2020 is about to be hindsight.

OK, I’m pretty sure that sigh of relief was heard from here to the Rockies. After all, this has been a year with a lot of challenge and uncertainty. A time that has felt a thousand years long while also feeling like everyone has to start over every day – and that’s just the Broncos season.

But we’re here. Finally.

And even in 2020, there are some pretty amazing things to look back on for LPC, NextLight, and our community.

• Despite the pandemic, we found ways to safely deliver the power and high-speed internet you need, whether that meant using smaller electric teams in the field, or installing fiber modems in the garage so that no one had to enter the house.
• LPC was nationally recognized for its electric reliability by the American Public Power Association and received another Diamond-rated Reliable Public Power Provider award.
• NextLight was once again recognized as one of the fastest internet providers in the nation by PC Magazine.
• More and more of our electric power came from non-carbon sources, with about 50% now coming from water, wind and the sun. (Which made it really good timing that we also received SolSmart Silver recognition!) And you helped us plan the next steps toward a 100% renewable power supply.
• We began offering all-symmetrical speeds to our NextLight business customers, and also increased our residential speeds without raising rates.
• We welcomed our community back to a refurbished online Efficiency Works Store, offering ways to help offset summer electric rates with greater energy efficiency.
• We expanded the eligibility for Sharing the NextLight and introduced a new ­discount for income-qualified NextLight customers.
• We helped Seagate relocate an osprey family. (That’s when things were REALLY looking up!) 
• Working with the Longmont Museum, we helped Longmont celebrate a virtual Día de los Muertos that remained the largest in the state.
• We added a new electric vehicle charging station at the Longmont Library.
• We launched a snazzy new look for NextLight.
• We worked with our largest electric customers to save enough energy for 650 homes, while our community’s homes gained new options for virtual energy efficiency assessments.

Yes, it’s been a full year. And whatever 2021 has ahead, we’ll meet it, because we know we serve an awesome community that expects nothing less than the best.

Here’s to the next year, with all its triumphs and challenges. Only … maybe not quite so many challenges this time around?

You know. Just for a little variety.