2026 Operational Plan Highlights: A Pivotal Year for Local Energy Independence
As LPEA enters 2026, we are moving forward with a clear plan to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable power while reaching one of the most significant milestones in our cooperative’s history.
This year marks LPEA’s transition to energy independence. In April, we will exit our long-term wholesale power contract and begin operating independently within the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Regional Transmission Organization (RTO). This change is the result of years of careful planning, and positions LPEA for greater local control, increased flexibility, and long-term cost savings for members.
Our 2026 Operational Plan translates LPEA’s newly approved 2026–2030 Strategic Plan into measurable, near-term action. The work is organized around four focus areas: Delivering Safety, Reliability, and Excellence; Energizing Tomorrow; Empowering Community; and Creating Member Value. Together, these priorities guide how we manage risk, invest resources, and deliver value to the members we serve.
Importantly, members are already seeing the benefits of this strategy. While our former wholesale power provider implemented rate increases, LPEA entered 2026 without raising rates. That outcome reflects disciplined cost control, thoughtful preparation for energy independence, and a strong focus on shielding members from broader industry cost pressures.
Delivering Safety, Reliability, and Excellence
Safety remains LPEA’s top priority: for employees, members, and our communities. We are proud to have achieved two consecutive years with no lost-time incidents, reflecting a strong safety culture and consistent focus on doing work the right way, every day. In 2026, we are targeting zero lost-time injuries, zero vehicle incidents, and continued improvement in safety performance metrics.
We are also strengthening our wildfire mitigation program, investing in vegetation management, system hardening, and operational practices that reduce wildfire risk.
Reliability is central to member trust. In 2026, we will continue reducing both the frequency and duration of outages, measured through industry-standard reliability metrics. These improvements support faster restoration times and fewer service interruptions.
To further support operational excellence, LPEA is piloting the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools. Employees will have dedicated time each month to explore how these tools can improve efficiency and service delivery, while maintaining strong cybersecurity and data governance standards.
Energizing Tomorrow
In April, LPEA will complete its transition to energy independence and begin operating within the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). Our teams are highly focused on ensuring this transition is seamless for members, with no disruption to service and a continued emphasis on reliability and affordability.
Joining SPP provides access to a broader, more flexible energy market, allowing LPEA to better manage power costs, respond to system conditions in real time, and integrate local and regional resources more effectively. This move strengthens our ability to control costs over the long term while maintaining local decision-making.
We will also evaluate transmission investments, capacity-sharing opportunities, and large-load inquiries (such as data centers) with a careful, member-focused approach that balances economic opportunity with system impacts and long-term value.
Empowering Community
LPEA’s mission goes beyond delivering electricity. In 2026, we are strengthening member engagement by improving communication, increasing transparency, and creating more opportunities for members to understand how decisions are made.
We are also enhancing support for key accounts and local employers, recognizing the important role affordable, reliable power plays in economic vitality. These efforts align with our broader commitment to local economic development, helping support jobs and long-term community resilience.
Creating Member Value
Creating value for members remains central to every decision LPEA makes. In 2026, our focus is on continuing to reduce power costs relative to our peers, with a goal of outperforming approximately 70% of comparable utilities.
We are expanding energy services offerings that help members manage usage, improve efficiency, and reduce bills, while actively engaging in local and state policy discussions to ensure cooperative interests are well represented. This includes working with local governments and regional partners to support policies that protect reliability, affordability, safety, and local decision-making, so community priorities are reflected in the rules that shape our energy future.
By Chris Hansen, Chief Executive Officer