Reflecting & Optimizing Our Cooperative's Future
Ringing in a new year sparks a sense of renewed hope and optimism about the future. As the CEO of Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative, for me, it’s a time to reflect on where we are and where we’re going. At the very heart of this reflection, I think about ways we can better serve you, the members of our cooperative.
Our team at YVEC is always looking ahead, exploring ways to innovate and utilize new equipment and technologies to improve our service. As our nation increasingly relies on electricity to power the economy, keeping the lights on has never been more important. We’re committed to powering, and empowering, our communities at a cost local families and businesses can afford.
How are we working to ensure reliable and affordable power, while also adapting to a changing energy landscape and our area’s increasing energy needs?
A critical component of reliable power is the mix of energy resources used to generate the electricity that keeps the lights on at YVEC. We don’t generate electricity, instead we purchase it from our provider, Central Montana Electric Power Cooperative, and from there we distribute it to homes and businesses throughout the Yellowstone River Valley and beyond. Our current energy resource mix is made up of 39% coal, 15% hyrdro, 17% wind, 6% natural gas and the remaining 23% market purchases, which is mostly more gas and wind. We depend on a diverse energy mix to ensure power is available to our members whenever they need it.
Additionally, YVEC uses technology to limit service disruptions and improve outage response times.
We’re committed to powering, and empowering, our communities at a cost local families and businesses can afford.
Advanced meter technology (AMI) enables 2-way communication between the co-op and members. In the event of a power outage, AMI helps pinpoint location, potential causes, and common equipment, so our operations employees are better informed on what and how to repair the outage. AMI helps YVEC save money with real-time data and ultimately improves power reliability for our entire system.
Proactive tree trimming is another way we limit service interruptions. Scheduled trimming keeps power lines clear from overgrown limbs that are likely to contact our lines. Our 2 tree crews inspect and accurately monitor the health and growth of trees and identify potential problems. They also use advanced mapping software to better maintain the right-of-way which ultimately improves service reliability.
YVEC also monitors trends and leading practices both in Montana and across the entire country. Learning from other coops is 1 of the many benefits of the cooperative business model, as emphasized by the cooperation among cooperatives principle.
As we turn our focus to 2024, Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative will continue working to provide the reliable, affordable electricity you expect and deserve, for the future.
Brandon J. Wittman
Chief Executive Officer