Navopache Electric Cooperative

What Navopache Electric Cooperative does

Navopache Electric Cooperative (NEC) is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative founded in 1946, headquartered in Lakeside, Arizona, and operating across northeastern Arizona and western New Mexico. The cooperative distributes electricity to 45,473 meters serving 37,881 member-owners across 3,616 miles of power line, organized into 8 governance districts with locally elected directors. Its product set centers on regulated electric distribution under separate Arizona and New Mexico rate tariffs, with usage-based pricing for residential, commercial, industrial, irrigation, and street lighting customer classes, plus time-of-use, levelized billing, and prepaid billing options.

NEC's underlying technology includes an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program, a GIS mapping system used for engineering, operations, and facility management, and the SmartHub member portal with native iOS and Android applications for account management, bill payment, and usage monitoring. The cooperative's business model is non-profit and member-funded: revenue comes from monthly electricity rates set under state tariffs, and any operating margin is returned to members as capital credits rather than paid to external shareholders. Members also participate in the Co-op Connections discount program via Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, Operation Round Up charitable giving, and annual scholarships and the Washington DC Youth Tour.

NEC's go-to-market is community-led: service is delivered through the Lakeside headquarters, four area offices (Overgaard, Springerville, St Johns in Arizona, and Reserve in New Mexico), physical payment kiosks, and the SmartHub digital channel, with board governance anchored in member elections. Recent strategic activity includes the 2025 dedication of a new Lakeside headquarters building, the ongoing New Mexico AMI rollout under VP of Engineering Garth Turley, the announced retirement of long-tenured CEO Chuck Moore, and continued board renewal including new district directors appointed in 2021, 2023, and 2025.

Name

Navopache Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Navopache Electric Cooperative

Website

https://navopache.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Navopache Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative founded in 1946, serving 37,881 members across 45,473 meters and 3,616 miles of line in rural northeastern Arizona and western New Mexico under regulated state tariffs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

High-Voltage Electrical Systems (Switchgear, Transformers, Protection & Control) (EUAEAFAA)

Keywords

• Electric distribution services
• Rural electric cooperative
• Membership utility services
• Electric power delivery
• Cooperative electricity supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakeside

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electricity Distribution: Regulated electric distribution services to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural members across Arizona and New Mexico service territories. Revenue generated through monthly electricity rates based on consumption and applicable tariff schedules.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Navopache Electric Cooperative (NEC) is a member-owned electric utility cooperative that distributes electricity across 3,616 miles of power line to 45,473 meters serving 37,881 member-owners in northeastern Arizona and western New Mexico. It offers multiple rate programs (residential, commercial, industrial, irrigation, street lighting, time-of-use), billing options (prepaid, levelized, standard), and member benefit programs including capital credits, operation round up, and Co-op Connections discounts.

Product overview

Navopache Electric Cooperative (NEC) is a member-owned electric utility cooperative providing electricity distribution services. The company operates a single unified platform model with SmartHub as the primary member-facing digital service for account management, combined with various billing options (Prepaid, Levelized Billing) and member benefit programs (Capital Credits, Operation Round Up, Co-op Connections). Service offerings include electric distribution, construction services, tree trimming, and rate programs across northeastern Arizona and western New Mexico.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Co-op Connections: A FREE member benefit program providing discounts on products and services from local and national businesses, offered through Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Core electric distribution service delivering electricity to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and irrigation members across 45,473 meters and 3,616 miles of power line in Arizona and New Mexico.
• SmartHub Member Portal

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Touchstone Energy CooperativescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational cooperative brand partnership providing member benefits program (Co-op Connections), marketing branding, and cooperative network resources. NEC is a member of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives providing access to national discount programs and shared marketing resources.
• Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState association representing Arizona electric cooperatives. NEC CEO Chuck Moore serves on the Board of Directors since March 2012 and recently completed his term as president.
• Western United Electric Supply CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupply corporation based in Colorado. NEC CEO represents Arizona member cooperatives on the Board of Directors since January 2015.
• Federated Rural Electric Insurance ExchangeminorOthersInsurance exchange for rural electric cooperatives. NEC CEO served on the Board of Directors from February 2015 to June 2024, representing Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trico Electric Cooperative: Arizona member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving Tucson metro and surrounding rural areas. Directly comparable as an Arizona-based electric cooperative with AMI, member programs, and similar GTM.
• Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative: Arizona member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving southeastern Arizona including Sierra Vista. Closely comparable in cooperative structure, rural Arizona territory, and member-owned billing models.
• Duncan Valley Electric Cooperative: Small Arizona electric cooperative serving the Duncan/Greenlee County area. Direct peer in rural Arizona distribution, member-owned cooperative structure, and Touchstone Energy affiliation.
• Graham County Electric Cooperative: Arizona electric cooperative serving Graham and Gila Counties in eastern Arizona. Direct geographic and structural peer to NEC with overlapping eastern Arizona service territory.
• Mohave Electric Cooperative: Arizona member-owned electric cooperative serving Mohave and Coconino counties in northwestern Arizona. Direct peer in rural Arizona electric distribution with similar member-owned and Touchstone Energy structure.
• Otero County Electric Cooperative: New Mexico member-owned electric cooperative serving Otero County. Direct peer as a Touchstone Energy New Mexico cooperative with similar rural distribution profile.

Broad incumbents

• Arizona Public Service (APS): Largest investor-owned electric utility in Arizona serving much of the state. Broad incumbent operating in the same state regulatory environment and providing comparable electric distribution service, though not member-owned.
• Salt River Project: Arizona public utility providing electric service to the Phoenix metro area and surrounding regions. Broad incumbent in Arizona electricity with generation and distribution capabilities that overlap with NEC's territory at the borders.
• Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM): Investor-owned electric utility serving central and northern New Mexico. Broad incumbent that operates in the same New Mexico regulatory framework as NEC's New Mexico service area.
• Tucson Electric Power: Investor-owned electric utility serving Tucson and southern Arizona. Broad incumbent comparable to NEC in Arizona electric distribution regulatory environment and customer base type.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nec_lakesideaz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Navopache Electric Cooperative