DMEA Offices Closed to the Public in Response to Increased Number of COVID-19 Cases

Tentative reopen date scheduled for November 29, 2021

Montrose, Delta, CO, NOVEMBER 4, 2021 - In light of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in our service territory, Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA), and its fiber-internet subsidiary, Elevate Internet, are taking the following steps to help safeguard employees and consumers. Effective today, DMEA and Elevate offices are closed to the public. While no walk-in traffic is permitted, employees are on-site to continue providing all essential services. We are committed to working with members and consumers to ensure that everyone has reliable electricity during these uncertain times.

A robust Pandemic Response Team has been in place since March of 2020. This team has continued addressing active and ongoing virus surveillance, workforce protection and management, supply chain management and risks, travel and facility access restrictions, and quarantine measures.

At this time, DMEA and Elevate have implemented the following:

• As stated above, DMEA’s and Elevate’s offices are tentatively closed to the public until November 29, 2021.
• We are actively monitoring virus progression, state and local responses, supplier and supply chain risks, and prevention and containment measures.
• We are communicating best practices for protecting employee health.
• Employees who are ill or have infected family members in their home have been directed to stay home.
• We have systems in place for remote video meetings and use these technologies to reduce face-to-face interactions as needed.
• We have developed a telecommuting procedure that is being enacted as needed to protect our employees further and limit in-person contact.
• We have identified essential staff members whose jobs are crucial to DMEA and Elevate’s continued ability to provide electricity and internet service to our communities. Unless circumstances dictate otherwise, this essential personnel will be available and on-premises for work during a pandemic. In extreme cases, “essential” personnel may be limited and directed to work in rotating shifts to reduce exposure.
• In the event we become too short-staffed to handle the volume of calls received, we will use our automated phone system to notify callers that we are experiencing high call volumes and direct phone traffic as needed.

DMEA and Elevate will continue to serve the communities via the following established systems that allow all necessary services to be conducted online or by phone:

How to pay your bill

Access your account 24/7/365 online:

DMEA - https://dmea.smarthub.coop

Elevate - https://elevatefiber.smarthub.coop

Call our offices and use a secure phone payment system

DMEA – 877-6873632

Elevate – 844-386-8744

Drop your payment off at one of the following places

Montrose

Both City Markets

Safeway

Paonia

Don’s Market

Cedaredge

Cedaredge Mercantile

 DMEA Offices

Outside either local office

Use a self-serve kiosk

Located in the vestibules of each DMEA office and the Hotchkiss Chamber of Commerce Info Booth.

How to report an outage or internet service issue

For electric service issues or to report an outage, call DMEA at 877-687-3632. To report an internet service issue or get in touch with tech support, call Elevate at 844-386-8744.

The board and staff of DMEA and Elevate are taking the COVID-19 threat seriously and are taking any reasonable measures to prepare and mitigate its impact. As the threat of COVID-19 changes daily, DMEA and Elevate’s pandemic response efforts can progress rapidly. For the most current information, please visit www.dmea.com or www.elevateinternet.com.