Rooted in Reliability: Investing in the System That Serves You

By Ruth Marks, MVEA CEO | February 2026 CEO Article

At Mountain View Electric Association, reliability isn’t just part of a slogan; it’s a responsibility we proudly carry every day. For 85 years, our mission has been to provide safe, reliable electricity to the communities we serve. As our system continues to grow and change, that responsibility calls for thoughtful investment in the infrastructure, technology, and people who keep your power on today while preparing us for the future.

Behind every light switch is a vast network spanning more than 6,500 miles of energized line across a 5,000-square-mile service territory. That system includes more than 95,000 poles, 25 substations, and thousands of pieces of equipment that must be inspected, maintained, and upgraded to operate safely and reliably. Much of this infrastructure was built decades ago, and proactive reinvestment helps extend its life, reduce outages, and restore power more quickly when disruptions occur.

Those investments are making a meaningful difference. In the past year, MVEA crews patrolled more than 1,600 miles of distribution line and 127 miles of transmission line. We achieved a System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) of just 29.94 minutes, well below the most recently reported national average of 126 minutes. Most importantly, in a profession that requires crews to work around high-voltage electricity and in all types of weather, our continued focus on safety resulted in zero lost-time accidents and zero preventable vehicle accidents.

Reliability also means planning ahead. As more members connect to the system and electricity use continues to rise, the grid must be ready to support that growth. Last year alone, we connected more than 1,500 new members and answered over 62,000 member calls, reinforcing that our work is ultimately about serving people and communities.

Technology plays an important role in that effort. Investments in system monitoring, automated controls, advanced software, and drones allow us to spot issues sooner, restore power more efficiently, and reduce risks for crews working in the field. Our fiber broadband expansion, now more than 50% complete, not only brings high-speed internet access to members but also strengthens grid operations by supporting advanced reliability and wildfire mitigation technologies.

Every upgrade we make is guided by a long-term strategy focused on safety, reliability, affordability, and service. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, we don’t invest for shareholders; we invest for you, our members. These improvements may not always be visible, but they matter every time you flip a switch, weather a storm, or count on power being there when you need it.

From pursuing federal grants to offset system improvement costs to launching programs that help members save energy and money, our dedication to this cooperative and the communities it serves remains at the heart of every decision we make. Thank you for trusting us to power your homes, businesses, and daily lives.