DENVER & TAOS, N.M. – November 9, 2026 – Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) has the second-lowest residential monthly service charge among 19 New Mexico electric cooperatives, according to a statewide rate comparison reviewed October 23, 2026. KCEC has not raised its base electric rates since 2016, even as operating costs went up over the last decade.
Since 2016, KCEC has reached 100% daytime solar. It has also grown its local renewable portfolio to about 51 MW of solar generation and 25 MW of battery storage, and it has invested in grid modernization, wildfire mitigation and reliability. KCEC did all of this while costs for transformers, poles, equipment, labor and fuel kept rising.
KCEC says a large part of that progress comes from its decision to leave its previous wholesale provider and partner with Guzman Energy. The partnership has given the cooperative more flexibility to diversify its resources, expand local renewable generation, and pursue energy solutions built for northern New Mexico. KCEC reports that its current residential rates are lower than they were under its previous wholesale arrangement.
“Guzman Energy exists to serve communities that want real agency over their power, their costs, and their future. Kit Carson showed us what that looks like in practice,” said Chris Miller, CEO of Guzman Energy, speaking at the 2026 KCEC Annual Meeting.
“While the cost of operating an electric utility continues to increase, we have maintained our base rates since 2016, achieved 100% daytime solar, expanded local power generation, and made significant investments in reliability and wildfire protection,” said Luis A. Reyes Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. “We have not stood still to keep rates affordable. We have continued moving forward, building a stronger energy future for the communities we serve.”
KCEC serves rural villages, Pueblo communities, mountain towns, and remote areas across Taos, Colfax and Rio Arriba counties. Keeping thousands of miles of line running across that terrain takes constant investment.
About Kit Carson Electric Cooperative
Formed in 1944, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative in northern New Mexico and the second-largest cooperative in the state. KCEC serves members in Taos, Colfax and Rio Arriba counties. To learn more, visit www.kitcarson.com.
About Guzman Energy
Guzman Energy is a full-service wholesale power provider dedicated to communities and organizations in search of reliable energy at predictable costs. The company partners with cooperatives, municipalities, companies, and tribes across North America to customize power supply solutions that are transparent with price predictability.
