Celebrating The Cooperative Difference

Every October, electric cooperatives across the country celebrate National Cooperative Month.

It’s a time to reflect on what makes cooperatives unique, impactful, and deeply rooted in the communities we serve. For Poudre Valley REA, this month is not only a celebration of our cooperative’s history, but also a chance to reaffirm the values that guide us today.

In 1939, we were born out of necessity, bringing power to rural communities that traditional utilities, focused on profit, deemed too costly to serve. While the landscape of our industry and territory has changed, the challenge of serving less-dense areas remains.

PVREA has 12 meters for every mile of power line, compared to 34 for investor-owned utilities and 48 for city-owned utilities. Despite this significant difference, our commitment to sound financial planning and doing more with less allows us to deliver reliable, affordable electricity that is competitive with rates from those larger utilities.

You may be familiar with Willie Wiredhand, the friendly figure with a light socket head and wire arms, created in 1951 as the mascot of America’s electric cooperatives. Willie embodies the cooperative spirit — reliable, affordable, and always ready to serve. Just as Willie became a symbol of this spirit, PVREA continues living out those same principles daily.

The cooperative difference is seen most clearly in three areas: reliability, affordability, and service. PVREA consistently delivers among the highest reliability in Colorado while also maintaining the lowest residential electric rate in the state.

But our work goes far beyond just keeping the lights on. As a cooperative, we live and work in the communities we serve. From the mountains to the plains, our employees volunteer, donate, and engage with schools, fire districts, emergency services, nonprofits, and more. That’s the cooperative difference in action — neighbors helping neighbors, both on the job and in everyday life.

PVREA is committed to strengthening the places we call home with programs and services that empower members and through support of organizations that uplift our communities. Whether by partnering with local nonprofits, aiding education, or lending a hand at community events, we seek to multiply the good already happening across Northern Colorado.

One shining example is our partnership with Vindeket Foods, a local nonprofit dedicated to food rescue.

Your member-owned utility partner will continue to honor the cooperative spirit, invest in reliability and affordability, and serve our communities with care.

This month, and every month, we celebrate the cooperative difference!