The Power of Connections

Rick Meyer, former operations controller, uses the co-op’s outage management system to help dispatch crews to outages.

Service trucks are monitored by GPS, which allows dispatchers to see where crews can most effectively be directed next. That helps limit the time dispatchers spend communicating with service trucks and reduces travel and wait times for members. The cooperative’s service planning technicians also benefit from integrated technology. When new power lines are scheduled to be built, a list of all hardware needed for the job—poles, wire, insulators, nuts, and bolts—is automatically sent to the warehouse so the items can be gathered. Inventory records are automatically adjusted as well. Technology is also used to help Cuivre River Electric determine when the cooperative must proceed with account collections and disconnect efforts. Launch of MyCuivre App The cooperative embraced the growing popularity of smartphones and other mobile devices with the launch of MyCuivre in 2014. The mobile app, which can be downloaded from both the Apple App Store and Google Play, offers one-touch access to fast, secure account information for members who use iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. The app also added a convenient mobile and electronic payment alternative to the other methods of paying bills. Members can view their billing information and account history, set up and manage account alerts and reminders, and receive push notifications on device-friendly screens that help them navigate the same information available through the e-bill payment portal on the website.

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