Our History

Our Roots Run Deep

Like how our wires run through our service territory, so too does our concern for community flow through all our decisions – because being a co-op means we’ve been here for our members since our founding in 1939 till today and for tomorrow.

1939 – PVREA Founded

Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, Inc. is founded by 600 members who paid $5 apiece for membership on November 2, 1939. An office is established in Severance, CO.

1942 – New Office

Our office is moved to 220 East Olive Street in Fort Collins, CO.

1957 – In The Spotlight

PVREA lineman George Jones goes national in an ad campaign for General Electric transformers.

1962 – Service Territory Expands

PVREA builds a 69-kV transmission line to serve its mountain areas, such as Red Feather Lakes and Poudre Canyon.

1971 – New Logo

PVREA retires the yellow logo with Willie Wiredhand and adopts a new logo with patriotic red, white, and blue colors.

1972 – 10,000 Meters

Membership continues to grow.

1973 – New Office

PVREA moves its offices to 4809 S. College Avenue in Fort Collins, CO.

1983 – White Tuesday

The ice storm on May 17, 1983 causes the most damage to PVREA so far. Over 900 poles are damaged with outages almost two weeks long.

1989 – 50 Years

PVREA celebrates 50 years in service to our members.

1990 – 20,000 Meters

Membership continues to grow.

1995 – New Office

On September 11, 1995 PVREA breaks ground for a new office building, located east of I-25 off the Windsor exit, which is still the co-op headquarters today.

2001 – 30,000 Meters

Membership continues to grow.

2008 – The Smart Grid

PVREA deploys the installation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), improving the co-op’s grid reliability and power restoration time.

2012 – High Park Fire

Starting in June and burning over 98,000 acres, this fire damages 400 poles and 1,700 members lose power.

2013 – Flood

Abnormal rainfall and recent fire damage causes immense flooding, resulting in 2,600 members without power, damage to 150 poles and roughly 9 miles of line.

2016 – 40,000 Meters

Membership continues to grow.

2019 – 80 by 30

On May 28, our Board sets a long-term energy supply goal to provide 80% carbon-free energy to members by 2030.

2020 – Cameron Peak Fire

As the largest wildfire in CO history, it burns over 208,000 acres, 43 miles of line, and causes over $4 million of damage to our system.

2021 – Microgrid Technology

Alongside local, regional, and national partners, we test the waters for Microgrid and battery storage adoption with a pilot project in Red Feather Lakes, CO.

2022 – 50,000 Meters

Membership continues to grow.

The Future

We will continue to carry out our mission of meeting and exceeding the evolving needs and expectations of our members and the communities we serve.