BULLHEAD CITY, AZ – On Thursday, September 17, Mohave Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MEC) held its 80th Annual Meeting at the Anderson Auto Group Fieldhouse. The gathering brought together hundreds of Cooperative members and guests to celebrate the anniversary of the cooperative’s formation and its long history of bringing electric service to rural areas not served by investor-owned utilities.

During the event, CEO Tyler Carlson presented an overview of MEC’s accomplishments over the past year and offered a glimpse into the Cooperative’s future. Members enjoyed complimentary meals, received tote bags filled with MEC swag, and took the opportunity to visit informational tables featuring TWN Communications, Arizona Generation & Transmission Cooperatives (AzG&T), and Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative (GCSECA). MEC staff also shared details on the MEC UAV Drone Program, the SmartHub(r) app, and the Outage Management System.

In accordance with the Cooperative’s bylaws, the annual meeting offered members the chance to learn more about MEC’s operations, ongoing initiatives, and future plans. Board President Joe Anderson introduced the nine member-elected Directors who make up the MEC Board of Directors, as well as Cooperative guests and representatives in attendance. Anderson also announced CEO Carlson’s upcoming retirement. Carlson, who has served MEC for 18 years—including 16 years as CEO—will retire in February 2027, marking the conclusion of a tenure noted for significant advancements in reliability, infrastructure, technology, and efforts to keep electricity affordable for MEC members.

During his presentation, Carlson highlighted that MEC currently has the lowest overall residential and large commercial rates in the state. Anderson recognized Carlson’s leadership, stating, “I’ve seen firsthand his wit, his grit, – and anyone who knows Tyler will appreciate this one – his tenacity. When Tyler believes something is right for this Cooperative and its members, he doesn’t hesitate. And Mohave Electric is stronger today because of it.”

Carlson also addressed MEC’s approach to large electrical loads, such as data centers. He explained that MEC treats all large load requests equally and is obligated to serve any request within its certificated area. “We have an obligation to serve within our certificated area. We were given a specific certificated area that we solely serve, and the obligation is to serve all loads in that area. We have to offer service even at times specific to electric challenges and risks that load presents. The bottom line is that we will always offer some form of service, regardless of public outcry,” Carlson stated.

He further discussed the need for proper vetting of land use projects, including data centers. “The social media frenzy against data centers didn’t begin out of thin air…but there are definitely lessons learned from the past and protective measures that can be implemented to make projects valuable to communities without costing existing ratepayers money,” Carlson added. MEC has proactively developed measures to protect members from incurring costs associated with large load projects. This effort led to the introduction of a Bylaw amendment for a Class B Membership for large loads, which MEC later presented to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) for review and approval.

Reflecting on MEC’s mission and legacy, Carlson said, “I’m proud of what MEC’s employees, Board of Directors and members have accomplished together, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served this Cooperative. There is a lot to be excited about as MEC looks toward the future, and I’m confident the Cooperative is well positioned to continue providing reliable service to its members.”

Earlier in the week, MEC hosted district meetings that allowed members to participate in the Cooperative’s governance and district elections. By acclamation, members recommended that Tracy Weisz (District 1), Joe Solar (District 2), and Joe Anderson (District 3) continue to serve on the MEC Board of Directors for three-year terms. CEO Carlson concluded the meeting by congratulating the board members and inviting any members who missed the event to attend next year.

Founded in 1946, MEC is a not-for-profit utility providing reliable, cost-effective power to 39,135 members across 46,322 meters and more than 1,637 miles of line spanning from Bullhead City to Topock on the west, Hualapai to Burro Creek to the south, and Nelson to the east.