Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC), Taos NM

KCEC, Guzman and NM Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham at Taos Mesa Solar Array ribbon cutting celebrating 100% daytime solar and energy independence, 6/3/22

KCEC has partnered with Guzman Energy since 2016. KCEC’s goals were to:

  • Stabilize their wholesale cost of power; KCEC’s wholesale rates had been raised at least 10 times over the 12-year period preceding its exit from its legacy G&T supplier.
  • Restore local decision-making and control over power choices like local generation and renewables.
  • Contribute to New Mexico’s statewide objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by the year 2030.
  • Achieve over 70% renewable energy powered by 2028, and ultimately 100% renewable energy powered.

By leaving their legacy G&T cooperative supplier and partnering with Guzman Energy as exclusive wholesale power provider, KCEC has:

  • Saved the KCEC membership an estimated $150-170 million over the Guzman Energy contract lifetime.
  • Stabilized the wholesale cost of power with fixed rates offering price certainty.
  • Planned for or brought online almost 50 MW of local solar power generation along with storage assets whereas they’d previously been limited to 5% local generation of needed supply.
  • Achieved its goal to be 100% daytime solar powered.
  • Become one of the cleanest energy cooperatives in America.

In June of 2022 we became one of the first, if not the first, co-op in the continental United States to hit 100% daytime solar powered. Our daytime energy needs are 100% met from our own local generation resources. At the same time, we’ve stabilized power rates, saved money and maintained reliability. Our partnership with Guzman Energy continues to be vital to achieving our clean power and rate stabilization goals.

Luis A. Reyes Jr., CEO, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative