Before the Rural Electrification Act, tiny communities such as Nespelem, Elmer City, Lone Pine, Belvedere, Disautal, Cameron Lakes, and others were in the dark. Nespelem Valley Electric Cooperative serves the western area of the Colville Indian Reservation in Southeastern Okanogan County – areas no other utility would serve. Almost half of their cooperative members are members of the Colville Confederated Tribes. Founded in 1939, NVEC began operations as 1 of the Bonneville Power Administration’s first customers in 1941. It had 34 miles of line and 140 consumers. Today, NVEC has 403 miles of line and serves 1,563 customers.