Vice President

February 21, 2019 – Every year representatives from Arizona's not-for-profit electric cooperatives from across the state attend the Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association (GCSECA) Legislative Rally at the Arizona State Capitol. The purpose of this meeting is to introduce the legislator to Arizona's electric cooperatives and discuss important policy issues.

Photo from left to right (Arizona's Legislative District 5 Representative Regina Cobb, MEC CEO Tyler Carlson, MEC Board Members Toni Barbaro, Deborah Johnson, John Nelssen, Rich Tempelman, Michael Bartelt, Arizona's Legislative District 5 Representative Leo Biasiucci.) Front from left to right (MEC Board Member Carlos Tejeda, Washington Youth Tour winner Monica Houltram)

January 11, 2019 – Board Directors (rear from left to right), Mike Bartelt, John Nelssen and Carlos Tejada present board members Deborah Johnson (front left) and Toni Barbaro with their accredited Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificates. The certificate is a recognized measurement of competency on key current issues attained through course work offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

January 11, 2019 – Mohave Electric Cooperative Directors and Chief Executive Officer met with Arizona Senator Kelli Ward to discuss important issues for Co-op members including EPA rulings and deregulation.

“Legislative visits are an opportunity to share our concerns and ask lawmakers to support policies that make sense and oppose those that are not in the best interest of our members,” said Tyler Carlson, Mohave Electric Chief Executive Officer.

Senator Kelli Ward (second from left) meets with MEC officials (from left) Tyler Carlson, Chief Executive Officer; Deborah Johnson, Director District 2; Toni Barbaro, Director District 3; Carlos Tejeda, Director District 2; and Gordon Ennes, Director District 2.

January 11, 2019 – MEC Board Directors from left to right Deborah Johnson (District 2), Toni Barbaro (District 3), and MEC Board President Lyn Opalka are pictured with Ways and Means Officer Casey Bevando and Captain Sean Borland from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) Bullhead City Unit, as Borland holds a box of 40 donated power banks. The idea for the donation originated with a pair of MEC employees who are also SAR volunteers. The two recognized a need in the field, where charged batteries for flashlights and radio equipment are SAR essentials; the concept could also extend to cell phones. The donated power banks from MEC will give each member of the all-volunteer Bullhead City Unit approximately 90 minutes of additional charge on their mobile devices.

January 11, 2019 – MEC Board of Directors Toni Barbaro and Deborah Johnson (far left and right) join Board President Lyn Opalka in presenting fellow director Michael Bartelt with the Arizona ACRE Membership Recognition for 2017. Bartelt has been recognized for 10 years of continuous support to the Arizona Action Committee for Rural Electrification.

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.

January 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.

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

January 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.