Lower Valley Energy (LVE) Welcomes a New CEO

Posted: December 5, 2025

December 5, 2025 (Afton, WY) – To LVE members,

The Board of Directors has selected Bear Prairie as the next CEO of LVE, effective as of January 26, 2026. Jim Webb will continue as CEO through the transition.

This decision was made after a nationwide search and careful deliberation, with explicit attention on continuing LVE’s success in achieving its mission of safe, reliable, low-cost electricity and natural gas for its members, as well as ensuring that LVE remains a productive, supportive, learning organization for its employees.

With over 25 years of experience in the energy and broadband sector, Prairie brings deep expertise in utility leadership, power markets, and infrastructure development. He worked at Idaho Falls Power (IFP) for fifteen years, half of that time as its General Manager, where he led 92 employees and an annual budget of $120+MM. Similar to LVE, IFP receives much of its electricity supply from Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Prairie is a well-known leader and voice for electric consumers with BPA and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Prior to IFP, Prairie worked for various energy companies in Idaho for 12 years. He has a clear passion for the cooperative model and the mission of member-owned non-profit utilities.

This scheduled transition is bittersweet. Jim Webb has worked at LVE for 36 years and as its President/CEO for the last 31 years, with incredible results: a team of employees who excel every day to serve the community; a great record of safety for employees and members; improving reliability for the delivery of electricity and natural gas, even during severe weather conditions; and the lowest price of cooperative residential electricity in the nation for 13 of the last 15 years.

The Board is confident in Prairie’s ability to generate even more success for the employees and members of LVE.

Signed,

Dan Dockstader – Chair

Ted Ladd – Vice Chair

Ray Elser – Secretary and Treasurer

Bob McLaurin

Max Moran

Devin Simpson

Nancy Winters