Last month we talked about the importance of investing in the electric system that serves you by strengthening reliability through technology, maintenance, and long-term planning. This month, I want to share how those investments are being put to work through our 2026 Strategy Map and the major initiatives that will deliver measurable benefits to our members.
Every year, Mountain View Electric Association’s Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team collaborate to develop a strategic plan and strategy map grounded in our cooperative mission: to provide safe, reliable, affordable, and responsible electricity. While safety remains our top priority, this year reliability and affordability are focus areas for action.
Our strategy map outlines six priorities: Safety; Reliability & Resiliency; Affordability; Member Engagement; Employee Relations; and Technology & Innovation. These priorities guide every project we take on, ensuring our investments today strengthen the system for tomorrow. Here are a few examples of how that strategy is already taking shape:
BUILDING A SMARTER GRID
Work continues on implementing our Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS), a tool that helps keep our communities powered and our members’ lights on by improving system visibility, automating outage detection and restoration, and enables safe power rerouting during outages or wildfire risk. With ADMS, power can be disconnected or redirected through software rather than sending in MVEA crews to manually complete the process. Alongside expanded drone inspections and enhanced GPS mapping, ADMS increases our speed, efficiency, and crew safety.
PROACTIVE WILDFIRE MITIGATION
As wildfire risk grows across Colorado, our comprehensive wildfire mitigation plan plays a vital role in protecting homes, communities, and critical infrastructure. In 2026, we are expanding vegetation management, deploying upgraded equipment, increasing inspections, and integrating new monitoring technologies. A $771,000 Department of Energy grant is helping us strengthen infrastructure and improve fault detection during extreme weather events without driving up costs.
STRATEGIC SYSTEM UPGRADES
Major projects — including substation rebuilds, equipment upgrades, and targeted transmission improvements — ensure our system can support the needs of our growing electric co-op while improving service reliability. A recent example with far-reaching benefits is the replacement of over 150 relays in substations across our service territory. Relays are important because they make the electric system smarter, safer, and more reliable — which means fewer outages, faster restoration, and better service for MVEA members.
FIBER BROADBAND EXPANSION
Our fiber broadband project, now more than halfway complete, is about more than high-speed internet. The fiber network supports real-time grid communication, enhances wildfire mitigation tools, and allows ADMS to operate effectively across our 5,000-square-mile service territory.
As a member-owned electric cooperative, we’re here to power your homes, businesses, and daily routines with dependable service you can feel confident in. Every improvement we make is rooted in reliability and grounded in our commitment to you and the communities we serve.
Ruth Marks is the CEO of Mountain View Electric Association, a electric distribution cooperative based in Falcon, Colorado.
