In October, electric cooperatives across the country take time to celebrate National Cooperative Month and reflect on the unique advantages of being part of a co-op. It’s also the perfect time to thank you — the members who make it all possible. For us, it’s not just a celebration. It’s a chance to reaffirm the enduring strategic priorities that guide everything we do.
As the CEO of GCEA, I see purpose in action every single day. We exist to serve you — our members, our neighbors, and our communities. This local accountability means we can stay focused on what matters most: delivering reliable, affordable, and safe electricity and providing real value to the people we serve.
INVESTING IN A STRONGER ELECTRIC SYSTEM
Providing reliable electricity requires ongoing investment. Our electric system is aging, communities are growing, and the way we use electricity continues to change. GCEA is making thoughtful investments in infrastructure, technology, and maintenance to strengthen the system and improve service for members.
One of the largest projects underway is the Highway 149 power line rebuild. This project will replace and harden approximately 30 miles of aging distribution line serving Lake City, Powderhorn, and surrounding areas. The existing three-phase line is being replaced with larger-capacity wire, stronger poles, shorter spans, and more guy wires, improving system reliability and increasing capacity for the communities along the corridor. Projects of this size take time, but the investment will provide benefits to members for decades.
Reliability also depends on maintaining the infrastructure we already have. GCEA is using technology to identify and target its efforts and has increased vegetation management throughout the service territory, using professional tree-trimming crews to maintain safe distances between vegetation and power lines. Proper vegetation management improves reliability, reduces outages, enhances safety, and helps mitigate wildfire risk.
PROTECTING INFRASTRUCTURE DURING THE ELK FIRE
This summer, GCEA’s wildfire mitigation efforts were put to work during the Elk Fire, which was sparked by lightning on July 9.
As the fire threatened areas near Lake City, GCEA and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association crews worked alongside fire personnel to identify electric infrastructure at risk and determined ways to protect it.
GCEA crews wrapped 95 electric poles along Highway 149 with fire-resistant material to help protect the poles from the intense heat and flames of the wildfire. Crews also marked overhead power lines near the ponds at High Bridge to improve visibility for helicopters flying in the area to collect and drop water during firefighting efforts.
Tri-State crews took additional steps to protect the electric system, wrapping 82 transmission structures along Highway 149 to the Lake City Substation. The final 20 structures were located on a steep hillside, where GCEA crews also cleared trees and brush around the poles to create additional defensible space.
As the fire moved toward the San Juan Hills neighborhood, crews responded again, wrapping an additional 17 poles to help protect critical electric infrastructure.
As of press time, the Elk Fire continues to burn but the threat to GCEA’s infrastructure has subsided and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) were avoided. GCEA crews worked alongside fire personnel and other utility partners with the shared goal of protecting infrastructure while supporting the safety and reliability of the communities we serve.
BALANCING RELIABILITY AND WILDFIRE SAFETY
This summer provided an important reminder that reliable electric service and safety sometimes require difficult decisions.
Beginning in early June, GCEA operated substations and field devices in rapid-trip, non-reclose mode as an added wildfire safety measure. Under these settings, protective devices did not automatically restore power following a temporary fault, such as lightning or animal contact. Instead, GCEA crews needed to inspect the line and verify that it was safe before manually restoring power.
These measures helped reduce wildfire risk during hot, dry conditions, but they also resulted in more frequent and sometimes longer outages. We recognize how disruptive an outage can be to a home, business, or daily routine, and we sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding our members showed throughout the summer.
As fire conditions improved and Gunnison County reduced fire restrictions, GCEA adjusted its system protection settings in mid-August. Breakers at all four substations returned to normal operation, while field breakers were changed to normal-trip, non-reclose mode. These changes help reduce the number, size, and impact of outages while maintaining an appropriate level of wildfire protection.
Wildfire conditions can change quickly, so GCEA will continue monitoring weather and fire conditions and adjusting system protection when necessary. Our goal is to strike the right balance between protecting our communities and providing the reliable service our members depend on.
POWERED BY OUR MEMBERS
GCEA’s work extends beyond poles, power lines, and equipment. Cooperatives were created to meet community needs, and that commitment remains part of who we are.
We support local schools, youth programs, emergency response organizations, community events, and other efforts that strengthen the communities we serve. Our employees live, work, and raise their families here, too. When our communities succeed, our cooperative succeeds.
That local connection matters. It means the decisions we make are ultimately about serving the people and communities that depend on us.
THANK YOU!
Thank you for your patience during challenging outages, your understanding during wildfire precautions, and your continued support of GCEA. Thank you for trusting our crews and employees to keep providing safe, reliable electric service.
You are not simply a customer. You are an owner and an important part of the cooperative.
This National Cooperative Month, we’re proud to celebrate what we can accomplish together — and grateful for the opportunity to serve you.
That’s the cooperative difference. That’s what it means to be powered by purpose.
By Mike McBride, CEO
