President

Joe Anderson

District 3

Joe AndersonJoe Anderson became a member of Mohave Electric Cooperative in 1978. He has served as Board Director for District 3 since 2005 and is currently the Board President. At the September 2023 District 3 meeting, members in attendance recommended Anderson to continue representing them for a three-year term. He previously served as Board Secretary.

Anderson attained the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, a recognized measurement of competency on key current issues, through course work offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. He has taken advanced course studies to receive the Board Leadership Certificate. Anderson was awarded the NRECA Gold Director Certificate in 2017. Anderson keeps current by regularly updating skills through course training and workshops in the electrical utility field.

Anderson also serves as Board Director for Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association.

Anderson received the Touchstone Energy Power and Hope Recognition Award in April 2011, a program that recognizes cooperative directors and employees who have gone above and beyond to help co-op members in need.

Having served 33 years with the Bullhead City Fire Department, Anderson retired in 2012. He began his career at the department as a firefighter in 1979 and retired after serving twelve years as the Assistant Fire Chief. He holds an associate degree in fire science.

Appointed by the Governor of Arizona to the Public Safety Communications Commission, Anderson was instrumental in the upgrade to the radio communication system for the fire departments in the river valley area.

Anderson is an active member of the Knights of Columbus in Bullhead City, assisting in a wide variety of community and church functions.

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Partnering with Members to Overcome Adversity and Challenges

June 24, 2019 – Members put a great deal of faith in Mohave Electric Cooperative throughout 2018 to provide accurate information, improve the reliability of service, and rise to the occasion as situations dictate.

This is a level of trust MEC will continually strive to earn and a level of confidence we do not take lightly.

Member engagement was strong in 2018 as the number of available trees for Operation Cool Shade were sold out well before the deadline and staff accepted a record number of applications for 18 available school grants. Educators from 10 different schools in the MEC service territory won a grant.

While those two achievements were impressive, other significant issues were a priority.

Proposition 127 was a proposed addition to the Arizona Constitution to mandate electric utilities become at least 50 percent dependent on renewable energy in just 10 years. MEC took to the streets to better inform members about the potential implications.

MEC explained the measure was introduced by individuals with out-of-state interests and how, if passed, it would negatively impact electric bills.

Members placed their trust in MEC and the proposition was soundly defeated by nearly 40 percentage points. In Mohave County, the result was even more lopsided, with nearly 86 percent of voters casting a ballot against the proposition. Your vote mattered.

The trust members placed in MEC to provide accurate information to cast a vote knowing their best interests were MEC’s top priority was astounding, and we will continually work to nurture that faith.

When heat and wildfires in California distorted the electricity market, MEC sent out press releases and made posts to Facebook. The situation in California, coupled with MEC’s primary supplier shutting down a generator for emergency service, created both pricing and availability problems.

Members were asked to take simple measures to conserve, such as grilling outside, turning off lights and fans, and drying clothes outdoors.

MEC members responded and the potential for a crisis was averted. The generator repairs are complete and it is available in 2019.

A microburst with hurricane-force winds toppled some utility poles and sheered transmission lines from MEC’s primary power provider, leaving about 39,000 members without electricity. It was a difficult time for everyone, including MEC crews who worked around the clock in the heat and humidity to restore power. More than anything, members wanted information, and MEC provided it as quickly as possible.

MEC continues to invest time and funds to improve and strengthen the infrastructure throughout its service area to improve reliability. In areas identified as vulnerable to wind, line-hardening projects continue, replacing existing wood poles with steel, which is less susceptible to the domino effect.

The damage that led to the large outage was to the transmission provider’s equipment and MEC had to wait for materials before repairs could begin. To hasten response time, MEC invested in the necessary materials to allow crews to make repairs regardless of ownership when possible.

Improvements were completed at an eastern area substation to improve reliability, bird deterrents were installed, trees in power lines were trimmed or removed, and members have been continually advised about simple steps they can take to prevent outages, such as bolting down carports and securing lawn furniture during storms.

Members have placed their trust in MEC to keep the lights on and the air conditioning running in the summer.

Trust: it is the hardest thing to earn, yet the easiest to lose.

MEC will continually work to cultivate the trust our members have bestowed upon us.

Thank you all.

Tyler Carlson, CEO
Joe Anderson, Board President

Cindy Gold and Joe Anderson

January 11, 2019 – Board of Directors President Joe Anderson presents the Gold Director Certificate to fellow Director Cindy Christy.

Michael Bartelt, Joe Anderson, John Nelssen, Carlos Tejada

January 11, 2019 – Mohave Electric Cooperative Board of Directors Vice President John Nelssen, presents the accredited NRECA Board Leadership Certificate to Joe Anderson with fellow board directors, Michael Bartelt and Carlos Tejada.

January 11, 2019 – Mohave Electric Cooperative Directors Gordon Ennes, District 2, and Joe Anderson, District 3, review construction plans for MEC’s Opalka Substation in Golden Shores with Tom Longtin, Mohave Electric manager of operations and engineering. Completion of the substation is expected this summer.

“A new substation for Golden Shores was proposed in our 10-year work plan several years ago, and we monitored the load growth through the years so that we would be ready to build when the time was right”, said Longtin. “That time came about two years ago, and the Board approved moving ahead with the construction plan. Opalka Substation will strengthen our system and improve reliability for our members in Golden Shores and Topock. The new facility will also provide infrastructure to accommodate future growth in the area,” he explained.

Joe Anderson and 2 men

January 11, 2019 – Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a federal agency, is investing $32 million dollars on three transmission projects aimed at improving capacity and reliability for Mohave’s system. WAPA’s Davis Dam Substation was upgraded by projects to rebuild a transmission line and switchyard which were completed in 2012.

A third WAPA project is underway to replace 27.3 miles with upgraded steel poles and larger conductor to carry power from Davis Dam to Kingman Tap near Coyote Pass which feeds substations serving members in Mohave’s Kingman service area.

“WAPA’s existing line was built in the early days of electrification back in the 1940’s,” said Tyler Carlson, Mohave’s CEO. “Our members in the Kingman service area experience outages when lightning strikes at any place over the 27 miles of line. The new line is designed to carry more load and it will be shielded to help protect the system from the effects of lightning.”

“For the most part our members tend to understand why we have outages during thunderstorms. And we also know that members count on us to work with our transmission providers on better ways to deliver reliable power. When WAPA’s Davis Dam to Kingman Tap Project is complete we should see a reduction in the number of outages caused by lightning striking this line,” said Carlson.

“System reliability improvements are an important consideration for the Co-op’s Board of Directors and management,” he added.

The project is presently scheduled by WAPA to be completed in 2014.

Group with Operation CoolShade banner

January 11, 2019 – MEC's CEO Tyler Carlson (middle) stands with Bullhead City Mayor Tom Brady (far left) and Board of Director's Carlos Tejeda, Deborah Johnson and Board of Directors President Joe Anderson.

MEC board president, Joe Anderson, helps load operation cool shade trees for our members.

 

Christy, Templeman, Anderson

October 11, 2018 – Board Director Cynthia Christy joins MEC Board President Joe Anderson in presenting board member Richard Templeman with his accredited Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate. The certificate is a recognized measurement of competency on key current issues attained through course work offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

CEO Tyler Carlson praised all cooperative members for submitting over 6,600 letters in support of SB 1412, which keeps assigned capital credits local. The bill was unopposed in both the House and Senate and was signed by Gov. Doug Ducey on March 23.

Carlson then awarded plaques to Sen. Sonny Borrelli and Rep. Regina Cobb for their work and support. “I was thrilled they were able to attend the meeting in person so Mohave Electric and its members could show their appreciation,” Carlson said. “Sonny and Regina were our champions in Phoenix.” Assigned capital credits are used for a variety of purposes, including programs that benefit MEC members like River Fund, the Northern Arizona Veterans Resource Center, MEC’s Classroom Grants, and the Washington D.C. Youth Tour.

The nearly 200 members in attendance unanimously accepted a change in language to the cooperative’s bylaws to conform to the new law. Members were also treated to a video tribute to Lyn R. Opalka, who resigned from the board in December after serving 35 years as a board director, 27 of those as president. During Opalka’s tenure, Mohave Electric’s membership grew by 20,000 members.

The board elected Joe Anderson to succeed Opalka. In addition, Carlson gave a presentation and members were treated to a meal, gift bag, and entered into a drawing for donated prizes.

MEC also hosted three district meetings throughout the week. Recommended incumbents Richard Tempelman, District 1, Deborah Johnson, District 2, and Toni Barbaro, District 3 can be seated at the August organizational meeting of the board of directors.


MEC board and LD5 members

January 11, 2018 – (L-R) Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) Board of Directors Toni Barbaro, Joe Anderson, CEO Tyler Carlson, Carlos Tejeda, Michael Bartelt, Cindy Christy, and John Nelssen deliver "Call to Action" letters from MEC members and supporters to State Senator Sonny Borrelli and Representative Regina Cobb on Wednesday, January 24, 2018. The total number of letters generated by the campaign to date is 6,609. (photo: GCSECA)

Mohave Electric Board of DirectorsJanuary 11, 2018 – Members of Mohave Electric Cooperative responded to MEC’s “Call to Action” initiative and proved that making their voices heard really does work.

In January 2018 the “Call to Action” effort generated more than 6,600 letters from MEC members in support of Arizona SB1412. The legislation which allows Arizona electric cooperatives to continue to support local community programs through assigned capital credits, was introduced in January of this year and passed the Arizona Senate on February 15, 2018 by a vote of 29-0 and also passed in the House of Representatives on March 20, with a vote of 57-0-3 with no dissenting votes, and was signed by Governor Ducey on March 23, 2018.

Several box loads of letters, addressed to Senator Sonny Borrelli, Representative Regina Cobb, and Representative Paul Mosley were hand-delivered to the State Capitol in Phoenix by MEC CEO Tyler Carlson, MEC Board Directors, and statewide electric cooperative representatives in January.

Carlson expressed his appreciation to MEC members, Senator Borrelli and Representative Cobb.

“MEC members understand the importance of keeping this funding local to help the community, and we thank them for writing the letters and adding their voices to ours.”

“Our thanks also go out to Senator Borrelli and Representative Cobb who listened and supported our members and community.  They were with us from the start, and were instrumental in getting this done.”

Carlson explained that assigned capital credits provide funding for many local community programs including The River Fund, and also MEC’s Classroom Grants and Washington DC Youth Tour.

Joe Anderson and Deborah JohnsonJanuary 11, 2017 – Board of Directors President Joe Anderson presents the Gold Director Certificate to fellow Director Deborah Johnson.

Tejeda, Opalka, and AndersonJanuary 11, 2017 – Board Director Joe Anderson joins Board President, Lyn Opalka, as she presents the Gold Director Certificate to fellow Director, Carlos Tejeda.

Bartelt, Anderson, Nelssen, and TejedaJanuary 11, 2017 – Board Director Michael Bartelt (left) joins Carlos Tejeda (right) as John Nelssen presents the Gold Director Certificate to fellow Director Joe Anderson (second from left).

John McCain and MEC BoardJanuary 11, 2016 – US Senator John McCain spent last Friday in Bullhead City where he met with Mohave Electric Cooperative Board members and employees before addressing a crowd at a Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.  Senator McCain spoke with MEC employees and board members about the need for additional transparency and oversight of the Western Area Power Administration, including talking about an amendment he worked on with Senator Flake that would require WAPA to provide more information on their budgeting process to customers.

In addition, McCain discussed the impacts of power plant closures on rural areas, in particular the impact of the closure of the Mohave Generating Station had on the area.  He vowed to continue fighting EPA overreach and in particular the Clean Power Plan and the rules on Waters of the United States that would put federal jurisdiction over every dry sand-wash in the area.

Board Director Cindy Christy joins Director Joe Anderson as he presents the Gold Director Certificate to fellow Director Toni Barbaro.January 11, 2016 – Board Director Cindy Christy joins Director Joe Anderson as he presents the Gold Director Certificate to fellow Director Toni Barbaro.

January 11, 2013 –  Ten area teachers were each awarded a $100 grant from Mohave Electric for the annual 2013 Classroom Grants Program. The program provides funding for supplies, materials, equipment, or other essential items that support special projects for expanded classroom learning opportunities.

The topics selected for the grants ranged from building miniature steam engine boats to discovering the secrets of owl pellets.  Projects included Walking Across America, Living Painting, Morse Code, Discovery Density, and Solar Cooking.

Classroom Grant RecipientsThe 2013 Classroom Grant recipients are:  Jessica Villamor and Shannon Mitcham – Mohave Valley Elementary; Katherine Pavatt – Fox Creek Junior High; Molly Nottingham – Fort Mohave Elementary; Michael Oakleaf – Sunrise Elementary; Trina Demers, Mark  Carlson and Tiffany Higgins – Mohave Accelerated Learning Center (MALC); and Lucinda Price and Robin Stepanek – Mohave High School. Robert Yee from River Valley High School won an honorable mention for his annual Solar Cooking project.

Classroom Grant Recipients

Mark Carlson, a physical science teacher at MALC said, “Thank you Mohave Electric Cooperative. Your classroom grant allowed MALC’s AIMS Prep class to learn the principles of work and energy with a hands-on building project: their own working steamboats.” Carlson said the students made the working boats from recycled materials and simple technology that was used for the typical of turn-of-the-century toy boats. A birthday candle was used for an external combustion heat source that turned water into steam inside an aluminum can engine which was forced through a drinking straw. “The students learned the theories and the practical workings of steam engines, especially when things did not work quite right,” said Carlson. After building the boats, students raced in their custom made boat race track.

Robert Yee, a 2010 and 2011 grant recipient, used his grants for his Math Club students to explore solar cooking. The first year, they built four solar ovens, cooked 100 hot dogs, 6 pounds of chili and 6 pounds of nacho cheese feeding over 100 students and staff a delicious lunch. Yee said, “It was a great success and we could not have done it without Mohave Electric’s help.” He said students and teachers were surprised to see such a variety of food and were impressed with the quality of food that was produced. This year they are expanding their project to include macaroni and cheese and cookies.

The Classroom Grant Program is a part of Mohave Electric’s commitment to community and has awarded thousands of dollars to teachers in Mohave’s service area since 1996.

Mohave Electric Cooperative Board of Directors Vice President John Nelssen, presents the accredited NRECA Board Leadership Certificate to Joe Anderson with fellow board directors, Michael Bartelt and Carlos Tejada.January 11, 2011 – Mohave Electric Cooperative Board of Directors Vice President, John Nelssen, presents the accredited NRECA Board Leadership Certificate to Joe Anderson with fellow board directors, Michael Bartelt and Carlos Tejada.

MEC Board at track meetJanuary 11, 2011 – Joe Anderson, Director District 3 (third from right) and Mohave Electric employees volunteered to assist track meet officials at the 18th Annual Mohave Electric Cooperative Track and Field Invitational held March 23rd at Mohave High School.