Tri-State paid 2008 property taxes of $23.3 million in multiple states

Property taxes for 2008 amounting to $23.3 million were paid by Tri State Generation and Transmission Association in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nebraska and Arizona, where the Denver based wholesale power supplier owns and operates electric generation and transmission facilities.

In each of the five states, Tri State owns, wholly or in part, various generating stations and transmission lines – which account for the largest portion of taxes paid – as well as other facilities such as substations, microwave towers and telecommunications equipment. In addition, the 44 electric cooperatives and public power districts that receive their electricity from Tri State paid their respective shares of 2008 property taxes.

Rural communities rely heavily on property taxes to provide essential services, including public school and local government operations. Tri-State’s property tax payments provide a stable source of revenue that helps fund rural school districts, counties, towns and special districts ranging from libraries to water districts, ensuring local residents have access to vital services.

Tri State is a consumer owned, not-for-profit cooperative. Its 44 member distribution systems in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Nebraska serve 593,000 meters at residences, farms, ranches, towns, businesses and industries over a 250,000-square-mile area.

In Colorado, Tri State owns 24 percent of Craig Station Units 1 and 2, and 100 percent of Unit 3. It also owns the Nucla Station, combustion turbine plants in eastern Colorado and administrative offices and an operations center in the Denver metro area. A total of $12.5 million in taxes was paid in the state. In New Mexico, where the association owns and operates the Escalante Generating Station and owns 8.2 percent of the San Juan Generating Station, $3.9 million in property taxes was paid.

In Wyoming, it owns 24 percent of the three unit Laramie River Station and paid $1.3 million in taxes; in Nebraska, where Tri State owns the David A. Hamil DC Tie near Stegall and various transmission facilities, property taxes totaled approximately $250,000; and in Arizona, where it is the sole lessee of Unit 3 of the Springerville Generating Station, it paid $5.4 million.

For Tri-State to keep pace with the growing demand for electricity from throughout its membership, the association will continue to invest in rural communities with the development of generation and transmission assets. As part of its ongoing resource planning efforts, Tri-State is analyzing and pursuing a variety of generation alternatives, including renewable resource energy, natural gas-based power and a number of baseload facility options. Any new facilities will significantly increase future property tax payments to rural schools, governments and special districts.

Updated: May 14, 2009