Cooperative Colorado

Empire Electric Assn, Inc

116min
SAIDI 2023
1.45
SAIFI 2023
15,715
Customers

What This Utility Data Tells You

Empire Electric Assn, Inc is a member-owned electric cooperative operating in Colorado under EIA identifier 5862. It reports service to approximately 15,715 customer accounts and generated about $0.06 billion in annual electric revenue, with a service footprint spanning 21 ZIP codes. As a cooperative, its governance is accountable to its ratepayer-members rather than shareholders, which often shapes rate-setting and reinvestment priorities.

In 2023, the average Empire Electric Assn, Inc customer experienced 116.4 minutes of power interruptions — a metric called SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index). That sits within the 120–180 minute national benchmark range, indicating performance typical of U.S. distribution utilities. SAIFI — the average number of outage events per customer — was 1.45 for the same period, so customers statistically faced roughly 1 distinct interruption that year. Excluding major event days (hurricanes, ice storms), SAIDI drops to 116.4 minutes — the gap between that figure and the headline 116.4 reveals how much weather, not day-to-day infrastructure, drove outages.

The EIA dataset includes 4 years of continuous reporting (2020–2023) for Empire Electric Assn, Inc, which lets you see whether reliability is trending up or down rather than judging from a single snapshot. SAIDI has improved from 123.2 to 116.4 minutes over that window — a meaningful direction for prospective customers and regulators watching capital investment outcomes. All figures on this page come directly from EIA Form 861, the federal annual electric power industry survey, with service territory ZIPs sourced from OpenEI — you can cross-reference them with your own utility bill or use them when comparing providers before relocating.

SAIDI

116 min per year

Average outage minutes (2023)

SAIFI

1.45 interruptions/yr

Outage frequency (2023)

Customers

15,715

Served in Colorado

SAIDI vs. National Average (180 min) 29.1%

116 minutes per customer per year

Empire Electric Assn, Inc SAIDI

Minutes without power per year (2023)

116 SAIDI116 SAIDINat. avg 120120SAIDI116SAIDI

Good

Reliability Trend (2020–2023)

Year SAIDI (min) SAIDI nMED SAIFI Customers
2020 123.2 123.2 0.970 16,151
2021 225.2 225.2 1.550 16,151
2022 232.3 232.3 1.511 16,915
2023 116.4 116.4 1.454 17,088

SAIDI nMED = SAIDI without major event days. Source: EIA Form 861.

Service Area

Empire Electric Assn, Inc serves 21 ZIP codes in Colorado.

813018132081321813238132481325813268132781328813308133181332813348133581411814308143584511845308453484535

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is Empire Electric Assn, Inc?

Empire Electric Assn, Inc had a SAIDI of 116.4 minutes in 2023, meaning the average customer experienced about 116 minutes of outages that year. This is near the national average.

What type of utility is Empire Electric Assn, Inc?

Empire Electric Assn, Inc is classified as a Cooperative serving Colorado. Electric cooperatives are member-owned nonprofit utilities, typically serving rural areas.

What does SAIDI mean for Empire Electric Assn, Inc?

SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index) measures the average total minutes per year that a customer of Empire Electric Assn, Inc experiences power outages. A lower SAIDI indicates better reliability. The national average is roughly 120-180 minutes per year, so comparing Empire Electric Assn, Inc's SAIDI to that benchmark shows whether this utility is above or below average.

How many customers does Empire Electric Assn, Inc serve?

Empire Electric Assn, Inc serves approximately 15,715 customers in Colorado. Customer count can affect reliability metrics because larger utilities may face different infrastructure challenges compared to smaller ones.

How has Empire Electric Assn, Inc's reliability changed over time?

Empire Electric Assn, Inc has 4 years of reliability data (2020-2023). SAIDI has remained relatively stable over this period. Review the trend table above for year-by-year detail.

What is SAIDI without major event days?

SAIDI "without major event days" (SAIDI nMED) excludes outages caused by hurricanes, ice storms, and other catastrophic weather events. It better reflects day-to-day infrastructure reliability rather than vulnerability to extreme weather. Both standard SAIDI and SAIDI nMED are shown in the reliability trend table above.

Utility Profile

Type
Cooperative
State
Colorado
Customers
15,715
Annual Revenue
$0.06B
EIA ID
5862
Data Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration Form 861 annual electric power industry survey. ZIP service territory from OpenEI.

Related

Data sourced from official EIA reliability statistics and OpenEI utility rate database. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainUtility Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Form 861. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.