Behind the Switch
A Newsletter Edition
July 10, 2025
| | Register for the 2025 CVEA Member Tour | | |
Join us for the 2025 CVEA Member Tour in Valdez on Tuesday, August 19, from 10 a.m.—5 p.m. Members will tour:
- The Valdez Diesel Plant & Don Smith Substation
- The Cogeneration Plant at Petro Star
- The Solomon Gulch Hydro Plant & Dam
- The Allison Creek Hydro Plant & Diversion Structure
Members will also enjoy lunch, view an award-winning video presentation, and have time for Q&A with CVEA's CEO and key staff members.
If you have questions or would like to register, contact Amanda Shipman, CVEA Marketing & Communications Specialist, at 907-835-7004 or by clicking the button below.
The deadline to register is 5 p.m., Monday, August 4.
Space is limited to 20 members. A minimum of 4 participants is required for this event. Some stops are weather dependent.
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CVEA Community Foundation
Local Nonprofit Contribution Season
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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.
| | 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.
| | Invitation to Bidders—Hitachi EX80 Excavator | | |
Copper Valley Electric Association is accepting sealed bids for the sale of a 2002 Hitachi EX80 Hydraulic Excavator.
The equipment will be sold as is, where is, with no warranty. The excavator will be available for viewing Monday, July 7, 2025—Sunday, July 20, 2025, and will be located on Co-op Road across from Blackburn Apartment complex in Glennallen.
All inquiries should be emailed to Toni Daniels.
For information regarding bid proposals, please click the button below or visit the homepage at cvea.org.
| | | Right-of-Way Management Update | |
Alex Reed
Alex joined the CVEA team as a Plant Operator Trainee in September 2023 and was promoted to Plant Operator in June 2024. He is a dependable self-starter who consistently completes tasks efficiently and has quickly become the "go-to" guy in the plants. Known for his strong work ethic, Alex is both reliable and a pleasure to work with.
According to Steve Williams, CVEA Power Generation Manager, "Alex's commitment to service sets the bar for all of us, serving in our military, local law enforcement, and now serving the members of CVEA. Alex is known for staying calm under pressure and resolving issues quickly and accurately. He makes himself available day and night always willing to help. His dedication doesn't go unnoticed, and we are grateful to have him on our team."
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Alaska Power Association
Federal Legislative Conference
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CVEA CEO, Jaime Matthews, was part of the Alaska Power Association (APA) contingency in Washington, D.C., in June, as part of the 2025 APA Federal Legislative Conference. Pictured above, Matthews joined a diverse group of APA electric utility members to advocate for programs and policies that benefit Alaska's electric utilities.
Click the button below to visit our website for a summary trip report by CEO Matthews, and a detailed summary of all meetings and events by APA Deputy Director, Michael Rovito, CCC.
Photo by Michael Rovito
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Plant Operator Trainee Performs Stream Gaging at CVEA Hydroelectric Projects | | |
CVEA Plant Operator Trainee Gavin Blood recently completed stream gaging work at the Solomon Gulch and Allison Creek Hydroelectric Projects. Stream gaging—measuring the flow of water through a channel cross section over time—is an essential part of maintaining safe and efficient hydropower operations.
In the top photo, Gavin is seen measuring stream flows in Solomon Gulch, work that helps ensure the Cooperative's Early Warning System (EWS) sensors remain accurate and compliant with federal flow release guidelines. He is also pictured verifying the instream release at Allison Creek earlier this May.
In the past, stream gaging was performed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), but in recent years, CVEA plant operators were trained to complete this work in-house, providing timely, high-quality flow data while delivering cost savings to the Cooperative and our members.
Photos by Kyle Anderson, Hydro Chief Plant Operator
| | Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP) | | | | |
The Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP), NRECA's national safety program, is designed to foster a strong culture of safety across the electric cooperative network.
Copper Valley Electric Association (CVEA) joined the RESAP in 2021. Since joining, CVEA has completed two on-site safety observations as part of the program's continuous improvement process. The most recent observation took place June 9—12, 2025, and was conducted by a team of safety professionals from across Alaska.
In addition to these on-site assessments, the Cooperative is required to submit annual safety improvement plans and complete self-assessments, ensuring continuous progress and accountability.
Participation in RESAP is voluntary, but plays an important role in supporting CVEA's commitment to safety for our team, our members, and our community.
Photos courtesy of Coreen Palacios, CVEA Regulatory and Compliance Specialist
| | | Energy Efficiency and Safety Tips | | |
Your Energy Use Should Go On Vacation When You Do
CVEA reminds members going on vacation, whether catching a flight out of state or spending a long weekend camping up the road, to make sure their home's energy use takes a vacation as well. Here are simple tips that give your electric bill a break when you take a break:
- Lower your thermostat; your heater doe not need to keep you warm when you are not there
- Use timers to operate one or two lights each night for safety in your absence and turn off all others
- Unplug electronic devices; most newer devices, like those with a digital display, instant-on feature, or remote control all consume energy even if they are off or not in use
- Turn your water heater's temperature down to the lowest setting; look for a vacation setting
- Adjust the refrigerator control to a slightly warmer setting; if you aren't home to open the door, contents will stay colder longer
For more energy-saving tips, click the button below.
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Power Tool Safety Tips
Before you fire up that power tool for your next do-it-yourself home project this summer, remember that these electrical devices must be treated with care.
Keep in mind these tips from the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) when using power tools:
- Do not carry tools by their cords
- Pull the cord out of the outlet by the plug, not by pulling on the cord
- Do not use in a wet or damp job site, unless the tool is specifically approved for those conditions; store them in a dry place when not being used
- When carrying the tool, avoid touching the switch or trigger to avoid accidental starts
- Ensure your work area is well-lit
- Unplug tools when cleaning, repairing, changing parts, or when not in use
- Ensure cords are not worn or frayed
- Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) with every power tool to protect against electric shocks
- Appropriate personal protective gear should be worn when using power tools; no ties, jewelry, or other loose items that could get caught
For more electric safety tips, click the button below.
| | | 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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- July 15 I 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. I Employee Training—CVEA Glennallen Office Closed
- July 15 I 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. I Employee Training—CVEA Valdez Office Closed (partial day)
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July 17 I 10 a.m. I CVEA July Board Meeting—Valdez
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August 4 I 5 p.m. I CVEA Member Tour Registration Deadline
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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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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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