Update, Monday, April 14: This story has been updated to include additional information about outages.
The Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) met with La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) CEO Chris Hansen during a work session on Tuesday, April 8, in which service reliability concerns were addressed along with the availability of three-phase power in the Cloman Industrial Park.
Hansen informed the BoCC that three-phase power is available in the Cloman Park area.
“We confirmed that we have three-phase there,” he said, explaining that anyone who wants three-phase in Cloman can “tell us the spot and we will figure out how to get it there.”
He indicated that the three-phase power is currently about 100 yards away from where one business owner is needing it.
Hansen mentioned that it should be “relatively easy” to get that done, adding, “Great news; we’ve got three-phase at Cloman.”
Commissioner Veronica Medina explained that the county was aware that three-phase power was available in the area, but that the questions were “really about the capacity,” explaining there is a large enough need in the county, especially if the power is going to be extended past the industrial park and all the way to Cloman Park.
Hansen replied that LPEA’s maps indicate that power is available approximately 100 yards from the spot it is potentially needed at.
“I don’t think there’s anything holding us up there,” he said.
Hansen was joined by LPEA Systems Engineer Jake Wills, who explained that quantifying the capacity needed for the area is the next step.
Commissioner Warren Brown indicated that he wanted to know capacity levels for the area.
Commissioner John Ranson noted that two business owners, JR Ford and Andre Redstone, were in attendance and invited them to join the conversation.
Ford explained that he owns a sawmill in the area and his business is in need of .6 megawatts, adding that he understands business needs to “pay its own way,” but encouraged LPEA to consider “some kind of joint venture” to front-load the cost of expanding services, “because one little business in Pagosa is not gonna be able to cover the cost of that.”
Ford also explained that when a rural co-op was started, LPEA was bringing power out to small ranches and business, which was subsidized through government programs.
Ford added having sufficient power in the Cloman area would also lead to “economic growth” by having a place where higher-paying industrial jobs can locate, as the county has identified this area for light industrial activity.
“And, again, I think we’re very happy to supply that power,” Hansen replied, explaining that providing .6 megawatts is manageable and that LPEA is just asking for new businesses to pay for the line extension hookup.
“That is the process we’ve had in place for many decades,” he said.
Ford responded stating that for the past 20 years LPEA has taken the stance of businesses paying their own way, but suggested that “there needs to be a different model,” and that with other businesses wanting to move into the area, the power needed will be more than just .6 megawatts.
Redstone agreed that more than .6 megawatts will be needed for additional businesses, suggesting that local governments may be able to help share that cost.
“We do believe this will be a good project,” Ranson said.
Hansen explained that LPEA is committed to giving quick turnaround on applications for additional service, adding that joint applications are possible as well.
He noted if there is a way to do this all at once and save money, that would be beneficial to all entities involved.
Medina suggested that the county, Inter-Mountain Propane and the two business owners may be able to submit a joint application, noting it “would make a hearty packet.”
Hansen reiterated that LPEA is committed to responding quickly to those applications, adding, “this doesn’t seem like a huge project, what you’re describing,” while noting a new substation would not be needed.
Hansen then provided an update on the power availability for the proposed Pagosa West development, stating that the existing capacity in that area is 760 kilowatts, and once the Trujillo substation is completed the capacity will double to 1.5 megawatts.
To go above that, additional substation capacity would need to be added to bring the capacity up to 15 megawatts.
Hansen also explained that recent tariffs are significantly impacting costs of projects, particularly in the Archuleta County area. Steel and aluminum tariffs placed on Canada are adding 25 percent to costs on an “already constrained supply situation,” he noted.
Hansen added, “it’s not a particularly rosy picture for additional substations,” explaining that LPEA received notice from its suppliers that tariff increases would be passed through immediately.
Ranson noted that the Pagosa West development is planned to occur in phases.
“As I understand the project, we have enough for phase one and part of phase two,” Wills said.
Hansen then provided some information related to outages in Archuleta County and specifically in the Town of Pagosa Springs from 2021 to 2024.
Hansen mentioned that in 2021, there were 101 outages reported in town limits, which dropped to 57 in 2024, noting that is a 43 percent decrease in outages.
There were 419 outages in the county in 2021 and 300 outages in 2024, a 28 percent decrease, Hansen noted.
“I know there’s been some statements in the paper about how reliability has decreased, I think our data would indicate that it’s actually improved,” Hansen stated, adding that significant upgrades have also taken place.
He explained that the $20 million second transmission corridor project will provide two lines in and out of the county once completed.
“I want to ensure everyone that we’re heavily investing in the county … and that reliability has improved over the last several years in Archuleta,” he said, noting that winter storms will always be troublesome.
Hansen acknowledged the Valentine’s Day outage that left some residents without power for nearly six hours, stating that it was a “particularly hard” storm with heavy amounts of wet snow falling.
Hansen added that LPEA is “110 percent committed to Archuleta County.”
Medina replied to Hansen’s comments about concerns of reliability saying, “I think where some of the statements may have come from, obviously it wasn’t from the commissioners,” and expressed concerns over the length of the outage, adding that she could not remember a time where an outage lasted more than an hour.
According to LPEA, from 2020 to 2024 all members experienced an average of 69.02 minutes of outages per year.
During a work session held on April 1, the BoCC discussed the matter of creating an energy task force, which was brought up by Ranson. During that meeting Ranson explained that the idea was not necessarily coming from the BoCC, but that there are concerned constituents with a desire to help.
During the April 1 meeting, Medina stated, “I think what’s brought this really to the forefront is been the power outages that have happened over the last couple years, more frequently,” and that one of her main concerns was communication between LPEA and the community during outages.
In a later interview with Medina, she explained that she feels progress was made in addressing her main concern of having more communication with LPEA when power outage events do occur.
During the April 8 meeting, Hansen offered to have push notifications sent out to county commissioners after Medina explained that some type of communication from LPEA to the county is needed, “so we know what to do.”
“I would be very happy to get push notifications set up,” Hansen said.
Ranson commented that he was appreciative of Hansen reaching out to the commissioners and coming over to meet with them.
“In Archuleta specifically, you gotta be careful with what you read or hear,” he said, adding the commissioners have “no issues” with LPEA.
Hansen indicated that the next LPEA board meeting will be held in Pagosa Springs.
That meeting is scheduled for April 16 at 9 a.m. at the Ross Aragon Community Center.
clayton@pagosasun.com
