Behind the Switch
A Newsletter Edition
December 12, 2024
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CVEA wishes all of our members a Merry Christmas and a happy, safe, and prosperous New Year! | |
Get Your CVEA 2025 Wildlife Calendar | |
If you have not stopped by the CVEA office and picked up your beautiful 2025 Wildlife Calendar, do not wait. We are giving them away, one per member, while supplies last.
This annual holiday gift is from the Cooperative to thank members for their support throughout the year and to wish you a happy holiday.
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It Is CVEA Board of Director Election Time | |
Run for a Seat on the CVEA Board of Directors
Would you like to help power our communities? Join a dedicated group of community members who volunteer for the benefit of all CVEA members. Three director seats are up for election in 2025; two seats in the Copper Basin and one in Valdez. Each will hold a three-year term.
If you have been a member of CVEA for at least 12 continuous months, are a member in good standing, are not an employee now or have not been an employee in the past three years, and are not a close relative of an incumbent director or employee, you may be eligible to be a director.
For a complete list of director qualifications, and instructions for completing and submitting a nomination packet, email customer service after December 19, 2024, by clicking the button below. Nomination packets will be available December 19, 2024. The deadline to return your nomination packet is 6 p.m., Thursday, February 6, 2025.
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Get Involved at Your Cooperative | |
CVEA Community Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee
CVEA's Community Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee is looking for volunteers. The Committee is responsible to review scholarship application packets, determine which students to interview, conduct interviews, and select who will be awarded scholarships. These committees meet during March and April. If you are interested in serving on the Scholarship Selection Committee in your district, or have questions, click the button below to respond via email.
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CVEA Credentials and Election Committee
The Co-op is Seeking members for the 2025 Credentials and Elections Committee. Members who serve on the C&E Committee are responsible for validating signatures on election ballot envelopes and counting ballots for director elections and bylaws amendments. Interested members cannot be directors, employees, candidates, or relatives of these persons.
Service on the committee takes place during March and April.
If you are interested in serving on the C&E Committee in your district, or have questions, click the button below to respond via email.
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Deadline: Thursday, January 9, 2025 | |
CVEA is notifying members of the 2025 Bylaws Amendment process and deadline.
Members may propose Bylaws amendments for placement on the 2025 ballot by filing a petition with the Board of Directors. Petitions must be signed by at least 10 percent of the membership (281 members - certified 12/2/24) and submitted prior to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, January 9, 2025.
Current Bylaws can be found by clicking the button below.
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CVEA Community Foundation 2025 Scholarship Program |
$18,000 in Educational Scholarships
CVEA will offer one $2,000 and two $1,000 General Scholarships, and one Youth Rally Leadership Camp Scholarship in each district in 2025.
General scholarships will be awarded to well-rounded high school seniors who plan to pursue post-secondary education through a vocational or technical school, apprenticeship training, or a college degree program.
The Idaho Youth Rally scholarship provides an opportunity for sophomores and juniors to attend a week-long industry leadership camp in Caldwell, Idaho in July, where students practice leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while learning about electric utility practices and issues.
New in 2025 - the CVEA Community Foundation is offering a Continuing Education Scholarship.
The Continuing Education Scholarship can provide adults outside of high school, that are looking to continue their education, begin their education, or advance their current career, funds to use at a postsecondary school or program of their choice. This includes full or part-time, trade schools, and certificate programs.
The deadline to apply for all CVEA Community Foundation scholarships is 5 p.m., Thursday, February 13.
For detailed information and fillable applications, click the button below.
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Solomon Gulch Substation Relocation Project | |
Watch the video above to see images and footage of the subdeck equipment removal project.
In 2022, CVEA moved forward with the Solomon Gulch Substation Relocation Project, removing the substation from the top of the Solomon Gulch Powerhouse control room, where it was constructed in 1981-1982, following increased pressure to mitigate and/or eliminate environmental, reliability, and financial risks associated with the original design.
The new substation was completed and commissioned in December 2023, marking the first significant step in the initiative. In 2024, the focus shifted to the subdeck, where outdated equipment and structures required careful dismantling and disposal.
Oil Testing and Removal
To responsibly manage the removal and disposal of oil from the equipment, CVEA partnered with US Republic. Initial measures included testing oil for PCB contamination, which returned negative results, allowing for safer and less costly disposal methods.
Equipment Removal and Disposal
A significant challenge was finding a cost-effective disposal solution for the heavy equipment. Traditional disposal involved transporting transformers to the West Coast, incurring substantial expenses due to the weight and distance. However, CVEA identified the Alaska Recycling Center in Anchorage as a local alternative capable of handling all equipment.
The next phase involved physical removal of the subdeck equipment and structures:
- Harris Sand and Gravel assessed the equipment and utilized their crane for safe removal
- To facilitate access, RSR was hired to dismantle the steel structure surrounding the subdeck
- CVEA plant operators and the Sturgeon crew provided critical support; including cutting welds, de-energizing systems, and preparing the equipment for removal
The crane operation took two days and the complete process was completed in four days.
As a cost-saving measure, the scope of work was expanded to include draining oil from an old spare generator step transformer while contractors were mobilized. This helped prepare the equipment for future removal and disposal.
Project Manager Todd Stahley, who coordinated the 2024 subdeck removal and disposal efforts, was pleased with the smooth execution and credited the CVEA team and contractors, RSR and Harris Sand and Gravel. This project has been a testament to careful planning, collaboration, and execution.
Current Status and Next Steps
The subdeck is now cleared and equipment has been disposed of. A few minor tasks remain for the substation project.
- Covering openings in the building where generator wires were removed
- De-energizing and removing four remaining boxes
- Covering the areas where equipment was previously situated
The Substation Relocation Project was a successful project for the cooperative and has already contributed to improved system reliability.
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CVEA is Committed to Community | |
Publicly owned utilities were formed to bring affordable electricity to those who needed it. At the heart of their mission were neighbors coming together to better their communities. That same spirit continues at CVEA today. As a local business, staffed by your friends and neighbors, the Co-op looks for ways to make a difference - big and small.
Cooperatives, including CVEA, are guided by the Seven Cooperative Principles: Voluntary and Open Membership, Democratic Member Control, Members' Economic Participation, Autonomy and Independence, Education, Training, and Information, Cooperation Among Cooperatives, and Concern for Community. "Cooperatives are special," says Sharon Scheidt, CVEA Director of Communications. "We have an obligation to provide reliable, affordable, and safe electricity, but also believe we have a responsibility to support our members, enrich our schools, and be involved in and enhance our communities. Providing power is our mission, but people are our purpose."
For the complete article, click the button below.
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Want to win a
$50 CVEA Energy Credit?
Answer our December
digital newsletter poll
by 6 p.m., December 16.
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What helps you get into the holiday spirit? | | |
Congratulations to Yvette Delaquito, winner of CVEA's November e-Newsletter poll.
**December will be the last e-Newsletter digital poll. We have enjoyed reading your responses and appreciate your participation throughout 2024.
Look for more fun ways to engage in 2025.
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CVEA Employee Spotlight
Sharon Scheidt
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Sharon Scheidt has been an invaluable member of the CVEA team since 2007. For close to 18 years, she has dedicated herself to enhancing our member services and driving our communications efforts, fostering stronger connections within our community. Her expertise and commitment have helped shape a welcoming and supportive environment for our members, ensuring they receive the highest quality service and clear, effective communication. Sharon's leadership has been instrumental in building lasting relationships and supporting CVEA's mission to serve its members with excellence.
According to CEO, Jaime Matthews, "As Director of Communications, Sharon plays an important role in shaping CVEA's community events and all member communications. Her dedication and hard work consistently deliver exceptional results, demonstrating her commitment to excellence in everything she undertakes. It is a privilege to have Sharon as part of the CVEA team."
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2024 Capital Credit Retirement |
On November 21, 2024, the CVEA Board of Directors approved a capital credit retirement in the amount of $797,302, representing approximately three percent of total member equity.
Most members with capital credit allocations through December 2023 will receive their portion of the retirement as a credit on their December 20, 2024 bill.
Capital credits are the financial margins a cooperative achieves through business operations. Margins are the difference between the Cooperative's income and expenses. At the end of each year, margins are allocated to members' capital credit accounts. Periodically, the Board of Directors may retire portions of these capital credits.
If you have questions regarding capital credits, please contact Customer Service at (907) 822-3211 or email by clicking the button below.
For a complete article outlining capital credits at CVEA, click the image below.
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Behind the Switch - A Newsletter Edition Celebrates One Year Anniversary in January | |
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We did it! This issue is the last issue of 2024 and the completion of our first year distributing Behind the Switch - a Newsletter Edition to members.
Join us in January as we celebrate our one-year anniversary with fun digital activities and prizes.
Stay tuned...
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Energy Efficiency and Safety Tips | |
Give the Gift of Energy Savings
If you are planning to purchase electronic gifts this holiday season, look for the ENERGY STAR® label, which indicates higher energy efficiency performance.
Electronics that receive the ENERGY STAR® rating are up to 25 percent more efficient than standard products. This holiday season, give the gift of energy savings with ENERGY STAR®-rated electronics and equipment.
To learn more about energy efficient appliances, visit the Energy Star website by clicking the button below.
| BONUS Holiday Efficiency Tip: | Take a tip from Santa!
During the holiday season, a lower thermostat setting might equal more presents under the tree. | | |
Avoid the 12 Dangers of Christmas
Learn from the mistakes of the naughty Christmas elf as you and your loved ones celebrate the holiday season.
- Do not use electronics near water
- Never sleep with electronics under your pillow
- Keep batteries safely stored in their packaging; they can be deadly if swallowed
- Do not leave space heaters unattended when in use
- Keep decorations at least 3 feet away from any open flame
- Never play with fire
- Do not run cords under carpets, rugs, furniture, or out of windows
- Do not overload outlets
- Sometimes less is more; be careful not to over decorate
- Always turn off decorations when you are sleeping or leaving your home
- Inspect all decorations and discard any that are damaged or worn
- Keep your natural Christmas tree hydrated and water it daily
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Wrap Up the Holiday With Safety in Mind
According to Electric Safety Foundation International (ESFI), nearly half of home fires occur during the months of December, January, and February. Keep your home and family safe after the holidays with these post-holiday year-end tips.
- 25 percent of holiday fires are caused by decorations
- Never leave holiday decorations on while sleeping or away from home
- 210 home fires a year are caused by Christmas trees
- Fires caused by Christmas trees are usually deadlier than other fires
- Inspect and dispose of any damaged decorations
- Decorations are temporary, remove them after the holidays
- Separate and label indoor and outdoor decorations
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Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters can prevent 50 percent of home electrical fires
- Store decorations in a dry location that is safely out of reach of children and pets
Remove, inspect, and store all holiday decorations by the 1st week of January!
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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.
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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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CVEA has excellent opportunities for qualified applicants. View current job opportunities posted on the CVEA website. | |
- December 19 I 1 p.m. I CVEA December Board Meeting - Glennallen
- December 24-25 I Christmas Holiday - CVEA Offices Closed
- December 31-January 1 I New Years Holiday - CVEA Offices Closed
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January 16 I 1 p.m. I CVEA January Board Meeting - Valdez
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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
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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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