Valley Power 

We're #hiring a new Job Training & Safety Instructor in Colorado. Apply today or share this post with your network.

WE’RE HIRING🎉   As the new year approaches, there is no better time to explore new #career opportunities. #CREA is looking for a #talented individual to join our #team as the Job Training and Safety Instructor! If you're #passionate about creating a #safe work environment and keeping up with industry #trends, we would love to hear from you.     #Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gcxMZx_Y

On behalf of all of us at CREA, we would like to extend our warmest #wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May this #festive season bring joy, peace, and lasting #memories with your loved ones. 

Many Colorado co-ops participate in Operation RoundUp, which allows #members to voluntarily #round up their bills to the next highest dollar amount to support #charitable giving by the co-op. A longstanding Operation RoundUp facilitator, Mountain View Electric Association has raised more than $3.3 million through the program since 1999; almost 50% of the co-op's 56,000 members choose to round up. Mountain View #members who have suffered from loss, personal disaster, or medical emergencies may #apply directly for #assistance through Operation RoundUp. MVEA not only runs Operation RoundUp but also organizes a #turkey collection drive to support a local food #pantry during #Thanksgiving. These are just two examples of the many #community support programs offered by #MVEA. Thank you for all that you do, MVEA! 📸 Photo courtesy of Mountain View Electric Association 

Different #cooperatives offer distinctive programs that cater specifically to the needs of their local #communities. One standout example is the Empower #Grant Program, which is currently in its fourth year at Poudre Valley REA. This program is dedicated to enhancing #education in the fields of #science, #technology, #engineering, #arts, and #mathematics (#STEAM) for K-12 classrooms across the cooperative's expansive Northern Colorado service area. By providing valuable resources and #funding, the Empower Grant Program aims to #inspire and #equip students with the skills and #knowledge necessary for success in an ever-evolving world. Thank you for all you do, Poudre Valley REA! Discover how #Colorado co-ops are giving back in this month's edition of Colorado Country Life:  https://lnkd.in/g5VG5NCF 📸 Photo courtesy of Poudre Valley REA 

A big thank you to CSG West for hosting the Western Leadership Academy! CREA was proud to #sponsor and #connect with #Colorado legislators to discuss our priorities for the upcoming #legislative session. Special thanks to Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, Majority Caucus Chair Junie Joseph, and Rep. Ken deGraaf for your insightful conversations and #collaboration. Events like these are invaluable for fostering strong #relationships and advancing our shared #goals. We’re energized and ready to hit the ground running in the 75th General Assembly—let’s make it a great session! 💡⚡️ #CREA #CoLeg #ColoradoPolitics #EnergyPolicy #Collaboration

The founding mission of #electric cooperatives was to provide electrical service to areas lacking electricity. Therefore, #giving back to address unmet #community needs is fundamental to not-for-profit electric co-ops. "Concern for Community" is one of the seven #principles of co-ops. This month, we will highlight some of the #philanthropic initiatives of Colorado's co-ops, starting with San Isabel Electric Association, Inc. At San Isabel Electric alone, during 2023, the co-op donated $83,711 to 63 #community projects or groups. Some #charitable projects included parks or art restoration, town or county #fairs, volunteer #fire department fundraisers, Santa #gift tree programs, #rodeos, #library programs, #school supplies, baseball team uniforms, a community center oyster fry, and a youth fishing derby. Thank you for all you do, San Isabel Electric! We invite you to learn more about how #Colorado co-ops are #giving back in this month's #feature of Colorado Country Life: https://lnkd.in/g5VG5NCF