Because We Live Here Too: YVEC’s Promise to Serve
“There could be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others.” This quote from President George H.W. Bush is truly a reflection of the special bond and obligation that Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative has with the communities we serve. As the buzz of a busy summer approaches, this is an appropriate time to express how much we love our communities and serving you, the members of the cooperative.
When YVEC helped to bring electricity to the rural areas around Billings back in 1937, the quality of life improved for all. Through the years, other issues have needed to be tackled, and we have been at the forefront of helping to address many of those issues. We want to help meet the long-term needs of our communities to ensure that they continue to thrive, because just like you, we live here too. Your success is our success, and giving back to those we serve is an essential part of that cycle for YVEC.
While our top priority is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power to you, equally important to Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative is our mission to empower the lives of the members that we serve. This focus on benefiting the larger community is central to the way we operate as a cooperative. YVEC knows that electricity is a critical need for modern-day life, but it takes much more than poles, substations, and power lines to make a community strong.
Over time, our co-op has evolved to meet the changing needs of our communities by improving the quality of life for everyone, which means many different things to each of us. YVEC has increased the number of educational scholarships we provide to high school, trade school, and college students. We continue to sponsor students for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, where we take our community’s brightest young people to Washington, D.C., for a week-long immersion to experience democracy in action. We also provide utility assistance for those in need through organizations like Family Service, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program.
Our employees donate coats and toys each year around Christmas time, and our staff have worked countless volunteer hours for community groups with meaningful causes. Together, these efforts have created a significant impact across the communities we serve. However, 1 of the most significant programs that we have implemented is Operation Round Up. Since the program’s inception in 2018, Operation Round Up has given over $529,000 to 90 non-profit and charitable organizations in the communities we serve. The generosity of our membership, through their participation in rounding up their bills to the next whole dollar amount, has produced some profound results. The average member only contributes $7 per year; however, having almost 90% member participation makes this program incredibly successful and effective.
Over the last 8 decades, our community-focused programs and giving have helped many, from youth to senior citizen programs, fire departments, and health care. Thanks to your support, we’ve helped those in need keep the lights on and so much more. None of this would be possible without you, our members.
As a local business, we power life, and we are proud to bring great things to our community. The energy landscape is undergoing dramatic change fueled by evolving technology and consumer desires for more options. While the larger environment in which we operate is constantly changing, one thing remains the same. By working together, we will continue to do great things for our community.
Brandon J. Wittman
Chief Executive Officer