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Trico Members to receive record $5.4 million


Trico Members to receive record $5.4 million

December 1, 2023

There are many benefits that come with cooperative membership, but perhaps one of the best benefits is Membership Equity – formerly Capital Credits.

For the 14th straight year, the Trico Board of Directors has approved the retirement of Membership Equity in the amount of $5.4 million, which is a record-high amount. As a Trico Member, you are automatically enrolled in Membership Equity.

Look for your Membership Equity refund as a credit on your December bill. If you would prefer to receive your Membership Equity by check in future years, email us at MembershipEquity@trico.coop or call us at (520) 744-2944, ext. 1510. To receive a check, your refund must be over $10 for both active and inactive accounts.

Trico has been a not-for-profit electric cooperative for more than 75 years. When Trico’s revenues exceed its cost of operations, a profit (margin) is created. Trico allocates its profits to its Members in the form of Membership Equity. Annually, when the Cooperative’s financial condition permits, Trico pays, or retires, a portion of the allocated Membership Equity.

We work hard to provide service in a cost-effective manner so we can return Membership Equity to our Members. We changed the name to Membership Equity to highlight the fact that it is your equity in the Cooperative and you are an owner of Trico. It is one significant way we show you are not just a customer you are a Member.

If you would like to donate your Membership Equity to the Trico Foundation, visit our website at www.trico.coop/membership-equity.

We hope this enhances your holiday season. On behalf of the Trico Board and employees, thank you for being a valued Member of Trico. We are here to serve you.

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Giving back is the cooperative way


Giving back to our community is the cooperative way

December 1, 2023

At Trico, we believe that connection powers our purpose. This connection brings us together as a community – with the understanding that we can do more together than we could do by ourselves.

Trico employees live in the communities we serve and throughout the year we host food drives and other donation events. Employees also donate to United Way of Southern Arizona and volunteer throughout the community, including at the Sahuarita Food Bank & Community Resource Center.

Wes Crane, Land Services and Environmental Supervisor, said volunteering for the food bank was a rewarding experience. “The folks running the food bank are great, and the people getting help really appreciate it,” he said.

During the Trico Golf Tournament, employees raised $850 for the Cooperative Family Fund (CFF). The mission of CFF is to strengthen the bonds of cooperative families by helping cooperative employees and their children deal with grief and the loss of a loved one. To learn more about CFF and donate, visit www.cooperativefamilyfund.com

Employees had a chili and salsa cookoff to support the Homicide Survivors Hope for the Holidays. Employees raised $240.

As your electric cooperative, we’re proud to power your life and make a difference in our community. You can help Trico achieve that goal by joining Operation Round Up. Sign up by December 31, 2023 for your chance to win a $100 bill credit. For more information, visit www.trico.coop/operation-round-up.

Caption: Our employees make a difference in the community by volunteering at the Sahuarita Food Bank & Community Resource Center and hosting food drives and other donation events.

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CEO Column: Reliable power for today and tomorrow


CEO Column: Reliable power for today — and tomorrow

December 1, 2023

Ringing in a new year sparks a sense of renewed hope and optimism about the future. As the CEO/General Manager of Trico, for me, it’s a time to reflect on where we are and where we’re going. At the heart of this reflection, I think about ways we can better serve you, the Members of the cooperative.

Our team at Trico is always looking ahead, exploring ways to innovate and utilize new technologies to improve our services. As our nation increasingly relies on electricity to power the economy, keeping the lights on has never been more important. We’re dedicated to making a difference in the communities we serve by providing our Members cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions.

I want to share some statistics with you that describe where we are and where we are going. These facts show Trico is in a strong position to support the needs of our Members and the communities we serve, and ready for the challenges of the coming years. In the coming months, I will continue to share information about Trico’s future and how we are performing. I hope this will confirm for you that serving our Members’ best interest is our top priority. 

One critical component of reliable power is the mix of energy resources used to generate electricity. Trico purchases power from a diverse mix of providers and some of the energy we provide is generated on Trico’s own system. Trico is increasing the amount of renewable energy used to serve its Members with the goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2032. At the same time, we are also adding new high-efficiency natural gas units, in partnership with Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, to help support the needs of the system. Our current energy resource mix is made up of 33 percent renewables, 31 percent coal/steam, 30 percent natural gas and six percent hydropower.

We devote a lot of attention to keeping costs down to support our Members. Trico is in the top 20% of U.S. electric cooperatives in terms of greatest number of Members served per employee. Our employees are a high-achieving, diverse group and they display the cooperative spirit every day. We get a lot done while controlling costs!

When we talk about sustainable energy, that also means reliability. Over the last five years from 2018-2022, our Members have experienced over 90 minutes less outage time per year, than the median cooperative in the U.S. We know you rely on us to keep the lights on, and we take that responsibility seriously. Every department at Trico contributes to this reliability, and we aim to be even better.

Another measure of success is the amount of Membership Equity we return to our Members. Trico has returned Membership Equity for 14 years in a row, and this year Trico is giving back $5.4 million to its Members. That is $5.4 million that will stay in our local communities and help our Members.

As we turn our focus to 2024, Trico will continue working to provide the reliable, affordable electricity you expect and deserve—for today and tomorrow. On behalf of Trico’s employees and Board of Directors, I wish all of you a healthy, peaceful and prosperous holiday season. We look forward to serving you in 2024.

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David Proctor Joins Board of Directors


Board selects David Proctor to replace Arnoldo Burruel in District 2

December 1, 2023

The Trico Board selected David Proctor to replace Arnoldo Burruel, who resigned from the Board in September.

Director Burruel served District 2 (Marana, Avra Valley) for two years and his expertise and commitment to serving Trico Members and our community will be missed. We are thankful for his service.

Mr. Proctor is the Vice President of BKW Farms, which has been a Trico Member for 73 years. As Vice President, he has maintained great relationships with multiple key Marana entities and is involved in the planning for multiple long-term projects in the Marana/Avra Valley area. BKW also supports Marana High School programs and multiple community events in and around Marana.

“For decades, BKW has cultivated relationships with residents and business owners within the Marana/Avra service area, giving me great insight on how best to represent them as a director,” Mr. Proctor said. “I have worked with Trico on several occasions over the years and believe it’s a well-run organization with great people. I am committed to maintaining the great service and rates Trico Members have become accustomed to.”

For those who attended the Member Appreciation Event at the Marana Pumpkin Patch, Mr. Proctor was there along with Directors Darrell Birkhimer and Jerry Rutherford.

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Membership Equity is Your Share of Trico


Membership Equity is Your Share of Trico

November 2, 2023

Member economic participation is vital to a cooperative. I am excited to announce that for the 14th straight year, the Trico Board of Directors has approved the retirement of Membership Equity – formerly Capital Credits – in the amount of $5.4 million. That’s money that stays here in our local communities.

You may be wondering why we changed the name of this Member benefit program. We feel Membership Equity better describes how our Members share in the financial success of our cooperative.

Membership Equity is your share of Trico. Trico is not-for-profit – which means we need to raise money to operate, but we don’t seek to make extra revenue to satisfy shareholders. When there’s money left after all the co-op’s bills are paid, it’s returned to Members.

In general, here’s how Membership Equity (ME) works:

When Trico’s revenues exceed its cost of operations, a profit (margin) is created, and these amounts are allocated to Members’ ME accounts. These credits accrue in the Members’ accounts until the Board approves what is called a “retirement.” That’s when Members who bought electricity from Trico during a certain year will receive a distribution based on the credit applied to the Member’s account, the amount retired by the Board, and the amount of power the Member used. This distribution may be in the form of a bill credit or a check.

Co-ops perform a balancing act – they have to retain enough money to operate and be prepared for emergencies, like storm damage – but they also want to give Members their share of the margins. That’s the basis of a cooperative; it’s owned by the people who use its service or buy its product, so they share in the “margins” – the co-op equivalent of “profits.”

We often get asked why Members can’t receive all the Membership Equity they have accrued. The Membership Equity of all Trico Members builds up over time and is used to fund the maintenance and improvement of Trico’s system. To maintain fairness, Members need to contribute equitably to the continued operation of the co-op. If Members were able to withdraw all of their allocated ME, there would not be funds to maintain and improve the system. By retiring allocated ME on a proportionate and regular cycle, we balance the need to fund the co-op with returning ME to Members. 

ME cannot be returned to Members all at once because doing so would negatively impact the Co-op’s finances and cause increases in electric rates. ME funds are used to keep the electric system safe and reliable and keep electric rates as affordable as possible. When Trico’s finances permit, ME is returned to the Members who paid the rates that created the ME.

Members will see their Membership Equity Retirement on their December bill. Active accounts will see a Membership Equity Retirement posted as a credit on their bill. If you would prefer to receive your Membership Equity as a check, contact us at memberservices@trico.coop or 520-744-2944. To receive a check, your refund must be over $10 for both active and inactive accounts. If a Member moves or no longer has service, Trico must have their current address to send ME notices and retirements in the future.

Thank you for being a valued Member of Trico Electric Cooperative. Membership Equity is one of the many benefits of being a Member of a co-op, and it represents your share of the co-op’s profits. Visit here for more information on Membership Equity.


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Join the Trico Board in 2024


Join the Trico Board in 2024

November 2, 2023

One of the many benefits of Trico is that it is owned and governed by you, our Members. Our Board of Directors are Trico Members who have been elected to govern and direct the affairs of the Cooperative.

As a Trico Member, you too are eligible to run for a seat on the Board and become an advocate for both Trico and your community.

Directors are nominated and elected by you, our Trico Members. Elections are held once a year, around the time of our Annual Meeting usually held in April. Directors serve a three‑year term and can run for re-election. Each year, two or three Board positions come up for election.

This year, Trico is accepting nomination petitions for District 1 (Dove Mountain, Marana), District 2 (Marana, Avra Valley) and District 5 (Three Points, Altar Valley, Arivaca, Sasabe, Green Valley). See the box at right for more information.

Who is eligible to run for the Board?

  • You are eligible to be a Director, if one of the following applies:
  • You are a Trico Member
  • You are the proprietor of a business that is a Trico Member
  • You are the superintendent or principal of a school that is a Trico Member
  • You have been designated in writing to represent an organization that you are associated with, if they are a Trico Member

To learn more about running for the Board, visit our website here.


Official Notice of Nomination by Petition

TO: All Members of Trico Electric Cooperative, Inc., an Arizona Non-profit Cooperative Corporation

FROM: Kevin McCarthy, Secretary of the Corporation

You are hereby notified that:

The 78th Annual Membership Meeting of Trico Electric Cooperative is scheduled for Saturday, April 6, 2024. The meeting will be held at Casino del Sol.

The incumbent directors of the districts whose current terms will expire at the meeting are: Jerry Rutherford (District 1), David Proctor (District 2) and Joe King (District 5).

Nominations for election of Directors shall be by member Nomination Petition only.

No person may be nominated unless he or she is duly qualified to serve as a director and has given prior consent to serve if elected. Click here for details on what a Trico Board Member’s duties entail.

Nomination Petitions are available on the Trico website starting December 6, 2023 and will be available through January 22, 2024. The website has information and options regarding digital petitions.

Nomination Petitions require 30 or more signatures of Members from the district in which the Director is to be elected. Each household represents one Membership. Only one person from the Membership may sign a nomination petition. Members may not sign the Nomination Petitions of more than one candidate.

Nomination Petitions must be filed with the secretary of the corporation at least 75 days prior to the Annual Meeting. The submission deadline is January 22, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

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Holiday Energy Savings Tips


Holiday Energy Savings Tips

November 1, 2023

The holidays bring a frenzy of decorating, cooking and family gatherings, and amid the hectic hustle and bustle, you may receive higher-than-usual energy bills.

Here are efficiency tips to help lower your monthly energy use:

Making minor, low-cost improvements, like weatherstripping exterior doors and caulking around old, drafty windows can have a positive impact on energy bills.

With holiday lights adorning your home for well over a month, consider making the switch to LEDs to save energy. LED holiday lights use 88% less energy than incandescent holiday lights. Beyond energy savings, LEDs provide additional benefits, such as being shock-resistant, shatterproof and cool to the touch, making them safer for the home.

You can also lower energy use by conveniently managing holiday lighting. Smart light timers can help you save energy by connecting to a smart phone app or voice assistant to program lights to turn on and off at set times. If you don’t use smart home technology, you can still save energy by using traditional timers.

Cook up energy savings in the kitchen

If you plan to have family and friends over this holiday season, you can cook up energy savings by using small countertop appliances like microwaves, air fryers and slow cookers when possible, as they use much less energy than the stovetop or oven.

When using the oven, bake multiple dishes at once for maximum efficiency. Afterall, it takes as much energy to cook one dish as it does to cook several. Turn the oven off a few minutes before the recipe’s end time and allow the residual heat to finish baking the dish. Once the food is done, leave the stove door ajar to allow the residual heat to warm the room. When using the stove top, match the pan size to the burner to maximize the stove top’s efficiency.

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CEO Column: Factors that Impact Electricity Prices


CEO Column: Factors that Impact Electricity Prices

September 1, 2023

I was recently asked by a Member about what impacts electricity prices. We talked about how the daily cost of living seems to have increased across the board.

Just as inflation has impacted everything from the price of gasoline to the price of eggs, costs for the poles and equipment we use and the fuels required to produce electricity have also risen. This is a timely topic, so I wanted to help explain some of the factors that impact electricity prices and energy bills.

While there is no short answer, there are a few key elements that impact electricity prices and rates. Some of these factors Trico can manage, some of them you can impact, and other factors are beyond our control. So, let me break it down.  

There are three primary parts to your monthly electric bill: a fixed monthly charge, an energy consumption/kWh charge and a Power Cost Adjustment (PCA). To understand your total energy costs and what impacts your bill, lets unpack one piece at a time.        

The first is a fixed monthly charge, which covers the costs associated with providing electricity to your home. This includes equipment, materials, labor and operating costs necessary to serve each meter in Trico’s service territory, regardless of the amount of energy used. In order to ensure the reliable service you expect and deserve, we must maintain the local system, including power lines, substations and other necessary equipment. Like many other businesses, we’ve experienced supply chain issues and steep cost increases for some of our basic equipment. For example, the cost for a distribution transformer (which looks like a long metal can at the top of a power pole) has risen by as much as 400 percent since 2020, and wait times to receive this essential equipment are up to 52 weeks.

Because we are a not-for‑profit cooperative, some of these expenses must be passed on to our Members. I should note that the service charge is the same for everyone in a rate class and the costs are shared equally across the membership.

Another component of your monthly bill is the kWh charge, which covers how much energy you consume. You’ve likely noticed the amount of energy you use can vary from month to month and is typically impacted by extreme temperatures. When temperatures soar or dip, your cooling and heating equipment run longer, which increases your home energy use. Regardless, energy consumption is an area that you have some control over, and you can lower your monthly bill by actively reducing energy use. Your thermostat is a great place to start. Adjusting your thermostat up or down a few degrees can save you money and keep you comfortable.

The last component of your bill is the PCA. The PCA is affected by the cost of power that Trico purchases from our wholesale provider. The PCA covers fuel cost fluctuations without having to continually restructure electricity rates. Trico works hard to identify cost‑effective power sources and makes advance purchases when prices are low. In June, Trico reduced its PCA from 1.5 cents to 0.5 cents to help reduce bills in the summer months.

I hope this information sheds light on some of the factors that impact electricity prices. While we can’t control the weather or the rising costs of fuels, please know Trico is doing everything practical to keep costs down.

We’re here to help you, too. Contact us at 520-744-2944 if you have questions about your energy bill. 

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Shop Local with Co-op Connections


Shop Local and Save with Co-op Connections

April 25, 2023

May is Small Business Month, a time to honor our community’s small businesses and entrepreneurs who play a crucial role in strengthening the economy.

The Co-op Connections Card program was started in 2009 as a way to help local businesses while also saving our Members money. In 2022, Trico Members saved more than $1,500.

Co-op Connections is a free benefit for being a Member of Trico. By showing your Co‑op Card or the Co-op Connections app at participating retailers, you can save money on items you purchase every day.

Co‑op Connections has the best deals all in one place. Check for participating businesses in your area by visiting the Co-op Connections website here.

Take the savings with you wherever you go. Simply download the free Co-op Connections app to your phone and create an account to access thousands of deals. See the box above for all the ways to save with Co-op Connections.

Today, with competition increasing rapidly in the business ecosystem, small business owners are struggling to keep up with the big businesses for survival.

So, let’s support small businesses and strengthen the economy!

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Go Electric with Trico


Go Electric with Trico and Save Money!

April 27, 2023

Electricity is becoming cleaner every day and Members can save money on their energy costs over time.

Trico provides our Members with the latest information on purchasing an electric vehicle (EV). From tax incentives and benefits to a savings calculator, our EV website provides details on different EV models and what type of EV may be best for you. The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) approved Trico’s Experimental Electric Vehicle Tariff and that tariff will be available soon. Members who charge their EVs between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. will pay a discounted rate.

To learn more about electric vehicles, visit our website here. You can also call us at (520) 744‑2944 to speak with one of our Sustainable Energy experts.

Additional Resources:

  1. View fuel economy and energy saving EV tips here.
  2. Learn how EV drivers save almost $800 per year here.
  3. See your top questions answered in this EV 101 guide.

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Thank You 2023 Annual Meeting Attendees


Thank you for attending our 2023 Annual Meeting

April 27, 2023

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2023 Trico Annual Meeting on April 1 at Casino del Sol Resort. With 634 attendees, it was a great meeting where we shared with our Members the vision and future of Trico. Food, raffle prizes and fun were enjoyed by all!

“We attended the meeting, and it was good. We felt you did a good job with all your information. Thank you for making the meeting enjoyable with food and prizes too!” Narda McClain commented on Facebook.

The Annual Meeting provides Members with the opportunity to get to know their cooperative. This year, Members heard from Trico’s Board of Directors and Staff on the strong financial condition of Trico, and Trico’s vision for serving its Members in 2023 and beyond.

At the meeting, Director Darrell Birkhimer of District 3 (Picture Rocks, Avra Valley, Star Valley), and Director Larry Hinchliffe of District 6 (Vail, Corona de Tucson), were reelected to the Board.

Congratulations to Donald Roberson of SaddleBrooke, who won the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado truck. Other prizes included Trico bill credits, an iPad, virtual reality goggles, a RoboVac, Beats headphones, Nintendo Switch and two 42-inch TVs.

We hope to see you at next year’s annual meeting.

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CEO Column: 2023 Annual Meeting


You’re invited to our Annual Meeting on April 1, 2023

February 23, 2023

Most consumers likely don’t equate active involvement with their electric company with helping their community. But Trico is not an ordinary utility company. We’re a cooperative, and our business model is meant to serve our Members.

Spending time with you and hearing your take on our community’s energy future is important to us. We hope you will be able to attend the Trico Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Casino del Sol Resort. We’re starting the meeting an hour later than usual at 11 a.m. We hope the time change will allow more Members to attend.

The Annual Meeting is your chance as a Member to learn about your electric cooperative, make your voice heard, and meet the faces behind the cooperative. The meeting will include a report on Trico’s efforts to serve its Members’ interests and provide cost-effective, reliable and sustainable energy solutions. There will be food, raffle prizes and trees for sale. You must be present to win the prizes.

The Annual Meeting is also a time for Members to vote for your Board of Directors. There are two Board of Director positions up for re-election: District 3 (Avra Valley, Picture Rocks, Star Valley) and District 6 (Corona de Tucson, Vail). The director seats will be formally elected at the Annual Meeting. Members can vote at the Annual Meeting. For Members who prefer online voting or are unable to attend the meeting, online voting is available on our website at www.trico.coop/annual-meeting through March 29, 2023 at 11 a.m.

The board of directors is comprised of seven Members who live and work right here in our local service area, so they are in the best position to know where community investments are most needed. We hope you’ll consider running for the board in the future – we’re always looking for folks who care about our community and who are willing to serve.

Every year, we invest funds to make updates to our local system, which helps maintain reliability and grid resilience. Think of it this way: every time you pay your electric bill, you’re investing in your community because all the money we take in goes to improve the local community. By making these investments in our local system, we can ensure you have reliable power for everyday life.

We hope you’ll exercise the benefits of your co-op membership and join us for the Annual Meeting on April 1, 2023. We look forward to seeing you!

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