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CEO Column: Giving Back is the Cooperative Way


CEO Column: Giving Back is the Cooperative Way

December 1, 2024

The holiday season brings a spirit of generosity and compassion. It’s a time to reflect on our many blessings and uplift those in need. While this is certainly a special time of year, cooperatives like Trico are deeply rooted in giving back to their local communities year-round.

Our mission is making a difference in the communities we serve by providing our Members cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions. 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. That’s why we organize food and clothing drives and volunteer regularly at the Sahuarita Food Bank to make a positive, meaningful impact for our community. You, our Members, help us to support the community. Trico’s Operation Round Up program is made possible through Members’ participation in “rounding up” electric bills to the next dollar amount. Your generous contributions support Trico’s Power Grants program, which provides $70,000 per year to local charitable organizations and community services.

Another way Trico gives back is by investing in tomorrow’s leaders. Through the Trico Foundation scholarship program, we aim to empower students for a brighter future. Since 1985, the Trico Foundation has awarded over $4.7 million – benefiting over 778 students – in scholarships to Members and their families. When we invest in our local youth, we strengthen the fabric of our community. In the most recent school year, Trico provided $570,000 in scholarships, making it the largest electric cooperative scholarship program in the country.

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, we believe in giving credit where credit is due – to our Members who are also the owners of Trico. One of the ways we do this is through Membership Equity. Because Trico operates at cost, we give cash back to our Members rather than outside investors or shareholders. This year, the Board of Directors approved the retirement of $4.5 million in Membership Equity.

Our Members guide every decision we make and you are the reason our co-op exists. We are truly thankful for our Members and work hard to provide you with excellent service and great value. This holiday season, we hope you’re proud to be part of a community‑focused co-op that puts people before profits.

On behalf of Trico’s Board of Directors, employees, and myself, we hope you have a joyful and blessed holiday season.

To see more ways Trico gives back throughout the year, take a look at our 12 Days of Giving here.

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Trico’s 12 Days of Giving


Trico’s 12 Days of Giving

December 12, 2024

Community is at the heart of what we do. As a nonprofit electric co-op, Trico strives to go beyond simply providing electricity – we want to make our communities a better place to live for all. This holiday season, we are highlighting our 12 Days of Giving and sharing ways we helped to make a difference in the communities we serve.

  1. POWER Grants: The Trico Electric Charitable Trust provides $70K in funding every year to nonprofits serving our Members with essential needs. To date, we have provided $910K in funding to over 80 nonprofits.
  2. Scholarships: The Trico Foundation provides $500K in funding every year for Trico Members and their dependents to pursue higher education. To date, the Trico Foundation has awarded over $4.7 million to over 770 students.
  3. Sahuarita Food Bank: Trico employees volunteered over 90 hours at the Sahuarita Food Bank to help provide food to their clients in need.
  4. All the Way to the Border Clean Up: Trico employees helped pick up trash along a 44-mile stretch of Arizona Highway 286 from Three Points to Sasabe.
  5. Marana Food Bank: Trico employees hosted several food drives throughout the year and provided monetary donations to the Marana Food Bank.
  6. Salvation Army Angel Tree: Trico employees sponsored 75 children to provide them with much deserved toys and gifts for the holiday season.
  7. SARSEF Fair: Trico sponsored the Southern Arizona Research Science and Engineering Foundation’s (SARSEF) annual Science Fair. We provided $5,000 as well as employee judges for the fair.
  8. Community Giving: Trico gave over $29,000 back to our communities through donations and sponsorships. These include schools, children’s sports teams, educational programs, charity events, and more.
  9. 4-H: Trico has supported local 4-H youth for 45 years through the Pima County Fair.
  10. Beacon Group: Trico has contracted with Beacon Group since 2012 to provide jobs for disabled individuals at Trico’s headquarters in Marana.
  11. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Trico’s DEI efforts supported local groups with donations and sponsorships that included Tucson Pride, Tucson Juneteenth Festival, and African American Museum of Southern Arizona.
  12. Cooperative Family Fund: Trico and its employees provided $3,975 in donations to the Cooperative Family Fund, an organization providing support for children of electric cooperative employees when they experience the loss of a parent employed at a cooperative.

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Trico Member Appreciation Event Information


Trico Member Appreciation Event 2024

August 1, 2024

Trico’s Member Appreciation Event will be held on October 9, 2024 from 4-9 p.m. at the Marana Pumpkin Patch. Registration for tickets will be available on our website starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024.

Tickets are first come, first served, and we WILL sell out. Maximum of five tickets are available per Membership – please only take the number you need to allow other families to also enjoy the event.

Your ticket will include free admission, refreshments, and one orange pumpkin per Membership. While most activities are included, there are additional fees for the zipline, pumpkin canon, rock wall, and paintball.

We will share more information as the event gets closer! To be the first to hear updates, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and make sure your email address is accurate in your SmartHub account.

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Light Up Navajo Humbling Experience


Light Up Navajo is humbling experience for Trico lineworkers

August 1, 2024

For the second year in a row, Trico sent line crews to a remote area of the Navajo Nation to participate in the Light Up Navajo program. This mutual-aid program began in 2019 to extend electricity to homes without power.

Trico lineworkers Anthony Anaya, Bryan English, Joe Tsethlikai, Martin Mares, Matt Ward and Troy Mead spent two weeks working in Naschitti, New Mexico to bring power to those in need.

“I’ll go back every year until everyone has electricity or I’m dead,” English said. “I’m happy to give back.”

Trico’s crews built 3.5 miles of line and put up 40 poles to feed power to nine homes. “The conditions were not great,” Tsethlikai said. “We had to use special pressure diggers. It took one to two hours to dig one hole. For the people to live there without power is mind blowing.”

Tsethlikai said they met an 80-year-old Vietnam War veteran who never had electricity except for his time in the Marines. 

“This is history in the making,” Tsethlikai said. “This is generational. We’re not just bringing power to these nine homes. This is something that is going to be there forever. Their children and future generations will benefit from what we’re doing.”

Brian Heithoff, Trico CEO/GM said, “The work to provide the residents of the Navajo Nation a reliable source of energy is vital to providing them a brighter future, and reflects the co-op spirit that helped electrify Trico’s service territory starting almost 80 years ago.”

Ward said he was honored to be selected to participate in Light Up Navajo. “It was an extremely humbling experience. You would never guess that people still to this day continue to live without what we consider to be basic necessities, such as running water, electricity, etc. To know that I was able to be a part of changing someone’s life by providing power alone is very honoring. The work experience along with meeting the homeowners is amazing. They taught us the Navajo language and they are some of the friendliest people.”

Anaya said “the whole experience made me grateful for the life I live with my family and everything Trico has provided for me. Hopefully I get the opportunity to do it again next year.”

Ann Nadeau thanked Trico for “what you are doing for the Navajo Nation. These residents need to be cool. The crews are heroes.”

Trico was the first cooperative in the state of Arizona to participate in the mutual-aid program last year. According to the American Public Power Association, of the approximately 55,000 homes on the Navajo Nation, nearly 14,000 still do not have electricity. They represent 75% of all U.S. households without power.

Learn more at https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/03/us/navajo-nation-power-grid-connection/index.html

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Trico Awards $35K to Local Nonprofits


Trico Awards $35,000 in grants to support local nonprofits

August 1, 2024

Trico has announced the recipients of its 2024 Spring POWER Grants, totaling $35,000, to five local organizations dedicated to improving the lives of residents in Pima County and surrounding areas. This initiative underscores Trico’s commitment to community support and development.

Sahuarita Food Bank & Community Resource Center will receive $10,000 to distribute emergency food to low-income residents of Pima County, including significant portions of the Trico service area. This grant will play a pivotal role in alleviating hunger and providing essential support to those in need.

Similarly, the Marana Food Bank & Community Resource Center will receive $10,000. The funds will aid in distributing healthy food to Marana families facing hunger, operating four days a week, and offering programs to foster self-sufficiency. This grant will significantly impact the lives of many struggling families.

The Marana Unified School District (MUSD) is set to receive $8,750 to equip 1,200 students with backpacks filled with school supplies for the upcoming school year. This initiative ensures students are prepared for their educational journey, easing the financial burden on families. Dr. Cindy Ruich, Director of Student and Family Support Services at MUSD, shared her appreciation: “It takes a village to support and educate the students in MUSD and we are so grateful and blessed you are a part of our village.”

The Mt. Lemmon Fire Fighters Foundation will receive $1,500 to modernize their rope rescue gear, enhancing the safety and efficiency of firefighters during rescue operations. This investment is crucial for the protection and well-being of both the firefighters and the community. “The support provided by Trico Electric Charitable Trust and its members exemplifies a commitment to the well-being of southern Arizona, and it is through contributions like these that we are able to maintain and improve our critical services.” Michael Cuestas, Captain of the Mount Lemmon Fire Fighter Foundation shared. “We are honored to be among the beneficiaries of the POWER Grants program initiative,” he added.

Youth On Their Own (YOTO) will be awarded $4,750 to support students experiencing homelessness in Tucson/Pima County. The funds will provide basic needs, financial assistance, guidance, and support services with the goal of high school graduation. CEO of YOTO, Elizabeth Slater, thanks Trico for supporting Southern Arizona’s students experiencing housing insecurity. “This grant award will provide direct financial and basic needs support to YOTO youth, helping them remain focused on their goal of high school graduation. Thank you.”

Through these grants, Trico continues to demonstrate its dedication to empowering and uplifting local communities. The support provided will enable these organizations to make a substantial and lasting impact on the lives of many individuals and families. You can help by rounding up your bill through Trico’s Operation Round Up program. Learn more at www.trico.coop/operation-round-up.

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CEO Column: Fire Mitigation 2024


Trico secures $700,000 grant for fire mitigation and grid resilience

July 1, 2024

Trico has received a significant boost in its effort to enhance fire mitigation and grid resilience on Mt. Lemmon, thanks to a recent $700,000 grant awarded by a federal infrastructure funding program. The grant, part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Resilience Innovation Partnership (GRIP) program, will support Trico’s initiatives aimed at bolstering the region’s wildfire prevention measures and ensuring the reliability of its power grid infrastructure.

The award comes as part of a larger consortium bid led by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and involves 39 electric co-ops from across the country. There were about 700 applicants for GRIP funding and less than 10% of projects were selected. The consortium’s projects will accelerate the completion of high-priority wildfire mitigation projects at co-ops nationwide, with Trico being among the beneficiaries.

Trico has identified the Mt. Lemmon area as a high-hazard zone for wildfires, with three significant fires occurring in the last 20 years alone. The devastating impact of the Bighorn Fire in 2020, caused by a lightning strike, prompted Trico to take proactive measures to mitigate future wildfire risks in the region.

Trico will allocate the grant funds towards fire mitigation work, right-of-way clearing, and the installation of fire-resistant wrapping on power poles across Mt. Lemmon. These efforts, combined with continued vegetation management and maintenance, aim to reduce the likelihood of wildfire ignition and mitigate the risk of damage from all wildfires.

Moreover, the enhanced resilience of Trico’s power grid infrastructure will ensure reliability service to key communications assets, including radio, television, and communications towers, that serve Tucson and Southern Arizona. The project’s scope also extends to protecting the Members, homes, and businesses served by Trico, as well as preserving the valuable natural environment on Mt. Lemmon.

This ongoing effort underscores Trico’s commitment to balancing the preservation of the natural environment with ensuring reliable electricity supply to its Members. Trico’s engagement with the community underscores its dedication to fostering a culture of preparedness and collaboration. Trico recently hosted a Summer Preparedness Town Hall on June 15, 2024, at the Mt. Lemmon Community Center. The event provided an opportunity for community members to discuss fire risk mitigation strategies and receive updates on Trico’s initiatives to enhance wildfire resilience in the region.

The GRIP grant will benefit Mt. Lemmon and it is also an example of how Trico works hard to find innovative ways to contain costs (grants, low-interest loans, forgivable loans, etc.). These savings provide benefits to all Members. Trico is committed to ensuring the reliability of power supply while safeguarding our community and, as always, we are dedicated to serving you, our Members.

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Trico Employee Helps Save a Life


Trico employee, who is a volunteer Firefighter and EMT, helps save a life

July 1, 2024

Trico Senior Distribution Designer Deidra Tulk is a volunteer Firefighter and EMT with the Benson Fire Department and also works part time for Healthcare Innovations, the ambulance company that serves the Benson area.

On February 2, 2024, Deidra and four other first responders received a call for medical assistance at the local Walmart. As they arrived, the patient went into cardiac arrest, and they immediately began CPR. They continued CPR while the patient was transported to Benson Hospital, where the patient regained a pulse and was stabilized until they could be transported to a Tucson hospital. Within 36 hours the patient was sitting in their room in the ICU talking with their doctors, and then discharged within a few days.

On May 13, 2024, the Benson City Council recognized the five first responders for their efforts and presented them with CPR Life Saver awards.

“It feels a little bit weird to be recognized for doing a job I signed up for, but it’s been humbling how many people show their appreciation, especially as a volunteer,” Deidra said.

Caption: Deidra Tulk and four other first responders were presented with CPR Life Saver awards from the Benson City Council.

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Summer Monsoon Season Preparation


We’re ready for summer monsoon season

June 10, 2024

With the summer storm season approaching, Trico is implementing extra procedures to minimize the impact of power outages on our Members. 

To help support our Members during outages and times of excessive heat, Trico is implementing a Community Care Team made up of employees to distribute water, ice, and other necessary items. The Community Care Team will respond in situations where outages are projected to last more than a few hours and affect numerous Members.

We encourage Members to be prepared in the event of a power outage by following these storm safety tips:

  • If you experience a power outage, check our outage map at trico.coop/outages for the latest updates. Sign up for outage notifications.
  • High winds may bring power lines down. If you encounter downed lines while driving, turn around. Lines may still be energized. Never drive near or over them.
  • Heavy storms and rainfall have the potential to create flash floods. If you encounter standing water while driving, turn around and find a safer route.
  • Make sure your cellphone and portable power banks are charged and ready to go.
  • Stay informed by following us on social media at facebook.com/TricoElectricAZ, instagram.com/TricoElectricAZ and twitter.com/TricoElectricAZ.

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CEO Column: A Big Win for Trico Members


Trico is awarded $83.5 million to fund four renewable energy and battery projects

April 1, 2024

Trico was one of five cooperatives across the country selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to move forward in the award process for the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program.

Trico’s projects include the following:

Arivaca Rural Microgrid: A microgrid with 3MW of solar generation and 3MW/12MWh of battery storage capacity, designed to serve the load of approximately 620 residents in Arivaca. A microgrid is a power system that can be detached from the main electric grid either full time or for a specific event, like a power outage. This project is designed to use renewable energy and battery technology to improve reliability and resilience, especially during extreme weather events like monsoons. Trico also received a $7 million grant from the Department of Energy for this project.

Trico Standalone Battery Energy Storage System: This 10MW/40MWh battery storage system will help Trico manage its peaks and save Members money by charging the battery when solar energy is plentiful and prices are low, and discharging energy during peaks when market prices are high. The project will be located on the northwest side of Trico’s service territory where rapid growth is increasing demand.

Avion Solar and Battery Energy Storage Facility II: A facility with 10MW of solar generation and 10MW/40MWh of battery storage capacity. The project will be located near Trico’s existing Avion Solar and Battery Energy Storage Facility in Marana and will be capable of powering about 2,500 homes. 

Valencia Solar and Battery Energy Storage Facility: A facility with 10MW of solar generation and 10MW/40MWh of battery storage capacity. The project will be located near Trico’s Valencia Substation and will be capable of powering about 2,500 homes.

Trico expects to develop and build the PACE projects over the next five years working with regional partners and the community to locate the projects and maximize their effectiveness. Development work will start immediately.

PACE is a big win for Trico Members and we are excited to be working with USDA and Rural Utilities Service (RUS). The projects Trico is planning to build will provide cost‑effective, sustainable energy solutions and benefit our Members for decades to come.

Captions:

In support of Trico’s $83.5 million Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) award, Trico Staff and Board welcomed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden to Trico’s headquarters on March 14, 2024. Trico provided a tour of the Avion Solar and Battery Energy Storage Facility to Under Secretary Gooden, USDA officials, and local and statewide representatives.

Top right: Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden (center) with Eric Hawkins, Trico COO and General Counsel, and Brian Heithoff, Trico CEO and GM, tours Trico’s Avion Solar and Battery Energy Storage Facility. Bottom right: Following the tour, Trico hosted a roundtable discussion regarding Trico’s four clean energy PACE projects.

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Fall 2023 POWER Grant Recipients


Six nonprofits receive $35,000 in POWER Grants

February 1, 2024

Trico has awarded a total of $35,000 to six non-profit organizations providing critical services in southern Arizona. The grants are part of Trico’s POWER Grants program and are awarded twice a year to charities throughout our service area.  

Non-profits are selected through an application process and reviewed by a six-person committee made up of Trico employees, Members, and Board Members.

Junior Achievement of Arizona received a grant of $10,000 to provide financial literacy to students at DeGrazia Elementary School in the Marana Unified School District.

Hard Hitters for the Kingdom, Inc., received a grant of $8,000 for the Clean-Start Mobile Shower Program, which provides clean showers, hygiene supplies, clean towels and new clothing to people experiencing homelessness.

Receiving grants of $5,000 each were Gabriel’s Angels, Literacy Connects, and Wheel Fun. Gabriel’s Angels will use the funds for its pet therapy program, which allows children to read to dogs to enhance the child’s social and emotional development. Literacy Connects partners with pediatric clinics to distribute free books to children to encourage families to read together. Wheel Fun offers free after-school mountain bike clubs to students with a focus on rural public schools.

Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation received a $2,000 grant to help pay for extracurricular activities, sports, camps, supplemental clothing, individual academic tutoring and more, for children and youth in Arizona foster care.

In March, the next round of POWER Grants will be available, and Trico will be accepting applications from organizations that provide the following services: Food and Basic Needs, Housing, Health and Mental Care, and Fire and Emergency Response.

Since 2008, the POWER Grant program has awarded $840,000 in grants. POWER Grants are supported by the Trico Electric Charitable Trust, which is funded through Operation Round Up. To learn more about POWER Grants and how to donate to Operation Round Up, visit our website www.trico.coop/power-grants.  

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