LPEA retains consultants to study the future of power supply for co-op
LPEA retains consultants to study the future of power supply for co-op
Date Published

LPEA retains consultants to study the future of power supply for co-op

Board of Directors authorized Power Supply Committee to make selection

 

DURANGO, Colo. – Following an extensive search, and thorough Request for Proposals (RFP) process overseen by the Power Supply Committee, the La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board of Directors has authorized retention of two outside consulting entities to assist in study of LPEA’s future power supply options.

 

•  Albuquerque, N.M.-based Enchantment Energy Consulting, Inc. and Rio Energy, LLC (as partners for purposes of the LPEA project) - to conduct a study of the wholesale power contract between LPEA and Tri-State Generation and Transmission.

•  Salt Lake City, Utah-based Energy Strategies - to conduct an analysis of wholesale power markets and potential opportunities that may be available to LPEA.

 

Reports from the consultants are to be presented to the full LPEA Board of Directors in April 2019. The Board of Directors has authorized up to $100,000 to be spent on the two studies.

 

“Power supply is very complex,” said LPEA CEO Mike Dreyspring. “Putting together a committee and retaining the consultants made sense to allow us to devote the time required to fully understand the issues surrounding this important aspect of our industry.”

 

The LPEA Board formed the Power Supply Committee (PSC) in October 2018 specifically to study the challenges and opportunities of power supply, assess the value of LPEA’s contract with wholesale power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and identify options for increasing LPEA’s flexibility to provide more local renewable generation.

 

“Establishment of the committee is an outgrowth of LPEA’s consumer-members’ desire for more flexibility when it comes to where we source the electricity we deliver,” said Ron Meier, manager of engineering and member relations. “We continue to hear our consumer-members say that local renewable generation is important to them, and for that, we need flexibility to help fulfill their and our expectations.”

 

The PSC is made up of three voting LPEA directors, Britt Bassett, Tim Wheeler and Kohler McInnis and one non-voting director, Jack Turner, along with two LPEA management team members, CEO Dreyspring and Dan Harms, manager of Rates, Technology and Energy Policy.

 

LPEA, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative established in 1939, provides to its more than 30,000 members, with in excess of 42,000 meters, safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, while being environmentally responsible. For further information visit www.lpea.coop or call 970.247.5786.