Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Coop) has become aware that members are concerned with recent electric bills they received for the billing period which included usage for November 2016 and portions of December 2016. The Coop has contacted its billing and meter vendors to review and resolve billing concerns.
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) is a member owned Electric Distribution Cooperative. KCEC is one of 13 electric cooperatives that serve rural New Mexico communities, and one of 44 distribution cooperatives receiving power from Tri-State Generation and Transmission, of Denver, Colorado. KCEC serves over 29,497. members in Taos, Colfax and Rio Arriba Counties. Formed in 1944, KCEC is the second largest cooperative in the State of New Mexico. In the 1990s, the electrical deregulation movement brought unprecedented changes to the utility industry. Cooperatives like KCEC who have long served their members, begin to see the lines between utility services become blurred. At the 1998 Annual Meeting the current board was instructed by the membership to explore the possibility of diversifying into like businesses that were at that time not meeting the needs of the membership. In 2001, the board was expanded to 11 members due to the growth of KCEC's service area. With the new board and the member mandate, the work began and improvements of the cooperative facility begin to take shape. The old KCEC Building was renovated and a new KCEC facility was constructed with additional space to include a 10,000 square foot building to help provide economic development to Taos County. The building included all new offices, an in-house billing room, two efficiencies to house standby employees, and plenty of space for expansion. The cooperative also constructed satellite offices in all five of the districts it serves. Outreach community programs are with the Public Relations Department to keep its members informed of the projects and programs it offers.
In preparation for deregulation, KCEC also created three divisions to offer cooperative members different services. Along with Electrical Service, these include Internet Service, Telecommunications Service, Internet Service, and Propane Service.KCEC expanded into Telecommunications to offer a wide range of services to the community and began providing Internet access. Kit Carson Internet has been in business since January of 2000 and now has approximately 3000 users. Kit Carson Internet provides local dial up, DSL, Wireless, Web Hosting and Wild Blue Satellite, access to all of its members in our service territory.
KCEC implemented finance program where KCEC would finance up to $1,000 on a computer for customers in good standing. Combined with our new Internet services, more and more of our customers begin cruising on the Information Highway. KCEC also provides free public access computers at its main and satellite offices for the general public and in collaboration with the Town of Taos at the Taos Youth and Family Center for communities.
Kit Carson Energy, Inc. became a subsidiary of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, Inc. in January 2010. We are a member owned full service propane company. We offer a variety of payment and delivery options. Please call us at 575-758-7757 for more information.
Interested in preserving a healthy environment, KCEC was the first New Mexico Cooperative offering the Green Power Option to its members. KCEC offers 100 kWh blocks of wind-generated energy to customers who prefer to use alternative energy. In cooperation with the "dark skies" campaign, KCEC has shielded Taos County lights in an effort to reduce light pollution. Luis Reyes, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the co-op says, "At KCEC we're very interested in helping the community and contributing to the market that supports them. We want to be a good neighbor and benefit the community." KCEC provides scholarships to deserving college-bound seniors from its service area through its foundation. The Board of Trustees set up the KCEC Foundation, a private 501(c) (3) with KCEC unclaimed capital credits to set up the Scholarship Fund as well as to provide monetary grants to non-profit and community organizations.
COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES
Voluntary and Open Membership
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.
Members’ Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
Education, Training, and Information
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
Concern for Community
While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.
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