Kit Carson Electric

Information may not be reliable

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 mid 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, and also noticed that traditionally integrated products and services started to become unbundled and subject to competition.

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 programs begin with the Public Relations Department to keep its members informed of the projects and programs it offers.
WINTER SHUT-OFF PROTECTION NOTICE Protection from winter shut-off begins Nov.15.2010. To avoid potential disconnection of services please contact the Human Services Department for eligibility information for the Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at 1-800-283-4465. Your service will not be disconnected from November 15, 2010 through March 15, 2011, if you qualify for LIHEAP and you remain current on any payments that you owe under a payment plan, or as of November 15, 2010, you have no past due amounts. For more information call the Human Services Department at 1-800-283-4465 or your local electric cooperative. The phone number for the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative is 575.758.2258.