CEO Message

Happy 80th Anniversary, MEC Members!

Eighty years ago, this cooperative was formed on a simple idea: to bring power to communities others overlooked. MEC was founded as a not-for-profit, member-owned distribution utility after investor-owned utilities declined since they could not make a profit. This year, we’re reminded that progress in this country has always been driven by people willing to invest in one another. We have much to celebrate – our 80th Anniversary on July 3, alongside 250 years of America’s Independence, and the 100th year Anniversary of Route 66!

1946 – Residents met to explore the possibility of bringing electricity to Kingman, Wikieup, and Bullhead City.

1946 – Local residents combined their resources and secured an REA loan under President Roosevelt and established a Board of Directors to govern the Co-op.

1947 – First meters energized, and within one year, there were 90 meters on 5 miles of line.

1948 – Power contracts to serve Peach Springs, Valentine, & Hackberry along Route 66.

1964 – First Capital Credits checks issued. 1969 – 4,006 members, 534 miles of line.

1971 – MEC joined Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) to meet growing demand.

1972 – MEC’s General Offices moved from Kingman to Bullhead City. 1979 – 10,585 members, 10,675 meters.

1980 – General & Member Services moved to Arena Dr.

1989 – Member Service moved to Hancock Rd. 2015 – MEC’s first solar array built in Fort Mohave; 32,498 members.

2020 – MEC is the first AZ co-op to launch broadband; construction began.

2021 – First broadband services connected.

2022 – Labor Day storm (~80 mph winds) caused largest outage in MEC history!

2023 – MEC partners on first battery energy storage system (BESS) in Fort Mohave.

2024 – Second BESS launched; substation project initiated; awarded $23.4M through USDA PACE; Mohave Energy Park planned.

2025 – MEC participated in Light Up Navajo; awarded BTA and BEAD grants with TWN Communications.

2026 – MEC’s 80th Anniversary; 39,135 members, 46,326 meters, 1,583 miles of line.

Our mission has remained constant: delivering reliable, affordable power to our members. Today, we’re proud to deliver the lowest electric rates among Arizona co-ops and investor-owned utilities. Milestones like our 80th Anniversary remind us that Mohave Electric is powered by more than lines and substations – it’s powered by people, progress, and community.

Greetings MEC Members,

Mohave Electric Cooperative has been moving full speed ahead this year. We hosted our famous magician and his show, Making Accidents Disappear, promoting electrical safety amongst elementary school students, and attended our annual legislative advocacy trip to the State Capitol. MEC Board of Directors and Officers advocated for our electeds on the importance of reliability and affordability policies for electric utilities, especially not-for-profit cooperatives. Applications for our $200 Classroom Grants are due March 15. We look forward to reviewing your submissions.

80th Anniversary

If you have not heard yet, Mohave Electric Cooperative is celebrating our 80th Anniversary this year. 80 years of refining our cooperative model and providing safe and reliable power to our members. We launched our commemorative logo, created by MEC member Matt Miller, which will be used on MEC materials all year long.

Rate Case

In September 2025, I wrote to all members that MEC had submitted an expedited rate case to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). Specifically, MEC requested to raise the Customer Charge while keeping the energy rates for residential members the same. Residential members will see a $5.99 increase to the Customer Charge on their bill. The current residential Customer Charge is $24.31, and with the $5.99 increase, the new Customer Charge will total $30.30. There are other adjustments to business, solar, and demand members.

Even with the proposed changes, MEC’s residential rates remain the lowest in the state among cooperatives and investor-owned electric utilities. As a not-for-profit, we continue our commitment to cost control and fiscal responsibility. The ACC unanimously approved our rate case, and these changes will be in effect beginning with members’ March 2026 bills.

We held 3 townhalls in October last year to explain the rising costs in materials, the increase in electricity demand, infrastructure improvements, and growth. We always strive to be good stewards of the member-owned utility and ensure financial transparency.

Mohave Electric Cooperative’s tiered rates give members more control over their energy costs and reward members who use less electricity. Using energy wisely can lower monthly electric bills.

Lineman Appreciation Day

Lineworkers are responsible for keeping the lights on by weathering the toughest and darkest days. Regardless of conditions, time of day, or challenges they face, their commitment ensures our members’ everyday lives continue.

At Mohave Electric, we are proud to celebrate our lineworkers for the critical role they play in serving our community. Their work often involves dangerous conditions, including high-voltage electricity and fall hazards, making safety protocols essential. Our dedicated lineworkers serve 45,532 meters and maintain more than 1,572 miles of power lines across portions of 3 counties and nearly 1,300 square miles.

Lineman Appreciation Day is on April 18 – a well-deserved opportunity to recognize the dedication, resilience, and hard work our lineworkers demonstrate every day. Please join MEC in thanking our lineworkers for all they do to power our community and support our members.

2025 Reflections

Greetings MEC Members,

On behalf of the Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) Board of Directors and staff, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 2025 has been a busy and eventful year for MEC. I’d like to share a few highlights with you.

Rate Case

We know rising costs are at the top of everyone’s mind. We are pleased that fuel and power generation costs remained stable this year, with no adjustable PPA charges implemented in 2025.

Many of you attended our Rate Case town hall meetings, where we described the double and triple fixed cost increases we’ve incurred that have led to our proposed $5.99 residential customer charge increase, along with other increases to commercial, demand, and solar members.

We will continue to keep all members informed as this process moves into 2026. Even with these changes, we are proud to have the lowest overall monthly residential bill costs compared to any other regulated investor-owned or co-op electric utility in Arizona.

This is the result of conscientious efforts by MEC’s Board of Directors and management to control costs where we can without sacrificing reliability and while maintaining exceptional member service.

Reliability

Reliability is MEC’s number 1 priority. We have made numerous system improvements this year as we strive to keep the lights on 100% of the time. Through our line hardening program – the process of upgrading 1 of every 3 wooden poles to steel or ductile iron – we replaced 32 poles in our eastern service territory near Blake Ranch Road and Hualapai Mountain Road. Also, 6 miles of line were hardened between Vanderslice on Courtwright Road and Golden Shores.

Resources

We’ve continued to expand our natural gas, solar, and battery resources to account for the large amount of growth we’ve experienced over the years, as well as meet our peak load, which has been increasing annually. The diversity in energy sources gives us flexibility to use the most cost-effective resource while maintaining local generation options to limit disruptions in power.

Grants

Together with TWN Communications, we secured 2 broadband grants – BTA and BEAD – to help continue the build-out of our fiber project. Also partnered with our generation and transmission provider, Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, we have been selected for both NewERA and PACE solar and battery system projects. We are grateful to receive these grants and look forward to implementing them in the coming years.

As 2025 ends, we are pleased with our accomplishments and are excited for the opportunities in 2026. Next year, we will celebrate our 80th Anniversary of providing safe and reliable electricity to MEC members! This milestone is only made possible by the trust and support of our members. Thank you, and together, we’ll continue to build a stronger, more resilient energy future.

Join MEC at a Townhall Meeting

Greetings MEC Members,

Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) has been providing safe, reliable, affordable electricity to our members for 79 years. We’ve made substantial investments to harden the grid and enhance reliability, especially in the face of extreme weather and other public policy changes.

MEC incurs both fixed costs and energy costs, and the 2 make up the majority of your electricity bill. As a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative utility, MEC works diligently to minimize any financial costs to our members. However, like many utilities across the country, we have seen increases in our fixed costs and need to adjust our customer charges and rates to account for these changes in costs.

Fixed costs, including distribution infrastructure such as wires, poles, transformers, meters, operations, repairs, and maintenance, etc., have increased an average of 99% since our last Cost of Service Study in 2020. Fixed costs are primarily recovered in the customer charge. These costs are what are needed for MEC to provide electricity to you, whether you have any kWh usage or not.

Fortunately, our energy costs, which include the cost to generate, transmit, and procure electricity, have leveled out since 2023. These costs vary and are closely tied to the price of natural gas and coal, which are forecasted to be stable for now.

Mohave Electric has filed a Rate Case to account for the changes in costs and to allow us to continue to invest in our energy grid. Since our last Cost of Service Study in 2021, we have invested $15,285,962 in distribution systems, renewable energy facilities, and long-term power supplies.

MEC contracted an energy rate analyst to review our cost of service based on our audited 2024 financials. This comprehensive study indicates the Customer Charge for most members should see a small increase – $5.99 for standard residential service. Also, the current standard residential service rate, tiered from 8¢ to 11¢ per kWh of electricity, will remain the same. Small Commercial, Time of Use, and Demand services will see a slight energy rate increase, a customer charge increase, and a demand charge increase.

Mohave Electric Cooperative will be holding Town Hall Meetings from October 20 to October 22. Please see the information below and plan on attending, so we can answer any questions you may have. You should also receive a mailing notice, along with a letter, FAQ, and Townhall information about MEC’s Rate Case in the mail. We also have more information on our website.