By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice
It’s crunch time for mail-in ballots in the La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) board election – and with contested seats and rising costs in the mix, turnout matters.
Ballots have to be in LPEA’s hands by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 20 – postmarks don’t count. With slow mail times a known issue, LPEA voters who haven’t yet mailed their ballot should drop it off in person or vote online through SmartHub.
Online voting closes at noon on May 20. Paper ballots are due by 4 p.m. Results will be shared at the annual meeting on May 21, from 11:30 to 12:30 at LPEA’s Durango office.
Drop boxes are located at:
- 45 Stewart Street, Durango
- 603 S. 8th Street, Pagosa Springs
With four contested seats on the ballot this year, the stakes are unusually high – and the decisions more scrutinized than ever. From power supply contracts to executive compensation, many members are weighing not just who should represent them, but whether LPEA leadership is delivering on the cooperative’s founding promise.
Last week, Rocky Mountain Voice broke down some of the reasons members are frustrated heading into this election. Some say the reality hasn’t lived up to the pitch: “Local control was the promise. A $209 million buyout, a foreign energy trader – and a CEO earning over half a million dollars is what members got.”
The buyout stems from LPEA’s withdrawal from its decades-long Tri-State contract, approved in a 9-3 board vote on March 25, 2024. The move came despite public pushback and left ratepayers on the hook for more than $200 million.
Critics called the buyout reckless, arguing it shifts the burden to members and creates added strain for low- and fixed-income households. In recent months, members have brought these concerns directly to LPEA’s board, describing how rising costs have pushed some to the brink.
Tri-State and LPEA have already executed a formal term sheet that defines their separation agreement, including post-exit power purchase deals and transmission commitments.
The foreign energy trader stepping in as LPEA’s new power supplier is Mercuria, a Swiss-based commodities firm with no local infrastructure. Mercuria is one of the World Economic Forum’s Strategic Partners – its CEO regularly appears at Davos and the company collaborates with WEF on climate and governance initiatives. That alignment has raised broader questions for some about whose interests are influencing LPEA’s direction.
What’s at stake isn’t abstract. Voters are feeling it on their bills. LPEA’s 7.72% rate hike went into effect April 1, but most members are only now seeing the full impact in their May statements.
LPEA’s own financial filings show that net income has dropped by over 60% since 2019, even as top administrative salaries and consulting costs have climbed steadily. And while spending has surged, the number of meters served has stayed flat – prompting more questions about where member dollars are going.
This election has drawn candidates with wide-ranging experience – from engineers and accountants to business owners and renewable energy executives. Candidate statements and district maps are available on LPEA’s official Meet the Candidates page.
Voting is open to all active LPEA members. If you didn’t receive a ballot – or aren’t sure which district you’re in, visit lpea.coop/elections or call LPEA directly at (970) 247-5786.
The decisions on this year’s ballot reflect questions many members are already facing – about rates, reliability, transparency and leadership. The outcome will help shape how the cooperative moves forward.