Behind the Switch E-Newsletter
August 13, 2026
Cover Photo: Solomon Lake - National Hydropower Day is August 24 |
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Construction Season Deadline Reminder |
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| September 1 - Construction Season Deadline
All paperwork and payment need to be submitted by September 1, 2026 in order to be considered for the current construction season.
Questions? Reach out to CVEA's construction team, at construction@cvea.org
Click the link below to utilize CVEA's Construction Calculator to estimate construction costs for permanent, single-phase, residential new service. |
Nonprofit Contribution Season Applications Due In 7 Days |
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| $28,363 Available for Local Nonprofit Organizations Applications for the 2026 Nonprofit Contribution Season are due in 7 days!
Eligibility at a glance:
- Nonprofit organization
- Educational, scientific, or charitable mission
- Beneficial to CVEA's member service area
Application Deadline: August 20, 2026
Questions? Reach out to Marketing & Communications Specialist, Kirsten Hart, at khart@cvea.org
*The CVEA Community Foundation is funded by capital credits that have escheated back to CVEA, investments, a Split-the-Pot fundraiser, and generous donations from CVEA members. |
2026 Pumpkin Patch Events |
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| Save the Date for the 2026 Pumpkin Patch Glennallen: October 10 Valdez: October 17
Each event will take place from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at its respective CVEA district office parking lot.
Entry fee is a non-perishable food or monetary donation to your local food bank.
BONUS! Alyeska has agreed to match up to $4,000 total in monetary donations for our local food banks! Thanks, Alyeska!
Don't miss out on this family fun event filled with pumpkins, treats, local food vendors, activity booths, and community! |
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| Leadership Camp Opportunity for Local Youth The CVEA Community Foundation sponsors one student from Valdez and one student from Copper Basin to attend the one week ICUA Youth Rally in Idaho each summer.
This is a leadership camp opportunity for sophomores and juniors in high school to learn about:
- Government & Civics
- Renewable Energy and Electric Generation
- Electricity Utility Industry
- Basics of Electricity
- Team-Building
- Business Challenges
The week also includes a field trip to a water park, fun activities such as go-karting and obstacle courses, a visit to Idaho's State Capitol, and the opportunity to earn collegiate scholarships and future leadership trips to Washington D.C.
If you will be a sophomore or junior in high school in 2027, keep an eye out for the 2027 Idaho Youth Rally application! All costs associated with the Idaho Youth Rally are 100% paid for by CVEA's Community Foundation.
Congratulations to Valdez's Ava Mitchell and Copper Basin's Timothy Somers for being the 2026 Idaho Youth Rally scholarship recipients! |
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CVEA August Board Meeting |
All CVEA Members Welcome to Attend CVEA members are welcome to join us for our August Board Meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the Glennallen boardroom.
For electronic attendance, please contact Sara Horvath by 6 p.m. on the day prior to the meeting.
The August Board Meeting agenda will be loaded to the CVEA website seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
If you have any questions or are interested in attending the meeting in person or electronically, please contact Sara Horvath at shorvath@cvea.org or 907-822-8342. |
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Alex Gearhart Alex has been a Plant Operator at CVEA for 16 years. He is a valued team member at CVEA, and his mechanical experience, reliability, leadership and commitment positively impact both the Cooperative and our communities.
From Alex: I am a lifelong Alaskan that enjoys being outdoors with my family. I have a wife and two kids who love living in the Copper Basin and enjoy being outside with me. We like to drive the jet boat on the rivers and lakes, go hunting, fishing, hiking, having fires in our fire pit and making memories together. Thanks to CVEA, I can enjoy not only my passions and interests, but my job as well. I am blessed to work for CVEA and can proudly say that everyone at CVEA is my friend.
From Alex's Supervisor, Power Generation Manager, Steve Williams: For 16 years, Alex has brought honesty, strong mechanical ability, and an eye for detail to the job. His experience and reliability are valuable assets to our operation. Alex truly cares about his community and the people he works with, and that commitment is evident in his willingness to respond at any hour to help keep the lights on. Thank you for your dedication and continued service to CVEA and the communities we serve. |
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| Long Days & Mild Temperatures
- With nearly 24 hours of light, rely on natural daylight, and switch off fixtures you don't need
- Take time this summer to clean the coils and check door seals on your freezer and fridge - running these efficiently is one of the easiest passive energy savers in your home
- Lower your thermostat at night - instead of letting your heat run on auto, drop the temperature a few degrees and layer up
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| Be Prepared
- Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Talk to your kids about electrical safety - with school back in session, it's a great time to remind children never to stick objects into outlets, play near power lines, or touch downed wires
- Keep electricity away from water - whether you are fishing, boating, or washing off muddy gear, always keep electrical equipment away from water sources
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Member Comments and Questions |
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| 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 20 | 10:00 a.m. | CVEA August Board Meeting - Glennallen Boardroom
August 20 | CVEA Community Foundation Nonprofit Contribution Season Applications Close
September 1 | Construction Season Deadline - All Paperwork & Payment Must Be Submitted
October 10 | Glennallen Pumpkin Patch
October 17 | Valdez Pumpkin Patch |
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Stay up to date on our Facebook page or visit us at cvea.org |
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| Copyright © 2023 Copper Valley Electric Association, All rights reserved.
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