By Dianna Troyer Freedom and patriotism are personal family matters for newly elected Elko County Commissioner Wilde Brough. “My dad fought in World War II for three years and survived several amphibious landings,” says the 67-year-old Clover Valley rancher. He represents District 1 on the five-member commission. Wilde was elected last fall to a four-year […]
As a member-owned cooperative, one of Wells Rural Electric Company’s (WREC’s) most important tasks is looking down the road and trying to set a path that navigates potential future roadblocks while best preparing members to take advantage of the changing industry. A prominent example is the cooperative’s work on a regional level to ensure the […]
In recent years, solar power technology and adoption have boomed. In many parts of the country, solar panels offer a competitive, viable option for those looking to minimize their environmental impact or lower their monthly bill. Wells Rural Electric Company (WREC) has had a net-metering policy for decades. It allows members to install solar panels […]
Hoping and training for a national championship By Dianna Troyer The mutual adoration is obvious between Fred Aragon and his 5-year-old black Labrador retriever, Aragon Nuevo, as they train for a national competition this fall. In his backyard in Carlin, Fred guides Nuevo—nicknamed Newbie—through a drill to prepare him. “He’s one of the most talented […]
When it comes to member satisfaction, reliability is often the most important factor— even more than cost. Members are often most concerned with the lights coming on when they flip the switch. For Wells Rural Electric Company’s (WREC’s) line crews, reliability is far more than simply reacting as safely and quickly as possible when outages […]
One of the most celebrated differences between cooperatives and investor-owned utilities is the return of excess margins to members in the form of capital credits. This year, the Wells Rural Electric Company (WREC) Board of Directors has approved the return of $365,595 in margins to members living or operating in the cooperative’s service territory. In […]
West Wendover’s new pedestrian-friendly downtown features festive plaza By Dianna Troyer Twenty years ago, West Wendover city leaders envisioned an ideal pedestrian-friendly downtown. Their vision will finally start to become reality this summer due, in part, to an infusion of federal funding designated for communities suffering from the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. In […]
Pioneering system is designed to speed up emergency response times By Dianna Troyer Elko County’s new Next Generation 911 emergency calling system is a pioneer nationwide. When NexGen911 went online in May 2020 at dispatch centers in Elko and West Wendover, it was the first system nationwide to rely on iCloud storage. NextGen911 allows the […]
With the environment—specifically, carbon emissions—attracting so much attention these days, “going green” is no longer simply a matter of new lightbulbs or installing Energy Star-rated appliances. With an ever-growing array of electronic and smart devices filling our lives—not to mention an explosion of electric vehicles filling our roads—the conversation about carbon has expanded to include […]
When Wells Rural Electric Co. takes advantage of advances in technology and the market at the generation point, it means those efficiencies are inherently passed along to you, the member. By Anne Prince If you are like most Americans, you want to save on energy costs and do your part to help the environment. Wouldn’t […]
