Copper Valley Electric Association

July 9, 2026 e-newsletter

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:00:00 +0000

July 9, 2026 e-newsletter

History of Copper Valley Electric Association & Copper Valley Telecom

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

History of Copper Valley Electric Association & Copper Valley Telecom

Copper Valley Electric Association (CVEA) and Copper Valley Telecom (CVT) are both member-owned cooperatives that serve the rural communities of the Valdez and Copper Basin districts. Local consumers in both districts are also owners of these cooperatives, meaning they elect board members annually and share in the governance and benefits of being part of a locally owned cooperative. Today, in 2026, CVEA and CVT are two separate cooperatives with separate services, staff, and mission statements; however, these two organizations originally worked together under one umbrella.

In 1952, a group of Copper Basin residents gathered to bring power to rural Alaska under the U.S. Rural Electrification Administration (REA). In May of 1955, this group officially organized and became a recognized cooperative called Copper Valley Electric Association. In February 1959, CVEA successfully supplied electricity to the residents in the Copper Basin with a single diesel power plant and 48 miles of line.

At the beginning of 1964, CVEA expanded its service throughout the Copper Basin and into Valdez. However, on March 27, 1964, the Good Friday Earthquake destroyed the majority of what is now known as “Old Town Valdez.” Following the natural disaster, CVEA purchased, rebuilt the electric systems, and expanded service to what is now known as “New Valdez.” Although Copper Valley Telecom was formed in 1961, CVEA helped organize CVT in Valdez throughout 1964 in an effort to bring phone service to the residents in the same area served by CVEA.

Within a decade of bridging electric and telephone services, the demand for these services had grown so much in the Copper Basin and Valdez districts that the Board of Directors elected to split the electric and telephone cooperatives in July 1974, allowing each organization to focus on their core services. Copper Valley Telecom solidified its headquarters in Valdez, where it remains today, while Copper Valley Electric Association maintained its headquarters in the Copper Basin, where it remains headquartered today.

Since 1974, CVT expanded from traditional phone service to high-speed internet connectivity, including fiber, wireless voice, and LTE data services. Today, CVT serves schools, libraries, local businesses, and residents in rural Alaska with modern telecommunications technology.

After the separation, CVEA focused on broadening its ability to provide reliable and affordable power to its members and built the Solomon Gulch Hydroelectric Project, which became CVEA’s primary source of power by 1982. In 2000, CVEA also teamed up with Petro Star to build a five-megawatt cogeneration plant. Years later, CVEA built a secondary hydroelectric project, Allison Creek, which became operational in 2016. Today, CVEA provides power generation, transmission, and distribution to thousands of members in Valdez and the Copper Basin, spanning 540 miles of line across its service territory.

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Questions?
Contact: Morgan Melton, CCO | mmelton@cvea.org

June 11, 2026 e-newsletter

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

June 11, 2026 e-newsletter

CVEA Celebrates Successful 2026 Annual Meeting of Members

Thu, 14 May 2026 21:00:00 +0000

CVEA Celebrates Successful 2026 Annual Meeting of Members

The 2026 Annual Meeting of Members took place on Tuesday, May 5 in Valdez, and on Thursday, May 7, in Glennallen. The meetings were attended by approximately 560 people across both districts. Attendees enjoyed delicious to-go meals from The Potato in Valdez and The Roadside Grill in Glennallen, along with welcome booths celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Allison Creek Hydroelectric Plant, free member gifts, and the opportunity to support the CVEA Community Foundation through a Split-the-Pot drawing.

For the second year in a row, Larry Nutter won the Split-the-Pot in Glennallen, taking home $384. Leo Paddock in Valdez took home $312. Together, the drawing raised $696 for the CVEA Community Foundation. The Community Foundation funds community programs in both districts, including educational scholarships, the Senior Holiday Giving Program, and nonprofit contributions. The 2026 Youth Rally, General Education, and Continuing Education Scholarship recipients were recognized at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Members. Congratulations to Erik Vincent, Hailey Major, Austin Morgan, Scott McCumby, Ava Mitchell, Reese Noble, Kayla Abbott, Monica Bryan, Ashley Hicks, and Timothy Somers.

All members who registered by 6 p.m. received a $10 energy credit on their May bill and were entered to win 75 door prizes donated by CVEA vendors and purchased by CVEA at local businesses in both districts. Our grand prize winners took home “beater” vehicles, which were retired after 15+ years of service with CVEA’s fleet. Congratulations to Dale Mitchell in Valdez who took home a 2011 Ford Expedition and to Stan & Michelle Peterson in Glennallen who took home a 2009 Chevy Silverado.

CEO Jaime Matthews delivered an informative presentation based on the results of the 2025 Member Satisfaction Survey and the Cooperative’s Strategic Plan, which focuses on these five primary goals:

Being the Employer of Choice
Building Financial Strength
Reducing Dependence on Diesel Fuel
Maintaining and Improving System Reliability
Advocating for Our Members

CEO Matthews spoke about planned retirements, as CVEA has a 20% new workforce this year and saw five employees retire that had a combined 89 years of experience with CVEA. Matthews also addressed electric rates in comparison to other Alaska utilities in the summer and the winter when CVEA is producing power on hydro versus diesel. Matthews also discussed the five-year rate increase plan, of which CVEA is currently in year four. At the conclusion of year five, rates will be levelized between both districts.

CEO Matthews gave an update on the CVEA-Alyeska Intertie Project. Earlier this spring, CVEA successfully exchanged power with all three of Alyeska’s turbines. When this project is operational, it will equate to fuel savings getting passed on to members. Matthews also gave an update on the completion of the Dayville Road and Duck Flats Rebuild projects in Valdez, as well as the completion of Phase 1 of the underground line replacement in the Silver Springs subdivision in the Copper Basin. All three projects were completed in 2025.

CEO Matthews also highlighted CVEA’s continued engagement in legislative advocacy, member communication, and community support efforts. This includes three proposed Tariff changes that are open for public comment until Thursday, May 21, 2026. More information about the proposed Tariff changes can be found here: CVEA Tariff Proposed Changes

Upcoming community engagement opportunities include the following:

CVEA Community Foundation Nonprofit Contribution Season – Applications Open June 15
CVEA Member Tour – July 28
Glennallen Pumpkin Patch – October 10
Valdez Pumpkin Patch – October 17

Annual Meeting announcements also included director election results and employee service recognition.

Jeff Saxe was re-elected to the Board of Directors in the Valdez district and Jan Maslen was re-elected to the Board of Directors in the Copper Basin district. Both will serve three-year terms. Sharon Barnhill and Jeanette Sutherland each won a $100 energy credit in the election ballot drawing.

CVEA proudly recognized the following employees for their years of service:

Cindy Butherus – Operations Admin – 25 Years
Zena Disney – Power Generation Admin – 20 Years
Steve Williams – Power Generation Manager – 5 Years
Justin Moncrief – Journeyman Lineman – 5 Years

CVEA extends sincere thanks to all members who attended, volunteered, and helped make the 2026 Annual Meeting of Members a success.

For more Annual Meeting highlights, information, and pictures, do not miss the May issue of Behind the Switch – A Newsletter Edition that drops to member emails and www.cvea.org on May 14.

For more information:

Morgan Melton, CCO | mmelton@cvea.org

May 14, 2026 e-newsletter

Thu, 14 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000

May 14, 2026 e-newsletter

April 9, 2026 e-newsletter

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0000

April 9, 2026 e-newsletter

March 12, 2026 e-newsletter

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March 12, 2026 e-newsletter

February 12, 2026 e-newsletter

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

February 12, 2026 e-newsletter

January 8, 2026 e-newsletter

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

January 8, 2026 e-newsletter

December 11, 2025 e-Newsletter

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000

December 11, 2025 e-Newsletter