Behind the Switch
A Newsletter Edition
August 14, 2025
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CVEA Offers Opportunities for Nonprofits
and Food Vendors at the Co-op Month
Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patch
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CVEA is Seeking Nonprofit Organizations Interested in Event FUNdraisers
If you are a local nonprofit organization, help CVEA put the FUN in FUNdraiser this Co-op Month at the Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patch events in Glennallen October 11, and in Valdez October 18. The Co-op is looking for nonprofit organizations in each district to help coordinate and staff several pumpkin patch-themed fundraisers. Nonprofit groups who participate will earn excellent exposure in the community and an equal share of profits raised!!
If you are interested in participating or would like more information, email by clicking the button below. Please respond by Thursday, August 28.
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Food Vendors Needed at the Pumpkin Patch
LOCAL FOOD VENDORS in the Copper Basin and Valdez!! Help us feed the crowds this October at the CVEA Co-op Month Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patch events in Glennallen October 11, and in Valdez October 18! CVEA is looking for local food vendors in each district to provide sweet and savory treats.
What's in it for you? Large, hungry crowds, great sales opportunities, and FUN!
If you are interested in participating or would like more information, email by clicking the button below. Please respond by Thursday, August 28.
| | Join Us on the Community Foundation Contributions Committee and Help Us Do MORE for the Communities We Serve | | |
The CVEA Community Foundation is looking for interested members to serve on the Contributions Committee.
- Review and score Contribution Requests sent in by local nonprofit organizations
- Make funding recommendations to the Community Foundation Board
- Participate in two meetings in September/October (time commitment is estimated 8 hours or less)
- Serve your community and your Cooperative
If you have questions or would like to volunteer, contact Amanda Shipman, CVEA Marketing & Communications Specialist, at 907-835-7004 or by clicking the button below. The deadline is Thursday, August 21.
| | August 24 is National Hydropower Day | | |
Sunday, August 24, is National Hydropower Day! This is a great opportunity for electric utilities and their members across the nation to celebrate the undeniable contributions that hydropower provides. CVEA is proud to have two hydroelectric projects—Solomon Gulch and Allison Creek—that supply over 65 percent of our annual generation needs and close to 100 percent through the summer months.
This is good news for members as our hydropower provides clean, renewable, sustainable, affordable power, and it will continue for generations to come.
The above photo is an aerial view of Solomon Lake and the Solomon Gulch Hydroelectric Project dam, dyke, and spillway in the mountains above Port Valdez, with downtown Valdez in the distance. Photo by Frontier 49.
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CVEA's Community Foundation
Provides Local Students Leadership
Opportunities of a Lifetime
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Idaho Youth Rally
Each spring, the CVEA Community Foundation offers two high school students a Youth Rally Leadership Scholarship, in partnership with the Alaska Power Association, to attend the Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association (ICUA) Youth Rally. This is much more than another summer camp for teens—this is a leadership program, with an emphasis on educating high schooler students on the electric industry and the important role cooperatives play in rural communities.
This July, Merrick McCumby and Savannah Barton from Valdez represented Copper Valley Electric at the Rally in Nampa, Idaho. While there, they:
🌐Networked with close to 100 students from several states, including Idaho, Washington, Wyoming, and Oregon.
💡Learned about electric cooperatives
👷Heard about electric industry careers
👥Sharpened their teamwork and leadership skills
🏛Visited the Idaho State Capitol
🌊Enjoyed a trip to a waterpark
💃Had fun at lively dance parties and intense rounds of cornhole
🎉Congratulations to Merrick, who was awarded a $600 Scholarship and chosen to attend the 2026 National Youth Tour and serve on the 2026-27 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Youth Leadership Council!
For the complete article, click the button below.
2026 applications will be available in December 2025. Watch for announcements on CVEA's Facebook page and at cvea.org.
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NRECA Youth Leadership Council
CVEA is proud to recognize Tobyn Dolge, from CVEA's Copper Basin District, who is representing CVEA, our communities, and the entire state of Alaska as a member of the 2025-26 NRECA Youth Leadership Council (YLC).
Tobyn earned this prestigious opportunity through his outstanding performance and demonstrated leadership during the 2024 ICUA Idaho Youth Rally Leadership Camp. Tobyn attended the Rally by earning a scholarship from the CVEA Community Foundation and support from the Alaska Power Association.
We are collectively excited to see the impact Tobyn will make as a voice for Alaska's youth!
The image above shows the 2025 Youth Leadership Council in Washington, D.C., where they learned about advocacy, leadership and collaboration before starting their year of service. Members of the council represent each of the 45 states who attended the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in June 2025. Learn more about the NRECA Youth Leadership Council here: https://bit.ly/44hcew5
Photo and YLC information from NRECA's Facebook page
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Renee Heidelberg
Renee has been a valued member of the CVEA Team since October 2022, serving as our dedicated Groundskeeper. From tackling building maintenance projects, managing snow, or caring for the lawns and flowerbeds, Renee keeps everything running smoothly. She also plays a vital role in the behind-the-scenes preparation for numerous events, including the Annual Meeting, plant tours, Pumpkin Patch event, Safety Week, and more.
According to Renee, she and her husband Jay have lived in Alaska for four years and cherish the never-ending things to do in this peaceful space. She grew up on the east coast, then South Dakota through her teen years. They love all things boats and wheels, get excited about trying new things, and enjoy sharing time with friends and family. She loves cooking and crafting cocktails and favors being outside and working in the yard, so feels she landed in the right spot at CVEA. Renee commented that she loves the freedom her job gives her. Toni Daniels, Renee's supervisor, had this to say, "Renee is a fantastic team player and her contributions to the CVEA Team, and the Cooperative, are appreciated by the entire organization. Renee is constantly on the move and has incredible multitasking skills. Her positive attitude and energy light up every room she enters. Renee makes all our jobs easier, and we are extremely grateful she is part of the CVEA team!"
| | Summer Substation Maintenance | | | | |
Each summer, CVEA undertakes a comprehensive preventative testing and maintenance project at all nine substations throughout the Co-op's service territory. This significant project is typically completed May through June and is budgeted to cost over $300,000. The team involved includes the CVEA Line Crew and Dispatch, with support from Management and representatives from SEI (contractor). SEI performs maintenance according to a 10-year plan; however, they also complete incidental repairs resulting from issues found throughout the year, and unscheduled, emergency repairs. The Line Crew and Dispatch provide support for switch orders, switching testing, and grounding.
For the complete article, click the button below.
Pictured is Lineman Apprentice Justin Moncrief
| | Valdez Underground Cable Replacement | | | | |
Pictured are CVEA Valdez Line Foreman Tim Stradinger and Lineman Apprentice Justin Moncrief working on an underground cable replacement project located on Fairbanks Drive in downtown Valdez.
In 2025, CVEA will replace underground cable that has failed or reached the end of its useful life at multiple locations across the Valdez District.
| | Summer Construction Season Deadline | | | | When summer comes to an end, so will CVEA's construction season. If you are planning new construction or a service upgrade before the end of the season, don't wait. All paperwork must be submitted and payment made prior to September 15 in order to be considered for the current construction season. Please submit your request as soon as possible to construction@cvea.org. Visit the construction page, by clicking the button below, for information and a general summary of the process. | | August Right-of-Way Update | | |
CVEA is proud of the strong safety culture we promote. We celebrate our commitment to safety annually during Safety Week, a series of daily activities focused on safety training and employee engagement, with incentives to encourage participation. This year during Safety Week, employees enjoyed a hazard hunt, a hazard communication activity, and an ergonomics and office safety day. The highlight of the week each year is Safety Day, an event that began in 2016, when an employee proposed it to the Safety Review and Recommendations Committee (SRRT). This year's Safety Day Safety Day began with a fire safety presentation that included fire extinguisher training and a tour of Valdez Fire Station 1 provided by Captain Josh Larsen and Fire Engineer Caleb Metroka. This was followed by a tour of the Allison Creek Hydroelectric Project diversion structure led by Kyle Anderson, Hydro Chief Plant Operator, and lunch at the Solomon Gulch Hydroelectric Plant.
After lunch, CEO Jaime Matthews delivered a powerful message titled You Matter, emphasizing the value of each employee to the Cooperative and employees filled out cards defining why their safety matters that will be displayed as reminders on the office safety wall. Trivia games added a fun and interactive element to the day.
The team watched a video presentation documenting construction of the new Solomon Gulch substation, followed by an opportunity to tour the facility. Finally, as part of the Commitment to Zero Contacts initiative, Tim Stradinger, Valdez Line Foreman, shared a compelling story about his personal experience with an electrical contact, which left a meaningful impact on attendees.
For the complete article, click the button below.
| | | Back-to-School Energy Efficiency and Safety Tips For College Kids | | |
Dorm Habits That Save Energy
As students stack boxes and bedding in their cars to head to the dorms this semester, help them pack a little energy efficiency too. One study suggests that 30 percent of the average dorm room's electrical energy is consumed when no one is in the room! That's due to appliances and devices plugged in and drawing power from outlets even when turned off or idle. It's best to unplug devices completely when you are not using them! See below for other tips to help students save energy:
- Set your thermostat a few degrees lower on cold winter days; wear a sweater or wrap up in a blanket while doing homework - never leave your windows open when the heat is running
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Game consoles can be huge energy drainers if constantly left on or used to stream videos; try using a streaming device or apps already on your TV, these require one-fifteenth of the energy
- Reduce your hot water usage; take shorter showers and only wash full loads of laundry
For more energy-saving tips, click the button below.
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Tips for Staying Safe in Your College Dorm
Today's college student uses many electronics for school, work, and play. When used improperly, these gadgets can become electric hazards. If you or a loved one is heading off to college, Safe Electricity has the following tips to prevent electric accidents and fires.
- Dorm rooms may not have enough outlets to plug in all your gadgets at once; extension cords should be temporary and unplugged when not in use
- Consider purchasing power strips with an over-current protector
- Use light bulbs with the correct wattage for lamps; do not exceed 60 watts
- Never tack or nail an electrical cord to any surface or run cords across traffic paths
- Keep all electrical appliances and cords safely away from bedding, curtains, and other flammable material
- Discard or repair damaged electronics; it may be tempting to use but they can shock or electrocute students
- If your lights flicker, electronics shut off, or circuits trip—notify campus staff
- Watch out for overheated outlets; if an electrical outlet becomes so hot you cannot leave your hand on it, there is potential for a fire and you must unplug everything and notify dorm officials ASAP
College students should also know escape and meeting plans in case of fire. For more electric safety tips, click the button below.
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August is Back-to-School Safety Month
It is back-to-school time and we are encouraging all members to
make safety a priority. Whether you drive your children to school or they ride their bicycles, walk or take the bus, it is important to be safe. Here are tips from the National Safety Council to ensure your child travels safely. Stay safe and have a great school year!
Bike Riders
- Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic and in a single file
- Come to a complete stop before crossing the street
- Walk bikes across the street
- Always wear a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing
Walkers
- Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available
- When on a street with no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic
- Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right, and left again, to see if cars are coming
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
- Always cross streets at crosswalks or intersections
Bus Riders
- Stand 6 feet, or three giant steps, away from the curb
- If you must cross the street in front of the bus, walk on the side of the road until you are 10 feet ahead of the bus; the child and bus driver should always be able to see each other
Driving Your Child to School
- Obey school-zone speed limits
- Follow your school's drop-off procedure
- Make eye contact with children who are crossing the street
- Never pass a bus loading or unloading children
| | | 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.
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Powering Homes, Empowering Lives
CVEA has excellent opportunities for qualified applicants. View current job opportunities posted on the CVEA website.
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August 14 I 5 p.m. I CVEA Community Foundation Nonprofit Contribution Season Deadline
- August 19 I 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. I CVEA Member Tour in Valdez
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August 21 I 10 a.m. I CVEA August Board Meeting—Glennallen
- August 24 I National Hydropower Day
- September 1 I Labor Day I CVEA Offices Closed
- September 15 I Construction Season Paperwork/Payment Deadline
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CVEA September Board Meeting—Cancelled
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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.
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