Skip to main content

JMEC: 505-753-2105 | 888-755-2105

Outage Center
My Account
Contact Us
Home
Menu
  • Home
  • My Account
    • Customer Login - NEW LOOK
    • Understanding My Bill
    • Billing & Collection Timeline
    • Forms
    • Pueblo Boundary Map
    • Rate Change
      • Schedule
      • PRC Filings and Forms
      • News Releases
      • Rate Change Archive
        • Letter to Members
        • Notice of Filing
        • Q&A
        • Rate Change Brochure
        • Presentation
  • About Us
    • History Of Jemez Mountains Electric
    • The Cooperative Story
    • Contact Us
    • Employee Spotlight
    • Careers
    • 2023 Annual Meeting of Members
    • Board of Trustees
      • Board Documents
      • Board Policies
      • JMEC Elections
      • Board Expense Vouchers
      • Board-Approved Credit Card Statements
    • Board District Boundary Map
    • Request for Proposals
    • About Touchstone Energy
    • 2023 Proposed Bylaw Amendment Detail
    • JMEC Bylaws
  • Services
    • New Service
    • Time of Use
    • Net Metering
    • Rates & Rules
      • Rates and Rules Archive
    • Vegetation Management
    • Rebates
    • Non-Discrimination Statement
    • Assistance/Payment Arrangements
    • Winter Moratorium Protection
  • Community
    • Community Events
    • Youth Programs
      • Spelling Bee
      • Scholarship Program
      • Youth Tour
      • Story Behind The Switch
    • Co-Op Month
    • JMEC Newsletters
    • News
    • Co-op Connections
    • Touchstone Energy Savings
    • Electric Vehicles
  • Safety
    • Call Before You Dig
    • Safety Awareness
    • Safety Checklist
    • Safety Quiz

History Of Jemez Mountains Electric

You are here

  1. About Us
  2. History Of Jemez Mountains Electric

1947

It began as a small hydropower generating station in Jemez Springs serving three families. On Easter Sunday, 1947, it officially became known as Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative.

fred.jpeg

Fred Abousleman and his brothers had installed a small generating plant on the Jemez River to provide themselves and a couple neighbors with electricity. It was a small start, but it was city come to country as far as the three families were concerned. Sure, they wound up kicking and screaming at the machine sometimes, but the power they received was an improvement over what they'd had.

Then the brothers were called into service for World War II. They returned home with a vision only to find the old hydropower generator in sad disrepair. "Every little town in Germany had power. They generated power from a river or creek. I made up my mind I was going to have central power from somewhere," Abousleman said.

After approaching the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), the Jemez Springs man found out what rural residents wanting electricity were finding out: big city power suppliers really didn't want to invest in a few outlying rural customers. It was too costly, with too little return.

About-Us_image006.jpeg

About the same time, J. Antonio Montoya of San Ysidro was meeting with representatives of the Continental Divide Electric Co-op in Grants to see about extending electric service. The Grants co-op had been founded under the federal Rural Electrification Act of 1936. It provided funding that allowed rural residents to form cooperatives that could provide power to outlying areas. Although Montoya and others met with Congressional delegates at home and in Washington, D.C., the plan seemed to be getting nowhere.

April 22, 1948

About-Us_image008.jpeg

Montoya, Abousleman and other interested citizens from the Cuba and San Ysidro areas eventually met together to make plans for their own cooperative. They signed people up for a $5 membership fee. (That's the same membership fee as today. But remember, it bought a lot more groceries back then.)

They incorporated the co-op on April 22, 1948 and went in search of federal funding to build their own power plant and distribution system. They hired an engineer to draw up plans. A crew began installation of the poles and lines. The REA approved a loan for $930,000, most of which was designated to purchase the Inland Utility Company which had been serving the power needs of Espanola area. This significantly expanded the service area of the brand-new Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative.

The first 11 board members were Abousleman, Montoya, Eric L. Freelove, Walter R. Hernandez, W.E. Culler, Rudy Velarde, Lew Caldwell, Susie B. Dodson, Epifanio Gutierrez, Manuel Miera and Jack Toya.

Board members serve staggered terms. The co-op holds elections for board members from its six districts. Each new board elects officers and the board meets monthly to deal with policies and procedures and the business of the co-op. It is kept updated on the needs of customers and the projects planned to meet those needs. The board prepared for major operations. It expanded the board to 13 to allow for representation from the Espanola area. It hired a general manager and 50 other employees. It relocated headquarters to the Espanola area (which later moved to the present location in Hernandez).

Jemez Springs held a ceremony at the local dance hall for the first day of electric service to its community. After Abousleman finished his speech, he proudly pulled the string that was to turn the light on. The light didn't come on because someone had forgotten to switch on the transformer! However, within minutes that was rectified; the community rejoiced and went home to enjoy the convenience of electrical lights.

Other communities joined the system. More poles and lines were put up and more of southern Rio Arriba County came to light. People were happy to donate their easements because of the future that was quickly coming their way. Co-op line crews sometimes used horses to get to remote locations where lines needed to be strung and poles erected. But as the demand for electricity increased the harder it was for the co-op to provide it. The old diesel generator in Espanola was proving to be insufficient for the growing needs of JMEC customers.

About-Us_image013.jpeg

1957

In 1957, JMEC joined 12 other electric co-ops in the state of New Mexico as a part of Plains Generation and Transmission Cooperative. The gas-fired Algodones plant supplied all that JMEC needed. In the early 1980s, Plains built the coal-fired plant at Prewitt that continues to serve New Mexico electric needs.

1962

PNM made an offer to purchase the co-op in 1962 (now that the entire system was set up to serve customers). However, it turned out they only wanted the Espanola area which would be easy to serve out of Santa Fe. The members overwhelmingly turned down the proposal at that year's annual meeting. JMEC continued to grow into the largest co-op in the state, serving consumers in the five counties of Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, San Juan, McKinley and Sandoval.

2000

In 2000, JMEC voted with other members of Plains G&T to merge with Tri-State G&T. Electric prices dropped significantly. This savings was passed on to JMEC customers. The co-op management, board and staff continue to look for ways to keep electric costs down while improving electric service efficiency. The future looks bright, as reliable, low-cost electric service attracts more businesses to the service area. This will provide more jobs for residents, further improving a wonderful way of life.

JMEC sign

Back to Top

Quick Links

  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Outage Center
  • Non-Discrimination Statement

Española Office

19365 S.R. 84/285
Hernandez NM 87537
Phone: 505-753-2105
Toll Free: 1-888-755-2105
Fax: 505-753-6958

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 128 Española NM 87532

Jemez Springs Office

17421 Hwy 4
Jemez Springs NM 87025
Phone: 575-829-3550
Toll Free: 1-888-755-2105
Fax: 575-829-9185

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 126 Jemez Springs NM 87025

Cuba Office

#71 Hwy 126
Cuba NM 87013
Phone: 575-289-3241
Toll Free: 1-888-755-2105
Fax: 575-289-0103

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 10 Cuba NM 87013

©2025 Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • My Account
    • Customer Login - NEW LOOK
    • Understanding My Bill
    • Billing & Collection Timeline
    • Forms
    • Pueblo Boundary Map
    • Rate Change
      • Schedule
      • PRC Filings and Forms
      • News Releases
      • Rate Change Archive
        • Letter to Members
        • Notice of Filing
        • Q&A
        • Rate Change Brochure
        • Presentation
  • About Us
    • History Of Jemez Mountains Electric
    • The Cooperative Story
    • Contact Us
    • Employee Spotlight
    • Careers
    • 2023 Annual Meeting of Members
    • Board of Trustees
      • Board Documents
      • Board Policies
      • JMEC Elections
      • Board Expense Vouchers
      • Board-Approved Credit Card Statements
    • Board District Boundary Map
    • Request for Proposals
    • About Touchstone Energy
    • 2023 Proposed Bylaw Amendment Detail
    • JMEC Bylaws
  • Services
    • New Service
    • Time of Use
    • Net Metering
    • Rates & Rules
      • Rates and Rules Archive
    • Vegetation Management
    • Rebates
    • Non-Discrimination Statement
    • Assistance/Payment Arrangements
    • Winter Moratorium Protection
  • Community
    • Community Events
    • Youth Programs
      • Spelling Bee
      • Scholarship Program
      • Youth Tour
      • Story Behind The Switch
    • Co-Op Month
    • JMEC Newsletters
    • News
    • Co-op Connections
    • Touchstone Energy Savings
    • Electric Vehicles
  • Safety
    • Call Before You Dig
    • Safety Awareness
    • Safety Checklist
    • Safety Quiz