Company Information

Intermountain Rural Electric Association is an electrical distribution cooperative, thus we do not generate any electric power. We buy wholesale power from Xcel Energy, Inc. and the Western Area Power Administration. IREA's 5,000-square-mile service territory includes all or parts of ten counties to the east, west and south of the metro Denver area and west of Colorado Springs. Our headquarters (see photo) is located in Sedalia, Colorado, south of Littleton and north of Castle Rock. We also have district offices in Strasburg, Conifer and Woodland Park.

Company Structure and Organization

Our function is to distribute the electrical energy via a series of transmission lines, substations and electrical distribution lines to all of the homes and businesses within our service area. In order to do so, we establish wholesale contracts with power suppliers and build and maintain the distribution system to bring you power. About 55-60% of your electric bill pays strictly for the wholesale power costs; the balance pays for IREA to bring you that electrical power.

IREA works to provide the best possible service at the lowest possible cost and all of our activities are ultimately directed to this end. IREA has approximately 187 employees who work in one of the four major divisions: (1) Member Services and Public Affairs; (2) Operations and Engineering; (3) Financial Services; and (4) Information Services. The main headquarters in located in Sedalia where over 130 employees work.

Capital Credits

Intermountain is a member owned cooperative and, as such, its margins, or profits, are ultimately returned back to the member/owners in the form of capital credits. These capital credits are paid to members when the Association's Board of Directors deems that the financial condition of the cooperative will not be impaired and that the payment is not in conflict with any limitations imposed by any lender.

Patronage capital is accrued to individual member accounts at the end of every year that the Association operates with a margin.  In the interim period between the accrual of such capital credits and their payment to the member, this member equity is retained by the Association for working capital, storm damage reserves and contingencies.  The Association returns capital credits on a percentage basis to all eligible members.  Such return of capital credits is normally made in the spring of each year.

The Association attempts to return capital credits to all members who have accrued such patronage capital in past years.  It is important, therefore, that consumers keep the Association informed of their current address even after they are no longer a member.  At the present time, patronage capital accrued from the year 1982 through the present year is still owed to member-consumers and will be refunded in future years on a percentage basis.

For a list of frequently asked questions regarding capital credits, click here.

Documents

Please review the New Consumer Information Handbook for more company information or more detailed information regarding company structure and organization and capital credits.

2007 Annual Report
Association Bylaws

IREA's current Integrated Resource Plan was approved in December 2007.