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Lower
Valley Energy began in 1937 as Lower Valley Power & Light, Inc. with just
10 members signed up for this new cooperative. In 1999 when the name
changed to Lower Valley Energy there were over 13,000 members.
As a result of diligent
efforts of many citizens and the Star Valley Power & Light, the town of
Afton had electricity from 1907, but the farmers and rural residents in
the rest of the valley went without this convenience until late in 1938.
Congress passed the Rural Electrification Act in 1937, allowing
cooperatives to borrow from the government to help rural areas to have
electrical power. Lower Valley Power & Light, Inc. was established and
received a mortgage note in the amount of $145,000 at 2.77 percent
interest per annum from REA.
More and more members signed
up with this new cooperative. A generating plant was built, power lines
were constructed and members started wiring and plumbing their homes in
anticipation of electricity coming.
On November 12, 1938 the new
plant and lines were energized. This was the day that had long been
awaited, when 287 members started to receive electric service. The
celebration was held in Freedom, Wyoming, the location of Lower Valley's
first office.
By the end of
1951 practically every farm and home in Star Valley, as well as Swan
Valley and Irwin were receiving electricity service, and continued to add
new members and new services.
The next few
years saw many miles of power lines constructed into areas like Greys Lake
and Swan Valley in Idaho. A new generating plant was built on Strawberry
Creek, near Bedford, Wyoming. The cost of the plant was approximately
$590,000 and was one of the most modern plants in the West. On January 21,
1951, the Strawberry Plant was energized.
In 1952 LVP&L
purchased Jackson Light and Power and Star Valley Power & Light Co.,
dissolving the two private companies. Their customers began receiving
electric service from Lower Valley Power & Light, Inc., which now served
virtually the entire northwestern area of Wyoming and parts of Idaho.
With continued
growth and based on the number of people served in Star Valley, the
company moved the main office to Afton, Wyoming in 1954.
From 1938 to 1965 much
progress was made. The members served increased from 287 to 4,450. The
average KWH consumption increased from 76 in 1941 to 864 per consumer per
month in 1965. The net KWH generated and purchased increased from 540,536
to 50,556,484 per year. The net worth of Lower Valley Power and Light,
Inc. in 1965 was $5,489,032.
During this
growth period, the service area was divided into five districts for
director representation. The terms of office were to be staggered in order
to have directors held over each year. A new modern office building was
construction in Afton complete with a warehouse, and a new office building
was also built in Jackson to handle accounts in the Jackson Hole area. In
1962, LVP&L started paying Patronage Capital Credit refunds to its
members.
The accomplishment of
bringing electricity to all Star Valley and Jackson homes, businesses,
farms and industries was a major factor in the progress and growth of the
valley and its communities, bringing practically an entire new way of life
to the people who chose to make their homes in this rural part of the
country. Residents have felt a keen appreciation for the efforts of local
men who willingly gave their time and means to bring about this modern
miracle.
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