Chugach’s safety team recently visited a fourth grade classroom at Rilke Schule German School of Arts and Sciences to teach the students about electricity. Our Safety City model is used to demonstrate a variety of contact hazards associated with overhead and underground service. The model is powered by a transformer producing a 10,000-volt, 28-milliamp current, which creates dramatic arcs when electrical contacts are made. Students learn why electricity is important, how electricity is made, and how to be safe around electricity.

Chugach Electric Association, Inc. is continuing its tradition of supporting Alaska families over the holidays by donating 450 turkeys to ten local non-profits. The holiday turkey delivery is underway this week. “One of the seven principles of electric cooperatives is community support,” said Chugach CEO Arthur Miller. “We are pleased to continue this tradition of supporting holiday food baskets for the people and communities we serve.”

This is the 21st year Chugach has donated turkeys to local non-profits to help fill the need for holiday meals throughout the local area. The turkeys are purchased from Carrs/Safeway and distributed by Chugach to the charities.

The organizations receiving the turkeys include:

• Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission
• Alaska Women’s Aid in Crisis (AWAIC)
• Bean’s Cafe
• Boys & Girls Club Alaska
• Catholic Social Services’ St. Francis House Food Pantry
• Covenant House Alaska
• Food Bank of Alaska
• Lutheran Social Services of Alaska
• New Hope Compassionate Ministries
• The Salvation Army Alaska’s McKinnell House

In addition to the turkey donations, Chugach also made monetary contributions to the Kenai Lake Baptist Church food pantry in Cooper Landing and the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna. The food pantry in Cooper Landing serves residents of that community, and the food bank in Soldotna serves Hope, Moose Pass, and Tyonek. All of those communities receive electric service from Chugach.

Carrying on a popular tradition for providing holiday lights to Anchorage in the winter, Chugach crews put up lights on the trees in Anchorage's Town Square Park at the end of October. Each fall, Chugach works with the Anchorage Downtown Partnership and the Municipality of Anchorage's Parks & Recreation Department to bring festive light to downtown. We love being a part of this annual tradition.

Joining forces with the YWCA this summer, Chugach staff taught students about the electric utility industry as part of the YWCA Alaska Energy Camp. The group, who learned about energy efficiency, careers, and safety, got an inside look of the Sullivan Power Plant. 

“We’re excited to help educate young Alaskans about the importance of our industry and the many opportunities to work in this field,” said Chugach CEO Arthur Miller. “Connecting with the community is a key principle of a member-owned cooperative and this is a great way to make that connection.”