Dear Members, 
 
My name is Nicole Pitcher, and I’m honored to serve as the newly elected President of the La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board of Directors. I’m proud to have earned the unanimous support of a diverse group of Directors who represent the full breadth of LPEA’s service territory. 

LPEA is a well-run, efficiently governed rural electric cooperative, undergoing significant local changes within the broader, rapidly evolving energy landscape. I want to take a moment to sincerely thank two outgoing directors for their years of commitment to LPEA and our members. 

• Dan Huntington served as the District 2 Director from 2016 to 2025. With nearly a decade of service, Dan provided steady leadership and institutional knowledge during times of both opportunity and transition. His dedication to LPEA’s financial and operational stability was a key asset to the Board. 

• Holly Metzler served as the District 1 Director from 2019 to 2025. During her tenure, she brought a forward-thinking approach to the Board, often asking insightful questions and advocating for transparent decision-making. Her perspective helped shape many key conversations about LPEA’s future. 

We are grateful to both Holly and Dan for their time, service, and care for our cooperative. Their contributions have helped position LPEA to thrive in the years ahead. 

I’d also like to welcome our newest Board Directors representing District 1, Dusty Mars, and District 2, Brad Blake. We’re fortunate to have their insight and expertise as we lead LPEA into a future of greater opportunity and local control. 

On April 1, 2026, LPEA will no longer be bound by an all-requirements wholesale electric service contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission. After decades under an outdated and restrictive 50-year contract, we now have the flexibility to make smart, business-driven decisions that put our members first. This milestone is already delivering tangible benefits. Our post-exit power contracts will provide lower-cost electricity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to our current energy mix. 

LPEA’s members live in an energy-rich region, with abundant potential to generate power locally from natural gas, solar, biomass, hydro, and geothermal resources. No longer will our hard-earned dollars be sent to the Front Range to power our homes, businesses, and ranches. Instead, we’ll reinvest right here at home—creating jobs, strengthening our local energy independence, and building a cleaner, more affordable energy future for all. 

If you have questions, ideas, or simply want to learn more about where we’re headed, I encourage you to reach out. I’m here to listen, to serve, and to ensure your voice is part of the conversation. 

Nicole Pitcher 
President, Board of Directors 
La Plata Electric Association 
npitcher@lpea.coop