Powerlines November 2026

Capital Credits Are Making a Difference

by Jack Johnston, CEO

As a member-owned cooperative, DMEA is different from an investor-owned utility. When DMEA earns margins, those funds belong to our members. Over time, a portion of those margins may be returned to members through capital credit retirements.

But what happens when we can’t find a member?

When capital credits remain unclaimed, those funds can eventually be used through DMEA’s Capital Credit Community Fund to support the communities we serve. This year, that fund has helped make a difference across our service territory.

We’ve supported local scholarships and DMEA’s Youth Programs, matched Operation Round Up donations and contributed to organizations and projects included in the center of this article, among many others.

These are investments in the people, organizations, and communities that make the Western Slope such a special place to live. And importantly, this is money from unclaimed capital credits—not money that impacts members’ current bills or rates.

That’s why keeping your contact information up to date with DMEA is so important. If you’ve moved, changed your phone number or email address, or aren’t sure whether
we have your current information, please take a moment to update it. Good contact information helps us return capital credits to the members who earned them.

Thank you for being a member and for helping us continue to invest in the communities we love and call home.

Capital Credit Projects

CASA’s Domestic Violence Task Force
Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club
Olathe School eSports team
Surface Creek Valley Historical Society HVAC
Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse side-by-side
Energy Outreach Colorado
Surface Creek Saddle Club
Town of Paonia Police Department radios

Search for Unclaimed Capital Credits

We’re looking for members who may have unclaimed capital credits—refunds that couldn’t be delivered due to outdated contact information or inactive accounts. Search for your capital credit information: dmea.com/capital-credits.

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Two Outlets & Four Lights

Lineman Tim Brandon Participates in Guatemala Energy Trails Team

Brandon was part of a team that spent over 15 days in the communities of Montenegro and El Estocal, where crews worked with residents to build the infrastructure needed to provide electricity for the first time. Chief Operations Officer, Cody Carver, also attended to support bringing electricity to the village school. The project brought cooperative lineworkers from Colorado, Iowa, and Oklahoma together with the determination and labor of the Guatemalan people they were serving.

Much of the project took place in steep, rugged terrain with little or no access for heavy equipment. Brandon was able to take a bag of his specialized line equipment, but several standard tools weren’t immediately available to the team. At one point, villagers carried a power pole approximately a quarter-mile uphill on their backs because there was no road or equipment available to move it.

That spirit of cooperation became one of the most meaningful parts of the experience for Brandon. Residents worked alongside the crews, helping with everything from digging and moving materials to setting poles that would serve their homes and neighbors for years to come.

While the terrain, resources, and circumstances were dramatically different from those Brandon encountered at DMEA, the mission felt familiar.

The project was coordinated through National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International, which works with electric cooperatives worldwide to bring
electricity and the benefits of reliable service to communities that have never had it.

For DMEA CEO Jack Johnston, Brandon's participation in the project is an extension of the cooperative's commitment to serving communities both close to home and beyond its service territory.

DMEA employees have participated in Light Up Navajo, an initiative that brings volunteer electric cooperative crews together to extend electric service to Navajo families who have lived without electricity. The work in Guatemala offered a similar reminder of the difference reliable electricity can make in everyday life.

“We were putting two outlets and four lights into these little dirt-floor huts where families were living. Each family was also gifted a two-burner hot plate, which was a change from cooking over fire. It really makes you stop and think about how much we take electricity for granted. Something as simple as being able to plug something in or turn on a light can make a huge difference in someone’s life.” — Tim Brandon, Lineman

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87 electric services
6 km of primary line
5 km of secondary line
55 primary poles
31 secondary poles
11 transformers

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Just One of the Crew

Gigfoot has official gone from mysterious creature to local celebrity. These days, you might spot him cruising in an Elevate truck on the way to a job, grabbing coee like a regular at his favorite local spot, or taking a lunch break on the tailgate with the Elevate crew.

Turns out, being part of the community suits him. While driving a tractor isn’t technically included with any internet plan we know of, smart farming is another story. Fast, reliable internet helps 18,000+ Elevate customers stay connected to the technology, information, and tools that keep all of our operations moving.

Experience the local legend for yourself. Get Elevate today at elevateinternet.com/internet!

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Concern for Community

More than a Game

As part of October’s National Cooperative Month and our member appreciation eorts, we’re proud to support local schools, student-athletes, families, and communities through Friday Night Lights.

Each of our four Friday Night Lights events benefited local high schools while creating an experience students, families, and fans could enjoy. Across four local high school football games with teams from Montrose, Delta, Cedaredge, North Fork, and Olathe, we celebrated all of our high schools and connected with countless fans from the community. Members also had the opportunity to sign up for Operation Round Up, a program that rounds up their monthly bill to support local community initiatives. As part of member and customer appreciation, DMEA covered admission to all games and handed out bill credits, as well as hundreds of t-shirts, and other commemorative items.

“We’re grateful to have partners like DMEA and Elevate who continue to show up for our students. Their support adds to the excitement of Friday nights and, more importantly, shows our athletes and families that our community is behind them.” — Heather Dunbar, Cedaredge High School Athletic Director

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By the Numbers

5,700 estimated fans attended
45 games for schools
64 members signedup for Operation Round Up
$4K won in bill credits

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Better Wi-Fi Room to Room

By Tony Shepard, Lead Network Operations Specialist

Wireless coverage problems can be some of the most frustrating things to happen at home–whether you are trying to stream a show in your bedroom, join an online meeting in your office, or simply walk around your house aimlessly doom-scrolling. There can be more complex, nuanced issues related to these kinds of problems, but often they are directly related to the setup of your wireless network and the devices that make it work.

Ensure your home router is not on the floor or surrounded by furniture, walls, or other electronics.
Your home router and other wireless network devices work like small radio towers, and, like a radio tower, they work best out in the open and above their surroundings.
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Is the issue with a single device or your overall network coverage?
Try using the same app or checking the same location on a few different devices. If multiple devices experience the same problem, it may be a network issue. Start by restarting your router. If the problem persists, reach out to Elevate for friendly, local support anytime. Our team is available 24/7 by phone, chat, or email.

If you’re looking to improve coverage throughout your home or small business, Elevate’s wireless coverage devices can help. These easy-to-deploy mesh units extend your Wi-Fi signal to areas with otherwise weak coverage, while next-generation technology and smartphone apps make managing your network simple. Elevate’s Wi-Fi routers also include built-in network tools and parental controls, accessible through the free app called ElevateIQ.

Get ElevateIQ today!

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The Electric Strip

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