2024 LIGHT UP NAVAJO V CONCLUDES WITH 170 HOMES CONNECTED

The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) proudly announces that it met its goal to connect over 150 homes to the electric grid. This year’s project, Light Up Navajo V (LUN V) started April 7 and concluded 13 weeks later on July 19th.

 

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.”

 

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.”

 

Presently, utilities from throughout the country 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.

 

The Light Up Navajo mutual aid initiative embodies the true American spirit of people helping people. It’s a collaborative effort like no other – connecting homes of families that have been waiting years, even decades, for electric power.