It’s easy to flip a light switch without giving a thought to everything and everyone who makes it possible. Thankfully, the dedicated team at Sierra Electric do what it takes, regardless of the time of day… or night… or weather conditions… or complications… to ensure that, for the rest of us in Sierra County, dependable energy is only a switch away. Best of all, they do even more, supporting the community they serve, with little acknowledgement and without most of us even knowing, because they truly care about the services they provide, the members they serve and the community as a wholeAt
Without Sierra Electric, much of Sierra County, New Mexico, would be in the dark, literally! A member of Tri-State Co-op (Tri-State Generation and Transmission), Sierra Electric is dedicated to providing dependable energy to its members while sharing a deep respect for the people they serve, their employees and Sierra County’s landscapes and resources.
A Power-Packed Co-op
As a member of Tri-State Co-op, Sierra Electric is one of 44 cooperatives receiving electricity from Tri-State, which serves both city and rural customers in about 250,000 square miles of territory in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. With a focus on renewable energy, Tri-State currently produces about 35% of their energy from clean sources, with the goal of 50% by 2025 and 70% by 2030.
Sierra Electric: Humble Origins
Incorporated in September of 1941, just three months before the US entered into WWII, Sierra Electric was established to help provide electricity to unserved rural areas – areas that private electric companies deemed unprofitable to serve. This new service to Sierra County came at a price. Local residents pooled their own money as capital to apply for Federal loans to get the co-op off the ground and build the needed power lines. And all of this was made possible because of forward-thinking President Roosevelt who, in 1935, created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), an independent agency tasked with providing loans to rural cooperatives for the purpose of generating and distributing electricity.
The Board and Members
Sierra Electric Cooperative is governed by a nine-person board elected by its members, who are all those who receive electric service from the co-op. And what does the co-op do for its members? Plenty! For starters, Sierra Electric is fiscally focused, doing everything possible to operate effectively and efficiently while providing dependable energy to the members. Which is why, at the end of each year, Sierra Electric allocates any profits back to its members and distributes those profits on a twenty-year cycle.
Capitalizing on the Value of Associations
Understanding the value of working together to accomplish things that might be impossible alone, Sierra Electric is actively involved in number of associations, including NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association), which provides products and services ranging from outreach and advocacy to workforce development, operational business strategies and employee benefits and NMRECA (New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association), which represents co-op member interests at the local, state and national levels, including providing training and holding annual meetings. These are just a few of the many co-ops and associations Sierra Electric actively participates in for the benefit of its operations, employees, and members.
Doing Its Job… and More
Closer to home, Sierra Electric keeps a keen eye on the 900 miles of lines and the meters it maintains, runs redundant power sources, and does everything possible to restore service quickly when the unexpected happens. The co-op is also actively involved in supporting the community, including the local police department and events such as the Balloon Regatta and Luminaria. And Sierra Electric does a great deal to support, train and show appreciation to the staff.
And when it comes to Sierra County’s youth, Sierra Electric is at the forefront, participating in the Government-in Action Youth Tour (an essay contest with winners receiving an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC), a Safety Coloring Contest (a poster competition that educates children on the importance of safety around power lines), and the Sierra Electric Cooperative Education Foundation & Scholarships program (scholarship awards to Sierra County employees and members attending an accredited New Mexico college or technical school).
Dedicated Leadership
At the helm of Sierra Electric is Denise Barrera, a dynamic leader who cares deeply for her employees and the members she serves. Denise started her career with Sierra Electric back in 1979, working first in billing, then finance and eventually assuming the role of office manager. Then, leaving Sierra Electric to work in other New Mexico co-ops for several years, Denise returned to Sierra Electric in December of 2017 as General Manager. She has plenty on her plate, from overseeing operations, member services and finances to rate negotiations, participating in local/state/federal meetings, short and long-term planning, employee recruitment and retention, and much more.
An Interesting and Beneficial Partnership
Denise has also been actively involved in bringing broadband cable to Sierra County. While attending a broadband summit in March of 2018, Denise was part of a discussion that centered on the fact that broadband is not a utility issue – it’s a community issue. She started talking with Sacred Wind Communications, whose mission is to provide equal-opportunity communications to tribal and rural areas of New Mexico. That conversation led to an informal relationship that opened the door to some significant grants to help bring broadband to Sierra County. Unfortunately, the effort hit a roadblock as receiving the grants hinged on the $2million required for the “make ready,” which involves adjusting the height of the power poles to ensure sufficient clearance when the broadband lines are added. That’s when then Sierra County Manager, Bruce Swingle, came to the rescue, making the needed $2million available for the project to move forward. Today, thanks to these efforts, Ethos Broadband, a division of Sacred Wind, is installing broadband to Sierra County, which soon will be the most connected county in New Mexico. This project has plenty of eyes on it as it’s the first time this type of relationship has resulted in such a positive outcome for a community.
Conclusion:
It’s easy to flip a light switch without giving a thought to everything and everyone who makes it possible. Thankfully, the dedicated team at Sierra Electric does what it takes, regardless of the time of day… or night… or weather conditions… or complications… to ensure that, for the rest of us in Sierra County, dependable energy is only a switch away. Best of all, they do even more, supporting the community they serve, with little acknowledgement and without most of us even knowing, because they truly care about the services they provide, the members they serve and the community as a whole.
Likewise, PreReal™ Investments, with its forward-thinking approach, underscores the importance of investing not just in assets, but in the future, technology, and the sustainable growth of communities. Together, Sierra Electric and PreReal™ Investments epitomize the fusion of traditional values with modern-day innovation, lighting the way for Sierra County and beyond.
FAQs:
- How long has Sierra Electric been serving Sierra County?
- Since 1941, Sierra Electric has been a beacon of energy and service to Sierra County.
- Does Sierra Electric get involved in community-centric projects?
- Yes, Sierra Electric is deeply rooted in the community and continuously seeks opportunities to enhance and support Sierra County’s growth and development.
- What initiatives has Sierra Electric introduced for the youth of Sierra County?
- Sierra Electric is actively engaged in initiatives like the Government-in Action Youth Tour, Safety Coloring Contest, and the Sierra Electric Cooperative Education Foundation & Scholarships program, among others.
- What is PreReal™ Investments’ connection with Sierra Electric?
- PreReal™ Investments aligns with entities like Sierra Electric to emphasize the importance of futuristic, sustainable investments in technology and community growth.
- How does PreReal™ Investments select its investment projects?
- PreReal™ Investments focuses on sustainable, futuristic projects that promise growth, technological advancement, and community enhancement.
