Powerlines January 2026

Together Toward a Brighter 2026

by Jack Johnston, CEO

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As we welcome 2026, I’m carrying with me the strong sense of community I felt at the Montrose and Delta holiday parades last month. I had the honor of driving our float again this year, and seeing the lines of community members was a powerful reminder of why our mission matters. Reliable power and fast, dependable internet are more than utilities; they are the foundation for connection, tradition, and the moments that bring our communities together.

Community service has always been at the heart of who we are at DMEA and Elevate. We don’t simply provide energy and broadband—we show up for the communities we serve, because we are part of them. The parades reflect that spirit and set the tone for the year ahead.

As we step into 2026, members can expect a strong start. This month, we’re launching Spark Sessions—member-focused conversations where you can ask questions, share feedback, and learn more about the work happening across your cooperative. We’ll also continue our multi-year investment in reliability, including upgrades to critical infrastructure and system improvements designed to strengthen resilience and support future growth.

On the Elevate side, we remain committed to extending fiber further into our most rural areas. We are on track to complete our full fiber buildout in 2027, ensuring every member in our service territory has access to reliable and fast fiber connectivity. And this year, we’ll mark a significant milestone: Elevate’s 10 year anniversary. It’s a decade defined by innovation, top-notch customer support, and our commitment to delivering the best service possible.

Thank you for your trust and partnership. Here’s to a bright, safe, and forward-looking 2026—together.

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Snap It! Winter Photo Contest

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Enter Your Best Winter Photo

Calling all members! We want to see your best winter shots of Delta and Montrose County. Whether it’s a beautiful landscape, a candid moment in the snow, or something that captures the spirit of your town in DMEA territory, snap your photo and send it in for the chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters and win a winter prize package!

The Details

Amateur or professional photographers are welcome. People, pets, kids, food, and sunsets shot in Montrose or Delta Counties are all fair game. One photo per person, please. Photos must be less than 10MB in size and .jpg or .jpeg format.*

Submit your photo by January 31, 11:59 PM MST using the form found at https://tally.so/r/Npr0XN, or scan the QR code here:

Photos will be judged on technical quality, creativity, emotional impact, and relevance to the winter theme. Winners will be announced and published in the March issue.

*DMEA reserves the right to use photos in other member communications and to resize or crop entries for publication requirements.

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Your Co-op, Your Vote

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Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) is your member-owned rural electric cooperative. It is governed by a nine-member, democratically-elected board of directors. Every year, members must elect three local representatives to serve on the board. These board members guide the strategic direction of DMEA, set policies, and make decisions in the members’ best interests.

2026 Candidate Nomination & Election Information

Who can run for election in 2026?
Districts 6 and 7, and the North Region are up for election this year. Members with a primary residence in one of these areas can submit a nomination petition to run for the board. To confirm if your primary residence is within one of these districts, visit dmea.com/service-area.

What are the required qualifications?
A complete list of director qualification requirements can be found in DMEA’s Bylaws, Article 4, Section 4.3 at dmea.com/governing-documents.

How do I run for the board?
Starting March 6, 2026, you can submit your information online at dmea.com/self-nomination. Once your membership is confirmed, we’ll send you a nomination form and signature petition. Complete the form and collect at least 30 member signatures. The election will be open from May 15 until our annual meeting on June 18.

Questions?
Email communications@dmea.com, call 877-687-3632 or visit dmea.com/elections.

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Internet Made For You

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Essential $54.95/month
Your essentials covered. Perfect for browsing, email, and everyday use.

Network protection with ElevateIQ app
400 Mbps

Streamer $79.95/month ($54.95 for three months)
Built for entertainment lovers who stream, scroll, and share.

All features included in the Essential plan
Device prioritization with ElevateIQ app
1 Gig (1,000 Mbps)

Family $99.95/month
Power every moment together–work, play, and everything between.

All features included in Streamer plan
Tech-assisted parental control setup
Improved coverage with Wi-Fi extender
2 Gig (2,000 Mbps)

Legend $149.95/month
Fast, seamless, legendary. Built for those who demand the best.

All features included in Family plan
VIP installation including cable run
Always-on, 24/7 priority tech support
Only legends earn Gigfoot’s respect 6 Gig (6,000 Mbps)

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2025 Community Impact

Better Together

At DMEA and Elevate, we are committed to enriching the lives and communities of our members and subscribers. We are all part of something bigger, and we aren’t just your source of electricity and internet–we were honored to make a difference in 2025!

37K+ electric meters with reliable service

34K+ homes and businesses with Elevate Access

$100K+ local sponsorships and donations

70+ organizations and events sponsored

16 community events hosted

149 local employees

18K+ internet subscribers

35% of Garnet Mesa output is powering members

1K+ Wi-Fi Wizard self-installs

5 educational internet classes

$105K+ in scholarships awarded to 21 students

10 summer student interns

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New Ways to Stay Cyber Safe

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Start out the new year knowing some of the more common ways bad actors steal your information or money–and how to avoid them!

Slick Impersonation
Scammers now use AI to craft emails or chat-conversations that impersonate a boss, family member, or trusted contact, asking for urgent transfers or “help.”

Smishing (text) & Vishing (phone) Scams
Attackers pretend to be customer support and trick people into giving up passwords or paying bogus fees. Victims are lured via fake help-numbers or forms.

Ghost Stores and Bogus Service Sites
Fake online shops or websites often use legit-looking logos or trust badges, and accept payment — but then disappear or never deliver goods.

How To Stay Safe

Treat unsolicited messages or contacts as suspicious.

Type in the web address—don’t click links or scan QR codes from unknown sources.
Never give out passwords or verification codes to someone who contacts you.
Verify identities independently—cross-check contact information through official sources.
Slow down — never let urgency or emotional pressure push you into acting quickly.
Download ElevateIQ to filter bad actors at your router, share Wi-Fi safely, and block unwanted content.

Get ElevateIQ today!

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2026 Spark Sessions

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A Glowing Invitation

Join us for one of our upcoming Spark Sessions—four relaxed, come-as-you-are gatherings where cooperative members can chat face-to-face with senior staff and board leaders. This is your chance to ask questions, share ideas, and get to know the folks powering your wires behind the scenes. Drop in, say hello, and have a refreshment on us.

Save These Dates!

Tuesday, January 20, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Paonia Books/Espresso
234 Grand Avenue, Paonia

‍Thursday, January 22, 7:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Sugar Mama’s
250 S Grand Mesa Drive, Cedaredge

Tuesday, February 17
Montrose
Location to be determined

‍Thursday, February 26
Delta
Location to be determined

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