WESTMINSTER, Colo. (Nov. 6, 2026) – Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association announced today that Chief Executive Officer Duane Highley intends to retire in April 2027 following the association’s 75th Annual Meeting. Highley’s retirement will conclude a career spanning 45 years of service to electric cooperatives, including eight years as CEO of Tri-State. The board will name a new CEO prior to Highley’s departure, allowing ample time for a smooth transition.
Highley’s leadership has firmly positioned the association to navigate the challenges of an evolving energy industry while building on its cooperative strengths.
“There’s always more work to do, but when we look back to 2019, Tri-State is doing what we said we would do,” Highley said. ” I am grateful to the Board of Directors and the entire cooperative for inviting me to play a role in that progress. I have always asked others not to just believe what we say but to watch our feet, and there’s no doubt that our association has made strides thanks to the commitment, resilience and innovation of this association.”
“The Tri-State Board of Directors is grateful to Duane for his hard work and dedication in service to our membership,” said Tim Rabon, chairman of the Tri-State Board of Directors. “Thanks to his leadership, we can pursue new opportunities from a position of strength, grounded in the value of our mission to provide reliable, affordable and responsible power to our members. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish Duane joy and fulfillment in his well-deserved retirement.”
Highley’s extended notice gives the Board time for an orderly transition and selection process, and Rabon will lead a national search for Tri-State’s next CEO. The Board’s Executive Committee will serve as the hiring committee. Highley will remain fully engaged as CEO, focusing on Tri-State’s members, employees, operations and strategic priorities throughout the transition.
About Tri-State
Tri-State is a wholesale power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, with electric distribution cooperatives and public power district members in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. Together with its members, Tri-State delivers reliable, affordable and responsible power and energy services to nearly a million electricity consumers across roughly 200,000 square miles of the West.
Contact
Amy Robertson, 303-254-3743, [email protected]
Mark Stutz, 303-254-3183, [email protected]
Certain information contained in this press statement are forward-looking statements including statements concerning Tri-State’s plans, future events, and other information that is not historical information. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described from time to time in Tri-State’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Tri-State’s expectations and beliefs are expressed in good faith, and Tri-State believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, Tri-State cannot assure you that management’s expectations and beliefs will be achieved. There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein.