June 2020 Newsletter
Dear valued member,

There’s a lot of uncertainty in our lives these days, but one thing remains certain: our commitment to serving you – our friends, neighbors, and community members.

To uphold this commitment, LPEA will change our customer service hours (effective Monday, July 6th) to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday with emergency services on Friday. This new schedule aims to better serve you by extending our support hours beyond the standard work day. In keeping the health and safety of our employees and members a top priority, our lobbies and meeting facilities will remain closed to the public for now. Drive-up options are still available at both the Durango and Pagosa Springs offices, as are online service options through  SmartHub .

Below are more of the latest updates from LPEA, including information on the new rates effective July 1st, the soon-to-start Animas Substation improvement project, fire-prevention tips, and our bill-pay assistance program.

Hillary Knox, VP of Communications
Featured Articles
New rates: understanding your LPEA electric bill
After a three-month delay due to COVID-19, LPEA’s new rates will take effect on July 1st. To help you understand how this rate increase will impact you, we’ve developed a resource page on our website with infographics, videos, and text answers to your most common questions.
Animas Substation project begins; reroutes popular trailhead
The week of July 6th, LPEA will begin upgrading its Animas Substation, which feeds electricity to 3,000 members in the North Durango and Junction Creek areas. The project will increase reliability, safety, and efficiency of power distribution by replacing aging equipment with new technology.
Tips to prevent fires, both indoors and outdoors
With multiple fires actively burning in our area, it’s important that we all take responsibility for fire mitigation, both inside and outside our homes. Protect yourself from the four most common culprits of electrical fires and get four tips for how to prevent wildfires.
$50,000 in bill-pay assistance funds available. Apply soon!
LPEA residential members who cannot pay their electric bill due to COVID-19 related economic hardship, are now able to apply for a one-time bill credit of up to $100. The application deadline is approaching, so apply soon.
Calls to Action
Small change for big change
Elect to “Round up” your electric bill each month to the next highest dollar. That pocket change adds up, helping fund hundreds of local organizations. Call (970) 247-5786 to sign up.
Help us help you
We need your current phone number and/or email to contact you in case of emergency. Call (970) 247-5786, or log into SmartHub to update your contact details.
Stuck at home? Stay involved!
We’ve got you covered. LPEA’s board and committee meetings are held monthly via video conference and are open to the public. Schedule and access details.
Smart savings with SmartHub
Take power into your own hands by monitoring your usage, paying your bill, and reporting outages online from wherever you are. Sign up or call (970) 247-5786 for access.
Did you know?
LPEA offers rebates for Energy Star appliances. Get $20 back on your purchase of a dishwasher, and $30 back on your purchase of a refrigerator, freezer, or clothes washer/dryer. Have an old refrigerator or freezer to recycle? We’ll give you a $60 rebate for that too. More information .