Behind the Switch
A Newsletter Edition
June 12, 2025
| | | |  | |
Yvette Delaquito
Vice President
| | | Unclaimed Capital Credits | | |
In December 2024, CVEA made general retirements of capital credits. Some past members did not receive a check because the Cooperative did not have a valid mailing address. CVEA is currently noticing unclaimed capital credits from the 2024 retirement.
The 2024 Unclaimed Capital Credit List is located at cvea.org. It is arranged in alphabetical order, by district. You can access the list by clicking the button below. Please check the list for your family, friends, and neighbors. If you find their name on the list, encourage them to contact Customer Service to update their information.
Email: Customer Service
Phone: 907-822-3211 (Copper Basin) or 907-835-4301 (Valdez)
Distributions which remain unclaimed after all noticing requirements have been met will revert to the CVEA Community Foundation, which funds educational and youth leadership scholarships and local nonprofit contributions.
| | CVEA Announces New Chief Communications Officer, Dr. Morgan Melton | | | |
Glennallen, AK
May 30, 2025
Following a strategic hiring process, CVEA Chief Executive Officer Jaime Matthews is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Morgan Melton as the Cooperative's new Chief Communications Officer (CCO). She will succeed Sharon Scheidt, who will retire on January 6, 2026, after 19 years of dedicated service to the Cooperative.
To read the complete news release, click the button below.
| | It is Construction Season at CVEA | | Summer is upon us and homebuilding, renovations, upgrades, and yard work are happening at a rapid pace. Make sure you are planning for your needs this construction season. | | | |
Construction Cost Calculator
If you are looking for an estimate on a permanent, single-phase, residential service, CVEA has a construction cost calculator that can help. Click the button below.
| | |
Construction Tips
If you are in need of an upgraded service, relocated meter base, additional meter, or all together brand new service, CVEA can help.
Click the button below for steps that summarize the general process and procedures necessary for CVEA to complete construction of a new or upgraded service.
| | | CVEA Community Foundation Local Nonprofit Contribution Season Begins June 26, 2025 | | | | |
The CVEA Community Foundation Board approved over $32,000 to fund the 2025 Local Nonprofit Contribution Season; the largest amount of available funds to date.
If you are a local nonprofit interested in funding from the CVEA Community Foundation, please review the CVEA Community Foundation contribution guidelines found on our website.
The deadline to apply for funding is Thursday, August 14, 2025.
For the detailed announcement, or to visit the website, click the buttons below.
| | | Getting CVEA'S Right-of-Way Plan Right | | |
Reducing the negative impact of trees on the system is critical for maintaining and improving system reliability, a strategic priority of CVEA. For this reason, right-of-way (ROW) management is ongoing, and a significant amount of time and money are spent on this effort each year. ROW management includes planning and scheduling to keep power lines clear of trees and debris to help prevent outages and maintain safe access for the line crew to perform required maintenance.
In 2025, the Cooperative updated its Right-of-Way Management Plan to improve efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and long-term reliability.
To read the complete article, click the button below. Above photo is courtesy of Top Notch.
| |
Toni Daniels
Toni joined CVEA in 2007 as the Customer Service Representative and now serves as the Operations Coordinator. She plays a vital role in the operations department; managing purchasing, organizing resources, and supporting CVEA linemen to help keep the lights on in both districts. Toni's bright smile and fun-loving spirit make every day in the office more enjoyable—she truly brings joy to those around her.
Toni says she has been able to call Alaska home for the past 18 years and has been a part of the CVEA team for 17 of those wonderful years. She is grateful for the beautiful place she gets to call home and believes her backyard is a playground for amazing hiking, kayaking, and fishing in every direction she turns. Toni says, "I am blessed to have endless opportunities at my fingertips and thank my beautiful Alaska and CVEA."
According to Dirk Williams, CVEA Operations Manager, "Toni brings strong multitasking skills and a fast-paced work ethic to her role as Operations Coordinator. Her friendly demeanor positively impacts both cooperative employees and external interactions with members, vendors, and contractors. She is a valued and essential member of the Copper Valley Electric team."
| | Rate Update Reminder—June Billing | | |
The energy charge for residential and small commercial members will increase on the June bill to reflect Tariff changes approved in 2023. This rate adjustment is the third in a five-year plan that will transition both rate classes and districts to a unified 11 cent/kWh rate by 2027. It is important to note that this adjustment affects the energy charge only, which represents 25 percent of the total member bill. The impact to the average residential bill is an increase of roughly $3-6/month (varies by district and usage). If you would like to determine the specific annual impact to your bill, email Customer Service.
As a reminder, the primary reason for this rate adjustment is the need to maintain aging infrastructure that is critical for system reliability.
The graphs above show the annual adjustments that will be made each June through 2027. The 2025 rates are highlighted.
Information related to the 2023 Tariff Changes and the 2022 Rate Study are available on CVEA's website. You can also view the presentation provided during the public information process. For information, click the button below.
| | Energy Efficiency and Safety Tips | | |
Summer Grilling Can Save Energy Costs
Summer is a prime opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. To reduce home energy use, avoid using your oven and use a grill instead.
Tasty no-bake recipes can help you avoid your oven. While out in the backyard or camping, a variety of foil pack recipes for the grill or campfire can be found at thepioneerwoman.com.
Not only will cooking outdoors eliminate the electricity used to power the stove, it will also avoid raising the temperature inside your home, reducing the need for air conditioning or cooling.
Grilling is also a great way to bring people together. Make sure your feast includes a generous portion of fun and a side helping of safety! Never leave your grill unattended.
| | | |
Use Caution When Working or Playing Near Power Lines
- Look up and around you; always be aware of the location of power lines, particularly when using long metal tools
- Do not fly kites or drones near power lines; if one gets into the lines, do not try to remove it yourself, call your local utility or 911
- Lower your long equip-ment when moving it; carry ladders and other long items horizontally
- Be careful when working on or around your roof, installing rooftop antennas and satellite dishes, doing roof repair work or cleaning gutters; never go up on the roof in bad weather
| | |
Happy First Day of Summer—June 20
As summer heats up, do not let your finances melt away. Save on energy so you can spend more on fun summer activities and family vacations. Here are a few tips:
- Use fans instead of air conditioning to stay cool
- Open your curtains when it is sunny to warm your home (keeping your windows clean will also allow more light to come in)
- Wash your clothes in cold water
- Only wash full loads in the dishwasher and use the air dry cycle
- Unplug appliances when not in use—modern appliances use energy even when turned off
- In addition to grilling outdoors, cook meals or side dishes using small countertop appliances
Experts at Homestead Advisors also recommend you:
- Take advantage of seasonal opportunities and summer programs at local libraries and community centers, which frequently host classes, camps, and events at no charge
- Evaluate subscription services; it is a good time to reduce or temporarily pause streaming services while you are enjoying the outdoors
Homestead Advisers, a financial services company established over 30 years ago to help meet the investment needs of communities within the National Rural Electric Cooperative (NRECA) family.
| | | We Want Your Feedback And Ideas! | | |
Have Feedback on the e-Newsletter or Ideas For Articles?
CVEA's goal is to meet your communication needs. If you have feedback or topics you would like to see included in a future issue of Behind the Switch - A Newsletter Edition, send us an email by clicking the button below. We will review thoughts and ideas and do our best to make adjustments and include member suggestions throughout the year.
| | Member Comments and Questions | | |
Copper Valley Electric wants to know what members have to say, and our team is on hand to answer questions you may have.
If you have comments or questions on any CVEA topic, email Customer Service by clicking the link below.
| |
Powering Homes, Empowering Lives
CVEA has excellent opportunities for qualified applicants. View current job opportunities posted on the CVEA website.
| | |
Copper Valley Electric Association | info@cvea.org | 907-822-3211 | www.cvea.org
Mile 187 Glenn Highway, PO Box 45, Glennallen, AK 99588
| | Stay up to date on our Facebook page or visit us at cvea.org | | |
Copyright © 2023 Copper Valley Electric Association, All rights reserved.
| | | | |
