Durango Herald

By Jessica Bowman | The Durango Herald Plaintiffs say co-op violated bylaws by failing to seek voter approval Residents have filed a class-action lawsuit against La Plata Electric Association over the co-op’s decision to exit its contract with energy wholesaler Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. LPEA’s 12-member board voted in March 2024 to terminate the contract with Tri-State in order to diversify its energy portfolio. Under the Tri-State contract, LPEA was obligated to buy no less than 95% of its power from the wholesaler through 2050. The electrical co-op will be required to pay an estimated $210 million exit fee. The plaintiffs allege that LPEA violated its own bylaws by failing to put the Tri-State exit to a vote of its members, according to the lawsuit...