The History of NVEC

Before the Rural Electrification Act, tiny communities like Nespelem, Elmer City, Lone Pine, Belvedere, Koontzville, Disautel, Cameron Lakes and others were in the dark. Nespelem Valley Electric Cooperative (NVEC) serves the western area of the Colville Indian Reservation in southeast Okanogan County--all the areas no other utility would serve. Almost half our co-op members are members of the Colville Confederated Tribes.

The Colville Confederated Tribes, descendants of 12 Native American Bands, hold an annual 4th of July celebration near Nespelem and recently celebrated 125 years on this reservation(1872-1997). Nespelem is also the burial place of Chief Joseph, the great Nez Perce leader who vowed to "fight no more forever."

Founded in 1939, NVEC began operations as one of the Bonneville Power Administration's first customers in 1941 with 34 miles of line and 140 consumers. Today, NVEC serves just under 1,000 co-op members over 392 miles of line. That is less than four meters per mile, making NVEC the smallest co-op in Washington state.

 

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