Welcome to The People Behind the Power, where we showcase the extraordinary work Tri-State employees are doing to keep the lights on for nearly 1 million energy consumers in the rural West. This series pulls back the curtain to share the real stories of the individuals whose dedication powers our communities. Because when you meet the people behind the power, you see the heart, talent, and perseverance that goes into every flip of a switch.

In our Q&A with Tri-State's Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, Todd Telesz, he shares his insights on our cooperative’s 2024 financial progress, capital strategy, and outlook for reliable, affordable energy. He highlights key initiatives like funding for new solar projects, maintaining rate stability, and building a clean energy portfolio.

Chris Pink is our Senior Vice President of Operations at Tri-State. We sat down with him to discuss how we are achieving reliability, affordability, and responsibility while diversifying our energy portfolio and making strategic investments that benefit our members. The leadership vision continues to focus on empowering employees, prioritizing safety, planning for sustainability, and fostering a culture of respect and professional development to secure our cooperative's future.

At this year's Annual Meeting, we're celebrating the diverse places our members call home with a gift box filled with thoughtful selections that reflect who we are--something members can take with them. We hope each attendee left feeling inspired, appreciated, and connected to what makes our cooperative so unique.

Exploring the balance between wildfire mitigation and cultural preservation, Tri-State highlights the collaborative efforts to protect the historic culture at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. By carefully managing vegetation and respecting Indigenous heritage, Tri-State and partners are reducing wildfire risks while protecting the area's rich archaeological and cultural significance, ensuring a safer future for both the land and the communities it serves.

Every May, over 500 line workers, teachers and volunteers gather in Grand Junction, Colorado at the Mesa Hotline School for the two-week annual learning event. The school attracts participants from across the United States, emphasizing safety and reliability in electrical transmission and distribution. It’s an energetic and transformative learning experience with the aim of equipping people with the knowledge and skills needed to keep the lights on for the communities they serve.  

Building off last year’s award-winning theme of Co-op Campus, our most recent Communications and Energy Services Conference provided another dynamic two days of learning and connection, centered around a 70s-inspired theme of 'More Power to Ya.'  

Every farm has a story, and that story often has a distinct before-and-after moment of when the farm gained electricity. For many across the rural west, that moment was in the 1940s and 50s after the Rural Electrification Act took effect and member-owned electric cooperatives emerged to bring reliable and affordable electricity to their communities. For Mammoth Farms, that moment happened in 2018.   

EEA is a member-owned rural electric cooperative and its day-to-day work serving its member-owners is guided by the seven cooperative principles.