Continental Divide Electric Cooperative

What Continental Divide Electric Cooperative does

Continental Divide Electric Cooperative (CDEC), founded in 1945 and headquartered in Grants, New Mexico, is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution and fiber telecommunications cooperative serving portions of Cibola and McKinley counties in western and central New Mexico. As of December 31, 2024, the cooperative employed 85 people across its Grants and Gallup offices, owned 3,843 miles of distribution and transmission lines, and powered more than 23,658 metered electric services. CDEC is regulated by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, receives wholesale power from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and holds Class C membership in Basin Electric Power Cooperative.

CDEC's core product is regulated electric distribution across residential, commercial, industrial, irrigation, and lighting rate classes, supplemented by net metering for member-owned renewables, energy efficiency rebates (HVAC, electric appliances, EV chargers), budget billing, LIHEAP assistance, and capital credits retirements under cooperative governance. In 2017, CDEC launched Red Bolt Broadband as a wholly-owned competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), deploying fiber-to-the-home internet, digital phone (VoIP), and 1-gigabit service to approximately 6,100 households and businesses by year-end 2024. Underlying operational technology includes a SCADA system for real-time voltage and power-quality monitoring, and a SmartHub digital platform (NISC-provided) integrating billing, outage reporting, and account management via web and mobile.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring monthly electricity rates paid by members, with broadband subscription fees as a secondary stream. As a not-for-profit cooperative, excess margins are allocated to members as capital credits and retired over time — $1.72 million was returned in 2024. Federal and state grants (FCC $38M in Dec 2020; USDA $24.96M in Dec 2024; NM PRC $4.4M for Zuni Mountain) and tribal partnerships (Pueblo of Zuni, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority) fund network expansion. Cumulative infrastructure investment stands at $183.9 million as of December 31, 2024.

Name

Continental Divide Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Continental Divide Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Website

https://cdec.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Continental Divide Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution and fiber broadband cooperative serving rural western and central New Mexico, powering 23,658+ metered electric services and ~6,100 broadband subscribers via its Red Bolt Broadband subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Electric Distribution and Broadband Services

NAICS

Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Distribution (221122), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

Keywords

• Rural electric distribution
• Fiber-to-the-home broadband
• Member-owned cooperative
• Utility distribution services
• VoIP digital phone

Headquarters

HQ city

Grants

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Electric Distribution Service: Not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative providing power to over 23,658 metered services. Revenue generated through electricity rates paid by members, with excess margins returned as capital credits
2. Red Bolt Broadband Internet and VoIP: Approximately 6,100 households and businesses subscribe to Red Bolt Broadband internet and digital phone (VoIP) services
3. Capital Credits Returns: As a not-for-profit co-op, margins are allocated to members as capital credits and returned over time - co-op returned $1.72 million in capital credits in 2024

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Continental Divide Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative that supplies electricity across 3,843 miles of owned lines to more than 23,658 metered services in rural western and central New Mexico. Through its wholly owned Red Bolt Broadband subsidiary, the cooperative also delivers fiber-to-the-home internet and VoIP digital phone services to approximately 6,100 households and businesses, and provides a SmartHub account management platform for billing, outage reporting, and member service.

Product overview

Continental Divide Electric Cooperative operates as a dual-service utility offering both electric distribution and telecommunications services. The cooperative's core offerings consist of electric power distribution across 3,843 miles of lines serving over 23,658 metered services, and Red Bolt Broadband fiber-to-the-home internet and digital phone (VoIP) services with approximately 6,100 subscribers. SmartHub serves as the primary digital interface for account management, bill payment, outage reporting, and usage monitoring. Supporting programs include net metering for renewable energy customers, energy efficiency rebates, budget billing plans, LIHEAP assistance, and capital credits retirements. Rate programs span residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customer segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Red Bolt Broadband: Fiber-to-the-home internet and digital phone (VoIP) services launched in 2017 when CDEC became a licensed competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC).

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Electric power distribution to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across the cooperative's exclusive service territory in western and central New Mexico, delivered over 3,843 miles of owned primary and secondary distribution and transmission lines. Available under multiple rate classes including Residential General Service, Time-of-Use, Commercial, Large Power, Large Industrial Transmission, Lighting, Irrigation, and Renewable Resource rates.
• Red Bolt Broadband Internet and VoIP Fiber-to-the-home broadband internet and digital phone (VoIP) services provided to approximately 6,100 residential and business subscribers across rural New Mexico, including 1-gigabit service tiers introduced in August 2019.
• SmartHub Account Management Platform Online and mobile account management tool enabling cooperative members to view and pay bills, report outages, monitor usage trends, review billing history, receive notifications, and contact customer service.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23,658 metered services powered
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pueblo of AcomaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021CDEC transferred electric distribution facilities within Acoma's jurisdictional boundaries to the Pueblo on June 9, 2021. Transfer was result of 2014 Settlement Agreement and Pueblo's option to acquire CDEC's electric facilities on Pueblo lands.
• Pueblo of ZunicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2021Formalized agreement to fund $4.4 million in communication infrastructure for Red Bolt Broadband service to Zuni residents. Expansion funded partly by $3.23 million NM PRC grant. Pueblo government purchases Red Bolt service for essentially 100% of Zuni residents for three years.
• Navajo Tribal Utility AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Partnership to extend electricity to 30 Navajo Nation families using federal CARES Act funds to reduce spread of COVID-19. CDEC connected households on December 22, 2020.
• Lightsource BPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2018Agreement to purchase 6.9 megawatts of solar power from generating stations built by Lightsource BP in Grants and Bluewater, N.M. Agreement covers 100% of renewable energy generated at fixed cost over 20 years. Both facilities operational by start of 2020.
• Kit Carson Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Three-year agreement to build high-speed fiber-optic internet communication in Grants, N.M. This pilot project enabled CDEC to begin upgrading its headquarters and Grants substation with state-of-the-art communication technology.
• City of GallupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2014CDEC's bid to provide wholesale power to City of Gallup accepted and unanimously approved by Gallup City Council in March 2014. City continues to serve Gallup residents, maintain distribution facilities, set retail rates and bill customers. Gallup's system serves about 10,500 customers. Contract increased CDEC's load by 43 megawatts.
• Tri-State Generation and Transmission AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-State is a not-for-profit cooperative power supplier owned by 45 electric distribution cooperatives and public power districts. They generate and transport electricity to Continental Divide across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. CDEC receives wholesale power from Tri-State, which merged with Plains Electric (consisting of CDEC and 11 other NM co-ops) in 2000.
• Basin Electric Power CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinental Divide is a Class C member of Basin Electric, headquartered in Bismarck, N.D. Tri-State purchases wholesale power from BEPC, making CDEC a Class C member. Basin's core business is generating and transmitting wholesale bulk electric power to 131 electric systems in nine states.
• New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperatives (NMREC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMREC represents the interests of New Mexico's electric cooperatives through legislative and regulatory representation, public affairs, and training activities.
• Touchstone Energy CooperativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouchstone Energy is a national membership organization representing locally owned cooperatives across 45 states. Provides resources and leverages partnerships to help member cooperatives better engage and serve member-owners. CDEC operates under Touchstone Energy brand.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kit Carson Electric Cooperative: Another New Mexico rural electric distribution cooperative that has also diversified into fiber broadband (Kit Carson Internet). CDEC and Kit Carson entered a 2017 three-year fiber construction agreement, making them the closest comparable for both electric operations and rural broadband strategy.
• Otero County Electric Cooperative: New Mexico rural electric distribution cooperative with similar scale and Tri-State wholesale supplier relationship. Operates as a member-owned distribution co-op serving a comparable low-density service territory.
• Socorro Electric Cooperative: New Mexico rural electric distribution cooperative with analogous member-owned governance and Tri-State wholesale supply. Comparable scale and customer mix in central New Mexico.
• Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving rural central New Mexico. Similar regulatory environment under NM PRC and Touchstone Energy network affiliation.
• Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative: Rural New Mexico electric distribution cooperative providing similar member-owned electric service with comparable low-density terrain and tribal-area service overlap.
• Plains Electric Cooperative: Historically a Plains Electric G&T member co-op alongside CDEC; merger history with Tri-State G&T gives it shared wholesale supplier exposure. Comparable rural NM electric distribution operations.
• Pedernales Electric Cooperative: One of the largest electric cooperatives in the U.S., serving rural Texas. Comparable member-owned governance model and distribution utility focus, though at substantially larger scale; useful benchmark for cooperative operating maturity.
• Highline Electric Association: Colorado rural electric distribution cooperative with comparable low-density rural service territory and member-owned structure; demonstrates similar approaches to energy efficiency rebates and community programs.
• Tri-County Electric Cooperative (New Mexico): Rural electric cooperative serving parts of northeastern New Mexico with member-owned distribution model and Tri-State wholesale supply overlap.

Emerging players

• NEXTLink Internet: Rural-focused broadband provider operating in parts of New Mexico and adjacent states. Overlaps with CDEC's Red Bolt Broadband service territory and represents competitive pressure for remaining unserved premises in CDEC's footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CDECoop
• Facebookfacebook.com/Continental.Divide.Electric.Cooperative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/continental-divide-electric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Continental Divide Electric Cooperative