Potential Rate Adjustment Set for Early 2026
High West Energy will be evaluating and potentially implementing a rate adjustment in early 2026 as part of our ongoing commitment to providing our members with reliable and safe energy and services. While we have done our best to avoid retail rate adjustments for the last nine years, we are now facing another rate adjustment from our power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.
As a reminder, we are proud to have absorbed a 6% rate adjustment in 2024 from Tri-State and were financially able to not pass it on to our members. However, ongoing increases in power supply and industry costs may require High West Energy to implement a rate adjustment to ensure reliable service for our members.
Industry costs have continued to rise due to growing electricity demand, supply chain challenges, material shortages, and continually increasing labor expenses, among others (see infographics from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association below). These costs will only continue to rise, and this is forcing electric utilities to also adjust their costs.
While it is easy to look at this in a negative aspect, we do need to recognize the importance of rate adjustments. Rate adjustments ensure utilities can continue strengthening the grid to minimize outages, while modernizing and upgrading infrastructure. Additionally, it allows utilities to pursue projects that benefit its members and support safe, reliable service.
With every financial decision we make, we consider how we are spending our members' money and if the cost is beneficial for our members. We have continued to focus on reallocating costs to be as reasonable as possible while maintaining excellent reliability metrics. With rising costs across the industry, we've emphasized cost-effective strategies such as developing plans to install fiber optics between critical system communication points, improving workflow efficiency, maximizing the tools offered by our software provider to reduce additional expenses, among other efforts. In addition, we continue to utilize load growth and low-risk opportunities to pass those benefits along to you.
High West Energy offers various resources, such as rebates for acquiring energy-efficient appliances and tools. Rebate information is provided on our website. There are also many local organizations that are available to assist if required. If you would like more information about these programs or organizations, please contact our office.
While these circumstances are not ideal, we hope that early communication about a potential rate adjustment will not only help you prepare but will also provide an understanding of why a rate adjustment may be necessary. Further communication about this will be provided in the following months to keep our members informed throughout this process. Please feel free to contact our office if you have any questions.
2026 Scholarships Now Open
Education powers communities just like electricity does, and we are proud to announce that our 2026 scholarship program is now open for high school seniors and college students. Not interested in going to college? Well, we also have scholarships for students interested in line work. Over the past few years, we've proudly awarded $10,000 each year in scholarships to students who are dependents of High West Energy members. The average cost of college tuition per year is almost $30,000, and trade school tuition can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the type of program and length of the program. Scholarships not only help cover part of the cost of college, but they also ease the stress of pursuing higher education or trade school. Our scholarship program exists to simply give back to our devoted members and their families. We believe that investing in education, whether in the classroom or in the field, helps build brighter futures and stronger communities. Together, we're powering opportunity for the next generation.
Where do I begin?
Our application process is super simple! Head to www.highwest.coop or click the links below for the fillable web form. There are no paper applications. With the application, you will need to submit two recommendation letters, as well as any supporting documents, like a resumé. Please note that our website does not save your progress in the application, so have all supporting documents ready to go before you begin the fillable form.
2026 General Scholarship Program Application | High West Energy Cooperative.
2026 Line Worker Scholarship Program Application | High West Energy Cooperative.
2026 Scholarship Recommendation Letters | High West Energy Cooperative.
When are scholarships due?
Scholarships are due on Monday, February 2, 2026, by 5 PM.
What does the process look like?
Once applications are turned in, each application is sent to a panel of judges outside of High West Energy. The judges panel has about three weeks to review and score each application. All scholarship applicants will be notified of their selection status by mail in March 2026. Recipients will be highlighted at our annual meeting as well as in printed materials.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact our office or email scholarships@highwest.coop. We want to be part of your success, so any questions are welcome!
Youth Tour 2026 Applications DUE SOON!
Every generation leaves behind a legacy, footprints that shape the future. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour is your chance to do the same. For over 60 years, electric cooperatives have sent high school students to Washington, D.C., to discover their voice, step into history, and begin writing the story only they can tell.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience isn’t just about seeing the nation’s capital. It’s about preparing students to lead, to grow, and to make their mark on the world.
What’s in it for students?
Delegates from Wyoming will join more than 1,800 students from across the country in Washington, D.C., June 15-21, 2026. During the trip, students will:
- Develop leadership skills through hands-on experiences and workshops
- Strengthen their resumes with a nationally recognized program that stands out to colleges and employers
- Connect with peers from 44 states, building friendships that last long after the trip
- Meet with elected officials and learn how government impacts their communities
- Experience history up close by visiting world-class museums and monuments
- Learn about cooperatives and how they support rural communities across America
The best part? Expenses, including lodging, meals, and program costs, are covered by High West Energy. The only part we ask for help with is transportation to the Wyoming Rural Electric Association (WREA) and picking up your student from there when they return. The program is coordinated by WREA and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
Don’t Let This Opportunity Pass By
Applications for Youth Tour are now open and are due to WREA by Friday, December 19th. If you know a high school student who is ready to grow as a leader and take the next step in their journey, encourage them to apply today.
For further details and the application, click this link!
