Powerlines June 2026

Celebrating 10 Years of Elevate Internet

by Jack Johnston, CEO

A decade ago, the idea of bringing fiber internet to our rural communities wasn’t born in a boardroom... it came directly from our members. Some members learned that DMEA was building fiber to connect our substations, and they approached the board with a request: could that same infrastructure be extended to homes and businesses? That question sparked what we now know as Elevate.

What began as a member-driven vision has grown into a transformative network that connects over 18,000 customers across our service territory with fast, reliable, and locally supported internet. Elevate is more than a service—it’s a reflection of our cooperative roots and our commitment to listen, adapt, and deliver.

The impact of fiber connectivity in rural communities is well-documented. A study from the Center for Rural Innovation found that rural counties with high broadband utilization had 213% higher business growth rates, 10% higher self-employment growth rates, 44% higher GDP growth rates, and 18% higher per capita income. We are proud that Elevate has strengthened our communities for the future.

Elevate is a direct result of tremendous teamwork from our dedicated employees.

It required long-term investment, thoughtful planning, and an unwavering belief that rural communities deserve the same opportunities as urban areas. And I’m proud to report that several members have told me their internet is faster and more affordable than that of friends and family in big cities. This dream required a team committed not just to building infrastructure, but to serving our members and beyond. And it required the continued trust and support of our members, who believed in this vision from the very beginning.

As we celebrate Elevate’s 10-year anniversary, we’re proud of what has been accomplished. This milestone belongs to our members. You asked for something better—and together, we built it.

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2026 Scholarship Winners

Baily Blackford, Montrose High School $5,000
Tyler Banulis, Olathe High School $5,000
Maya Cerise, Cedaredge High School $5,000
Avery Kinser, North Fork High School $5,000
Ava Martinez, Delta High School $5,000
Ally Metzger, Montrose High School $5,000
Kaitlyn Moss, Non-trad. High School $5,000
Aneka Price, North Fork High School $5,000
Jhett Ryan, Delta High School $5,000
Shiloh Warthen, Montrose High School $5,000
Lillie Baier, Continuing Education $5,000
Brianna Huff, Continuing Education $5,000
Vivian Messano, Continuing Education $5,000
Hope Stephens, CMU - Montrose $5,000
Gretchen Brumley, CMU - Montrose $5,000
William Hyde, TCR $5,000
Jack Schwartz, TCR $5,000
Donovan Bolton, Guzman Lineworker $5,000
Trevor Piatt, Guzman Lineworker $5,000
Azure Wallace, Guzman Character $5,000
Mason Hall, Guzman Character $5,000

DMEA partners with the Montrose Community Foundation to operate the program and select recipients. Scholarship funding is provided through DMEA's unclaimed capital credit fund and Guzman Energy.

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Snap It! Summer Photo Contest

Enter Your Best Summer Photo

Calling all members! We want to see your best summer shots of Delta and Montrose counties. Whether it’s a beautiful landscape, a candid moment, or something that captures the spirit of your town in DMEA territory, snap your photo and send it in for the chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters and win a summer prize package!

The Details:

Amateur or professional photographers are welcome. People, pets, kids, food, and sunsets shot in Montrose or Delta counties are all fair game. One photo per person, please. Photos must be less than 10MB in size and .jpg or .jpeg format.*

Submit your photo by August 31, 11:59 PM MST using the form found at tally.so/r/Bz8KD5. Photos will be judged on technical quality, creativity, emotional impact, and relevance to the summer theme. Winners will be announced and published in a future issue.

_{*DMEA reserves the right to use photos in other member communications and to resize or crop entries for publication requirements.}

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Clever Ways To Use Smart Plugs

A smart plug sits between your outlet and your appliance or device, letting you control power remotely through an app on your phone or device. You can schedule on/off times or automate behavior based on routines.

What Makes them Smart?

Kill “Idle Power Draw”‍

Many electronics constantly sip electricity while idle, adding 5–10% to your electricity use. TVs, gaming consoles, coffee makers, and chargers. Use smart plugs to:

Turn off entertainment centers overnight
Cut power to office equipment after work hours
Shut down kitchen gadgets after bedtime

Track Energy Usage

Some smart plugs include energy monitoring. This shows:

Which devices use the most power
When they use it
Where you can cut back

Automate Heating & Cooling

Space heaters, fans, and window AC units are notorious energy hogs. Smart plug scheduling can:

Turn heaters on just before you wake up
Shut off fans when you leave the house
Run window AC only during peak heat hours
Provide comfort without, “oops I left it on all day”

Schedule Lighting the Smart Way

Instead of leaving lights on “just in case,” automate them. Set schedules for:

Porch and holiday lights at sunset
Lamps during evening hours

Note: Check the wattage rating on your appliance. Most smart plugs handle 1200–1800 watts. Secure your Wi-Fi: Use a strong Wi-Fi password. If Wi-Fi goes down, remote access does not work. Buy reputable brands, and keep apps updated.

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A Decade of Connection

In June of 2016, Elevate was launched by locals with a simple mission: to bring fast, reliable connectivity to the people and businesses of Montrose and Delta counties. What began as a local vision has grown into a network serving more than 18,000 customers, which is still expanding. Along the way, a dedicated hometown team has been there every step of the journey, delivering the service and technical support that keep our communities connected.

Milestones have marked this decade of progress. For the past four years, Elevate has been honored as Best Internet Provider by both Montrose Daily Press and Delta County Independent—recognition that reflects the trust and support of the communities we serve.

As we celebrate this ten-year timeline, our gratitude goes to every subscriber who helped shape the journey. The first decade is in the books, and the next chapter is just getting started.

Keeping You Connected

18,000 customers...and counting!
99.99% network uptime
Local staff dedicated to providing you with service and technical support

Your Favorite for 4 Years

Montrose Daily Press Best of the Valley
Delta County Independent Best of Delta County

Order service today! Visit elevateinternet.com or call 844-386-8744.

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This Summer Keep Kids Cyber Safe

Summer means more screen time, gaming, and socializing online—and opportunities for scammers to target kids and teens. Here are some common digital traps to watch for.

“Free stuff” gaming scams

Scammers know young gamers love skins, upgrades, and in-game currency. Fake websites, messages, or pop-ups promise free rewards if users log in or download
something. Instead, they steal passwords or install malware.

Fake summer job offers

Teens can be targeted with offers for easy online work—social media assistant, product tester, or mystery shopper. The catch? They’re asked to pay a “training fee,” share personal information, or accept a fake check and send money back.

Ghost Stores and Bogus Service Sites

Fake online shops or websites often use legitimate-looking logos or trust badges, and accept payment — but then disappear or never deliver goods.

Help Them Stay Safe

Review Social & Gaming Accounts Together

Limit who can see profiles, send messages, or tag photos. If a profile is public, the entire internet is watching.

Teach ‘Pause-Before-Clicking’

Encourage kids to slow down when they see exciting offers or urgent messages. Scammers rely on panic and excitement.

Add parental controls with ElevateIQ

Manage screen time, filter content, and monitor online activity on home Wi-Fi. Guide kids to safe digital habits while still giving them room to explore and learn.

Get ElevateIQ today!

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The Electric Strip

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