The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority on July 29 announced another successful Light Up Navajo mutual aid initiative.
The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority in partnership with the American Public Power Association on April 7 officially launched Light Up Navajo V, a project to extend electric service to Navajo Nation households. The project concluded 13 weeks later on July 19.
Light Up Navajo is a mutual aid training project that was launched in 2019 to connect homes under an expedited time frame. Each year, outside utilities send their electric crews to the Navajo Nation to help connect homes and extend powerlines.
This year, NTUA welcomed 48 utility teams from 16 different states to work alongside NTUA electric crews. Overall – the combined teams connected 170 homes to the electric grid for the very first time. On average, 13 homes were connected each week with 4.2 miles of new powerline built.
“The visiting line workers heard that thousands of Navajo families are living without electricity,” said NTUA General Manager Walter Haase. “They signed up to travel here to help make a life changing difference for families. They left with an immense pride of accomplishment, especially when families thanked them for leaving their families and communities to help bring positive change here on the Navajo Nation.”
NTUA hosts the volunteer teams by providing engineering design, site and home preparation, food and lodging, equipment and material associated with the construction of power poles and distribution lines, while the visiting utilities pay for the labor and travel of their crew members.
This year’s LUN V had representation from a cross section of the utility industry. Public Power utilities, Rural Co-operatives, and Investor-Owned Utilities signed up their teams to participate. Traveling teams represented the states of Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin
“The utilities worked together for a common cause,” Haase said. “They saw the need and worked hard to build powerlines and connect homes in remote and isolated homesteads. Without these partnerships, it’s very likely that the families would have remained waiting.”
Visiting line crew members arrived on Sunday for an orientation, which included a segment on cultural awareness. Following the orientation, they drove to the respective NTUA district regions to begin work. Days started early and ended late in the evening hours.
When they arrived, they said they couldn’t believe in 2024 there were families in a region of the United States that did not have electricity.
By participating in the LUN initiative, they heard heartfelt emotions – family members speaking with tear-filled eyes saying “Ah’e’hee’ (thank-you)” several times and explaining how electricity will improve their lives.
This project not only made a life changing impact for the Navajo people it also did the same for the visiting line workers and their communities
“Here, you look at things differently. At home I have power and water and I don’t think about it. Here for families, it’s a daily challenge. This has changed the way I think and not take things for granted,” said William Melton, a visiting journeyman from Fayetteville, North Carolina. “This has been the biggest highlight of my 10-year career, and I hope to be back next year.”
Outside utilities are signing up for 2025 Light Up Navajo VI.
Currently there are approximately 13,000 families living on the Navajo Nation that do not have electricity.
