Arizona G&T Cooperatives

What Arizona G&T Cooperatives does

Arizona G&T Cooperatives (AzGT) is a not-for-profit, member-owned generation and transmission (G&T) electric cooperative headquartered in Benson, Arizona, operating through two subsidiaries: Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) and Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services. AEPCO owns and operates the Apache Generating Station near Cochise, Arizona — a combined-cycle natural gas facility with roughly 605–625 MW of gross generating capacity — along with more than 866 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and 36 substations. Sierra Southwest develops utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects for member cooperatives, including the 20 MW Apache Solar project (co-located with the gas plant) and the SunAnza projects in California. The cooperative's physical asset base is being transformed by a $485 million USDA New ERA grant awarded in January 2025, which will fund 730 MW of new solar, 2,910 MWh of battery storage, and the retirement of all remaining coal assets by 2028, targeting a ~70% emissions reduction.

AzGT's business model is wholesale and member-centric: revenue is generated through long-term take-or-pay power supply contracts with six Class A member distribution cooperatives (Duncan Valley EC, Graham County EC, Mohave EC, Sulphur Springs Valley EC, Trico EC, and Anza EC) that collectively serve more than 161,000 electric meters and 420,000 end consumers across Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Five additional Class D energy services members (including CAWCD, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, SWPPA, and Valley Electric Association) purchase scheduling, trading, and energy management services coordinated through the ACES West Regional Trading Center hosted on the Benson campus. As a not-for-profit cooperative, any surplus is reinvested in infrastructure or returned to members; pricing is contractually negotiated and not publicly disclosed. Governance is exercised through a board elected by the member cooperatives, and the enterprise is supported by CoBank financing, NRECA/GCSECA/Touchstone Energy trade affiliations, and a $540M+ cumulative federal grant pipeline.

The customer base is essentially captive: the six Class A members are simultaneously owners, customers, and ultimate financial guarantors. This structure, combined with the regulatory access to USDA Rural Utilities Service financing, an A/A stable credit rating from Fitch and S&P, and a 2.3x regional job multiplier, defines AzGT's competitive moat. The cooperative's forward strategy is dominated by a multi-year capital deployment cycle (New ERA + Sierra Southwest USDA funds) that will materially expand its renewable generation and storage footprint, retire coal entirely by 2028, and deepen BESS integrations with member distribution systems.

Name

Arizona G&T Cooperatives

Legal name

Arizona G&T Cooperatives

Website

https://azgt.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Arizona G&T Cooperatives is a not-for-profit, member-owned generation and transmission cooperative that operates the 605+ MW Apache Generating Station and 866+ miles of transmission lines, supplying wholesale power to six Class A member distribution cooperatives and energy services to five Class D members across Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Electric Power Generation and Transmission

NAICS

Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Generation (22111)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Wholesale electric power
• Generation transmission services
• Renewable energy development
• Rural electric cooperatives
• Energy trading scheduling

Headquarters

HQ city

Benson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Electric Power Sales: AEPCO generates and transmits electric power to member distribution cooperatives and public power utilities across Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Revenue is generated through wholesale power sales under long-term take-or-pay contracts with member cooperatives. As a not-for-profit cooperative, revenues are used to cover operating costs and fund capital improvements.
2. Renewable Energy and Energy Services: Sierra Southwest develops and deploys renewable energy projects (solar, battery storage) for member cooperatives, maximizing solar and renewable tax credits through cooperative lenders. Revenue from these services supports diversification of member power portfolios.
3. Energy Trading and Scheduling Services: AEPCO serves Class D energy services members (scheduling and trading customers) including CAWCD, Lincoln County Power District #1, Metropolitan Water District of SCA, SWPPA, and Valley Electric Association. ACES provides energy management, trading, and market services through the West Regional Trading Center hosted at the Benson campus.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Arizona G&T Cooperatives is a not-for-profit generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative that generates, transmits, and markets wholesale electric power to its 6 member-owned distribution cooperatives and 5 energy services members across Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Through its operating entities AEPCO and Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services, the cooperative operates the 605-625 MW Apache Generating Station, 866+ miles of transmission infrastructure, and develops renewable solar and battery storage projects to serve 161,000+ electric meters and 420,000 people.

Product overview

Arizona G&T Cooperatives operates as a not-for-profit generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative providing wholesale electric power to member distribution cooperatives. The organization comprises two operating entities: Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO), which owns and operates the 625 MW Apache Generating Station natural gas power plant and approximately 866 miles of transmission infrastructure serving 161,000+ meters across Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico; and Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services, which focuses on renewable energy development including the 20 MW Apache Solar project and the SunAnza solar-plus-storage project. Services include power generation, transmission, renewable energy, and energy trading/scheduling for rural electric cooperatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Apache Generating Station 625 MW combined gross natural gas-fired power plant located at Cochise, east of Benson, Arizona, providing wholesale power to over 161,000 electric meters serving 420,000 people across Arizona, California, and New Mexico through 6 Class A member distribution cooperatives.
• Transmission Services Ownership, operation and maintenance of approximately 866 miles of electric power transmission lines and 36 substations providing wholesale power from Apache Generating Station to member distribution cooperatives across Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Includes 30+ telecommunications towers for phone and data relay services.
• Energy Services Wholesale power and energy services including energy trading, scheduling, portfolio management, and market access for utilities in the Southwest region. Services coordinated through the ACES West Regional Trading Center hosted at the Benson campus.
• Apache Solar Project 20 MW utility-scale solar project located on AEPCO property adjacent to Apache Generating Station, co-located with fossil generation for hybrid dispatch and improved reliability.
• SunAnza Solar Project Utility-scale solar project including SunAnza Phase I (2 MW solar array) and SunAnza Phase II (1.4 MW solar array with battery storage system) on property owned by Anza Electric Cooperative in Anza, California.
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for Member Cooperatives Deployed BESS for Trico Electric Cooperative and Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, plus Anza Electric Cooperative, to improve electric reliability. Includes the Anza storage project developed after the 2018 Cranston Fire destroyed two miles of transmission line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 420,000 people served through 161,000+ electric meters across Arizona, California, and New Mexico
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACES (American Cooperative Energy Services) / ACES West Regional Trading CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019AEPCO is a Member/owner of ACES, a nationwide energy management company that helps members and customers buy, sell, and manage energy more efficiently and with less risk. The AEPCO/AzGT Benson campus hosts the ACES West Regional Trading Center (WRTC), which benefits AEPCO/AzGT members and customers. ACES helps AzGT source energy on the market during supply constraints, as demonstrated during the August 2020 heat wave.
• Grand Canyon State Electrical Cooperative Association (GCSECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCSECA represents Arizona's electric cooperatives at the local, state, regional, and federal level. AzGT CEO Patrick Ledger serves as chair of GCSECA's Legislative and Government Relations Committee. GCSECA organizes advocacy, training, and community events. GCSECA awarded Congressman Ciscomani the 2024 Cooperative Champion Award.
• Touchstone EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouchstone Energy is a strategic communications cooperative serving about 700 of the nation's not-for-profit rural electric co-ops. Geoff Oldfather (AzGT communications and PR manager) was elected to serve his third term on the Touchstone Energy Board of Directors. Touchstone Energy sponsored the Community Wellness Through Community Partnership webinar featuring AzGT.
• Anza Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnza EC partnered with AzGT to assess feasibility and cost of a battery storage project to improve electric reliability after the devastating Cranston Fire destroyed two miles of transmission line in July 2018. AzGT provided financial and technical assistance on the project, which was presented at NRECA's annual meeting. Anza EC hosts SunAnza Phase I (2 MW) and Phase II (1.35 MW + battery storage) solar projects on its property. The collaboration was cited by NRECA as an example of innovative G&T-distribution co-op partnerships.
• Chiricahua Community Health Centers Inc. (CCHCI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAzGT and SSVEC co-sponsored free COVID-19 testing events at communities throughout Cochise County (Willcox, Sierra Vista, Benson). AzGT and SSVEC jointly donated $15,000 to fund three testing events after CCHCI ran out of its own funding. AzGT and CoBank also funded a permanent power connection for the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile at CCHCI's Benson clinic.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRECA is the national trade association representing America's electric cooperatives. AzGT participates in NRECA programs including Co-ops Vote (5 Star status), annual meetings where AzGT executives present case studies (e.g., Anza battery storage partnership, community wellness programs), and cooperative education and training initiatives.
• Sierra Southwest Cooperative ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSierra Southwest Cooperative Services (Sierra), together with AEPCO, forms Arizona G&T Cooperatives. Sierra serves as the vehicle to develop renewable energy projects for member cooperatives and maximize solar and other renewable tax credits through cooperative lenders. Sierra has deployed BESS for Trico EC and SSVEC, and initiated Apache Solar (20 MW), SunAnza Phase I (2 MW), and SunAnza Phase II (1.35 MW + storage) projects.
• Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)coreTechnology or IntegrationWAPA is AEPCO's Balancing Authority. AzGT exchanges SCADA data with WAPA through a critical communications site on Mt. Lemmon. During the Bighorn Fire, AzGT's Dallon Lines successfully re-routed critical WAPA/AzGT communications data from the threatened Mt. Lemmon site to an alternate DS3 path, preventing loss of critical infrastructure data. WAPA's CEO Mark Gabriel sent a letter of thanks to AzGT for this effort.
• U.S. Senator Kyrsten SinemaminorOthersSenator Sinema introduced bipartisan legislation (with Senator John Hoeven, R-ND) to allow rural electric co-ops to refinance USDA Rural Utilities Service loans to lower market rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sinema's legislation would provide immediate financial relief for Arizona's rural electric cooperatives and translate to ratepayer savings. Sinema also advocated for rural electric co-op eligibility for Paycheck Protection Program loans.
• U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-North Dakota)minorOthersSenator Hoeven co-sponsored bipartisan legislation with Senator Sinema to allow rural electric cooperatives to refinance USDA Rural Utilities Service loans without penalty during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing financial relief and freeing up capital for rural communities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Basin Electric Power Cooperative: One of the largest generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives in the U.S., serving member distribution co-ops across multiple states — directly comparable in structure, ownership model, and wholesale generation business to Arizona G&T Cooperatives.
• Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association: Member-owned G&T cooperative supplying wholesale power to distribution co-ops across the western U.S. — directly comparable G&T cooperative structure with generation mix and transmission services similar to AzGT.
• Minnkota Power Cooperative: Regional generation and transmission cooperative serving distribution members across the Upper Midwest — closely mirrors AzGT's member-owned wholesale generation and transmission business model.
• Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. Generation and transmission cooperative serving distribution co-ops in Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas — directly comparable member-owned G&T business serving rural America.
• Seminole Electric Cooperative: Generation and transmission cooperative providing wholesale power to member distribution co-ops in Florida — closely comparable G&T cooperative structure and scale to AzGT.
• PowerSouth Energy Cooperative: Generation and transmission cooperative serving member distribution systems in Alabama and Northwest Florida — directly comparable in member-owned wholesale power and transmission model.
• Nebraska Public Power District: Public-power generation and transmission utility serving wholesale and retail load in Nebraska — comparable as a vertically-integrated wholesale generation/transmission operator even though not cooperative-owned.

Others

• Western Area Power Administration (WAPA): Federal power marketing administration that acts as AzGT's Balancing Authority and operates transmission across the West — directly comparable as a regional transmission operator and AzGT's critical operational partner.
• ACES (American Cooperative Energy Services): Nationwide energy management and trading cooperative in which AEPCO holds membership, hosting its West Regional Trading Center — comparable as an energy trading/scheduling services provider and AzGT's strategic partner.

Regional players

• Salt River Project (SRP): Arizona-based electric utility operating generation, transmission, and distribution in central Arizona — comparable as a regional Arizona utility competitor and counterparty, though structured differently (irrigation district vs. cooperative).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AZGandTCoops
• Facebookfacebook.com/AZGandTCoops
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arizona-generation-and-transmission-cooperatives
• Instagraminstagram.com/azgtcoops

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Arizona G&T Cooperatives