San Isabel Electric Association

What San Isabel Electric Association does

San Isabel Electric Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative founded in 1938 in Beulah, Colorado, and headquartered in Pueblo West. It distributes electricity across 4,600 miles of line to approximately 20,000 members and 26,000 meters across seven territory-districts in southern Colorado, selling 439.3 million kWh through 2023. The cooperative purchases 97% of its power from Tri-State Generation & Transmission and all energy from the 8 MW Huerfano River Wind farm, with 35% of electricity sourced from renewables. Operations are supported by 75 employees across three area offices (Pueblo West, Walsenburg, Trinidad) and the SmartHub account management platform.

The cooperative's core product is electricity distribution under multiple rate plans — Classic Fixed Rate, ETS Time-of-Day, Off-Peak Plus, and Budget Billing — with a $35 monthly grid access fee. Beyond commodity distribution, San Isabel Electric operates the Empower program, an integrated energy efficiency offering that bundles hardware sales (ETS heaters, QuietCool fans, insulation, water heaters, HVLS fans, forced air heaters, heat pumps), on-bill financing (0% for 12 months up to $12,000), and rebates across 40+ qualifying products. It also supports member-owned solar net metering, Renewable Energy Credits, the Shift to Save demand response portfolio (smart thermostats, battery storage, EV charger rebates), and public ChargePoint EV charging at the Pueblo West Library.

Revenue flows from electricity sales (usage-based kWh charges), grid access fees (subscription), capital credit returns to members (cost-of-service, not-for-profit margins), and Empower hardware/service revenue. The cooperative pursues no external ownership and returns surpluses to member-owners through capital credits ($37.4 million+ returned through 2023). Member-owners now experience 60% less outage time than a decade prior, reflecting infrastructure investment funded by the cooperative's first ever rate increase in 2020.

Name

San Isabel Electric Association

Legal name

San Isabel Electric Association, Inc.

Website

https://siea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

San Isabel Electric Association is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving approximately 20,000 members across 26,000 meters and 4,600 miles of line in southern Colorado, purchasing power from Tri-State G&T and reselling it under multiple rate plans alongside the Empower energy efficiency program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Electric Distribution Cooperative

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Electric distribution
• Rural electrification
• Cooperative utilities
• Electric service
• Power distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Pueblo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Electricity Sales: San Isabel Electric sells electricity to residential and commercial members through various rate plans including Classic Fixed Rate, ETS Time-of-Day Rate, Off-Peak Plus, and Budget Billing options. Revenue is generated through kWh consumption charges plus grid access fees.
2. Energy Efficiency Products and Services: Sale and installation of energy efficiency products including QuietCool fans, insulation, water heaters, heat pumps, ETS heaters, HVLS fans, and forced air heaters through the Empower program
3. Grid Access Fees: Monthly grid access fee of $35 charged to cover infrastructure maintenance, access to power grid, and operational costs
4. Renewable Energy Credits: Premium program allowing member-owners to offset carbon footprint by paying additional charge based on non-renewable electricity usage (65% of kWh used multiplied by $0.001)
5. Financing Program: On-bill financing for energy efficiency upgrades including 0% for 12 months (up to $12,000), 2% for 24 months, and 5% for 25-120 months terms

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

San Isabel Electric Association is a not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative that delivers electric service to approximately 20,000 members across roughly 4,600 miles of distribution line in rural Southern Colorado, operating 26,000 meters and serving its membership through 75 employees from its Pueblo West, Colorado headquarters.

Product overview

San Isabel Electric Association is a not-for-profit electric cooperative offering a comprehensive suite of energy products and services. The core offering includes electricity distribution and account management via SmartHub, alongside an integrated energy efficiency program called Empower. Empower provides products including Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) heaters, QuietCool whole house fans, insulation, water heaters, Cove heaters, HVLS fans, forced air heaters, and air source heat pumps. The cooperative also offers solar/net metering, a Rebates program covering 40+ products, the InCharge Prepaid Program, Budget Billing, Capital Credits, Renewable Energy Credits, and Shift to Save demand response programs including smart thermostat and battery storage offerings. Members can access EV education and public charging via ChargePoint stations. The portfolio enables members to reduce energy consumption, lower bills, and transition to renewable energy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Member-owners experience 60% less time without electricity compared to a decade ago
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationPower supplier providing 97% of electricity to San Isabel Electric. San Isabel Electric is an electric distribution cooperative that buys power from Tri-State G&T and sells to local member-owners.
• Huerfano River WindcoreTechnology or Integration8 MW wind farm located north of Walsenburg. San Isabel Electric purchases all energy from this local renewable source.
• ChargePointcoreTechnology or IntegrationEV charging station infrastructure provider. San Isabel Electric installed ChargePoint Level 2 and Level 3 chargers at Pueblo West Library.
• Steffes CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer of Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) heaters. San Isabel Electric sells, installs, and provides financing for Steffes ETS products.
• Pueblo County Energy OfficesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Pueblo West Library EV charging station installation.
• Pueblo City-County Library DistrictsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHost partner for Pueblo West Library EV charging station location.
• Pueblo West Metro DistrictsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Pueblo West Library EV charging station installation.
• Bank of the San JuanssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Pueblo West Library EV charging station installation.
• Renewable Energy Owners Coalition of AmericasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Pueblo West Library EV charging station installation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sangre de Cristo Electric Association: A neighboring not-for-profit electric cooperative serving rural members in southern Colorado. Directly comparable in cooperative structure, rural service territory, and member-owned business model, making it the closest peer to SIEA.
• La Plata Electric Association: A Colorado member-owned electric cooperative serving rural southwest Colorado. Comparable in cooperative governance, distribution-only business model, capital credit returns, and Tri-State G&T wholesale supply relationship.
• Mountain Parks Electric: A Colorado electric cooperative serving Grand County and surrounding mountain communities. Similar in rural distribution focus, Tri-State membership, and member-owned capital credit structure to SIEA.
• Holy Cross Energy: A Colorado member-owned electric cooperative serving the Vail Valley and surrounding areas. Comparable in cooperative governance, renewable energy focus, energy efficiency programs, and Tri-State G&T power supply.
• United Power: A larger Colorado member-owned electric cooperative serving communities north and west of Denver. Comparable in cooperative structure, distribution-only operations, member service orientation, and capital credit distributions.
• Yampa Valley Electric Association: A Colorado electric cooperative serving the Yampa Valley in northwest Colorado. Directly comparable in rural cooperative model, member-owned structure, and Tri-State G&T wholesale supply relationship.
• High Plains Power (formerly Poudre Valley REA): A Wyoming electric cooperative serving rural members along the Colorado-Wyoming border. Comparable in rural electric distribution, member-owned cooperative structure, and Tri-State G&T membership.

Others

• Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association: SIEA's wholesale power supplier providing 97% of electricity. A generation and transmission cooperative, not a direct competitor, but a critical upstream partner whose rates and contract terms directly impact SIEA's economics and member service.
• Basin Electric Power Cooperative: A large generation and transmission cooperative serving member coops across the upper Midwest and Western US. Related as a wholesale power supplier to many rural electric cooperatives, providing additional contributions to SIEA's community programs.
• CoBank: A cooperative bank that provides financing to rural electric cooperatives and other agricultural and rural infrastructure entities. Indirectly comparable as a key capital partner for cooperatives with similar business models to SIEA.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sieacoop
• Facebookfacebook.com/SanIsabelElectric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 San Isabel Electric Association