Welcome to La Plata Electric Association (LPEA)! We're glad you're on our lines. LPEA is a cooperative utility, which means we are owned and operated by our members - that's you! This page provides you with a few tips and general information to get the most out of your membership!
Helpful Tips
LPEA's SmartHub app is an easy way to pay your bill, examine your energy use, report an outage, and manage your account. Download the app on your phone on Google Play or Apple, or access SmartHub on your desktop or laptop online.
We need your contact information to update you during outages and emergencies. Make sure we have your correct email and telephone numbers (we can store up to three!). Here's how:
- GO ONLINE: Update your LPEA account information 24/7 by logging into your SmartHub account. Go to the "Notification" tab and select "manage contacts"
- E-MAIL US: Send your contact details to memberservices@lpea.coop
- OR CALL US: (970) 247-5786
Just moved? You may want to make some upgrades and/or purchases for your home or business. LPEA can help! We offer a huge range of rebates on everything from heat pumps and water heaters to energy audits and outdoor electric tools. Get big bucks back by going electric!
Your bill, your way
Ditch your bill and go PrePay
PrePay accounts allow you to pay upfront for your electricity use and avoid monthly bills. Text and/or email notifications will alert you when your balance is low and needs to be recharged.
Set it and forget it with AutoPay
Have your bill paid automatically from your bank account or card each month. Ditch the hassle and concerns about due dates and late fees.
Multiple accounts? Try Invoice Billing
Do you have more than one LPEA service account? If so, get rid of those extra statements through LPEA's Invoice Billing program and have all your charges billed on one detailed invoice.
Email csr@lpea.coop or call (970) 247-5786
Make your pennies powerful by opting in to round up your bill to the next highest dollar each month. Funds go to support local non-profits
Get your bill via e-mail each month. Save paper, boost account security, and declutter your life!
Need help paying your bill? Call us at (970) 247-5786 to discuss your options, or visit our website for a list of assistance agencies.
What to know about outages
No one likes to experience power outages, but here in rural southwest Colorado, they are somewhat inevitable. The most common causes of outages in our service territory are trees falling into lines, high winds, and heavy snow or ice. Thankfully, LPEA crews are on call 24/7 to act quickly when outages occur.
Stay connected during outages via text message.
To get started, text "TEXTLPEA" to (970) 247-5786. If the message comes back that you are signed up, you are good to go. If your number is not recognized, you need to update your contact information by emailing memberservices@lpea.coop or calling (970) 247-5786. Learn More
Thanks to LPEA's meters, we usually know you have an outage as soon as you do. As such, there is no special action you need to take to report your outage. If you have opted out of LPEA's AMI infrastructure or want to make sure we know about your outage, you can:
- Call: (970) 247-5786 and select option "5" to report your outage
- Text: Text "OUT" to (970) 247-5786. If you are texting from a number listed on your account, it will register your outage. Text "STATUS" for updates.
- SmartHub: Report your outage on SmartHub under "Contact Us" and "Report an Issue/Inquiry"
If your lights are flickering, you DO NOT need to call.
Follow us
We post updates during outages to our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Visit our website
We post updates to lpea.coop during large outages. Look for the red alert bar. Also check out our outage map.
Call or text
For updates, call (970) 247-5786 and press 5 OR text "STATUS" to (970) 247-5786.
To prevent outages and improve reliability, LPEA regularly conducts infrastructure improvement projects. If a project affects your property, we will let you know beforehand.
For more details, check out our construction updates page with a live and interactive construction map.
Tips to save your energy dollars
We get it. Paying your electric bill is not fun. The good news is that there are steps you can take to decrease your bill and take control of your energy use. Here are four tips to get you started!
LPEA offers 14 different rebates to help you electrify and save, including heat pumps, EV chargers, LEDs, outdoor electric equipment, e-bikes, hybrid water heaters, induction cooktops, timers/thermostats, whole house fans, and more.
Most of LPEA's residential members could save money by switching to our optional Time-of-Use rate, which charges different rates for electricity at different times of the day. Higher rates are charged during LPEA's “on-peak” hours, and lower rates are charged at "off-peak" times.
Call or email us today for a free rate comparison at (970) 247-5786 or csr@lpea.coop.
If you haven't already, log in to your SmartHub account and go to My Usage > Usage Explorer. This section gives you a deep dive into your daily and hourly energy use.
Still don't know what's behind your high bill? This article highlights the top energy-sucking culprits. Learn More
You may need to make some upgrades to see a big difference in your bill. In partnership with First Southwest Bank, LPEA can support your energy efficiency or solar photovoltaic project through our On-Bill Financing program. If approved, you will pay that loan off over time as part of your LPEA electric bill. That means no extra bill to keep track of and no extra hassle! Learn More
We're led by you, our members
LPEA is governed by a 12-member board of directors elected by members like you! Our directors live in the districts they serve and are elected to represent you. Each year, four director seats come up for re-election. We encourage you to VOTE each spring and run for a board seat if you're interested.
LPEA board and committee meetings are also live-streamed, recorded, and open to the public. We also host regular strategy and information webinars and hold an annual meeting for our members each year. Join us!
As an owner, you get CashBack!
As a member of LPEA, you are also an owner, which means you directly invest in and benefit from the co-op's success. When you pay your LPEA bill, a portion of that payment goes directly toward your investment in our electrical system.
In years that LPEA earns positive margins (i.e., profits), we allocate a portion of those profits to you (based on the amount of electricity you use) in the form of Capital Credits. The Capital Credit allocation and retirement process is called LPEA's CashBack program.
