For the first time in her life, Toledo has electricity. She can now tend her 100 head of sheep during the day and weave at night. She also can refrigerate meat after slaughtering livestock without having to undergo the laborious task of drying the meat.

''When the people came out to hook [the electricity] up, I said, 'Thank you. We've been in the dark for a long time,'' said Larry Toledo, Lena's son.

Fifty homes on the Navajo Nation have electricity for the first time from solar power systems built and installed by Sacred Power Corp., an American Indian owned company in Albuquerque.

Torreon-Star Lake and Ojo Encino houses in northwest New Mexico partnered with Sacred Power to bring solar energy systems that could be easily installed, operated and maintained.

The systems are portable, running on both solar and wind power, and composed of an 800 watt photovoltaic cell, 400 watt wind turbine, 10,000 watt hour batteries and an AC inverter. Added to the package is a high efficiency refrigerator and energy efficient light bulbs.

''It's really made our lives a lot easier. We don't have to drive 40 miles to get ice anymore,'' said Tina Hicks, Toledo's niece. ''We can just switch the light on instead of lighting the little kerosene lamps.''

Sacred Power owner Dave Melton, a member of Laguna Pueblo, said he was honored to provide a service that most people in the United States already enjoy.

''It's very gratifying to see how happy these people are. It's almost too good to be true,'' Melton said.

Melton and Sacred Power partner Odes Armijo-Caster got involved with the project after Melton's close friend told him his girlfriend's family lived in Ojo Encino without electricity and running water. The company approached Ojo Encino and Torreon-Star Lake about teaming up to compete for funding.

In 2001, the company received an $825,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service to manufacture and install 50 systems.

Recipients were selected based on medical and economic needs. Priority was given to elderly residents.

Melton said many homes on the Navajo Nation lack electricity because of their remote location and the high cost of extending power lines to off-grid areas.

The Torreon and Ojo Encino townships have a combined population of about 2,500 people spread out over nearly 200,000 acres, according to 2000 U.S. Census figures.

''The great irony is that there are some homes out there under a high-voltage power line, but the homeowner is responsible for the expense to extend the energy grid line to their home, which can cost $20,000-$35,000 a mile. Who has got that kind of cash?'' Melton said. ''And because the homes are sparsely located, it's hard for utility companies to service the area.''

Sacred Powers' solution was to create a renewable energy source delivering power to the point of need.

The systems manufactured by Sacred Power only take a few hours to install. As part of their agreement, the homeowners own the systems. Sacred Power does all installation and maintenance for two years.

The systems are also cost effective. The hybrids run at one-third the cost of running small generators for household power, which averages $0.75 per kilowatt hour, Melton said.

In May, Armijo-Caster held a training workshop in English and Navajo for the recipients of the hybrid systems. He explained how to get the most power for the system by using energy-efficient appliances.

Torreon-Star Lake Chapter President Joe Cayaditto said residents pay a $25 maintenance fee to the chapter for system upkeep.

At meetings held each month, Cayaditto said residents would ask what they could do to improve the lives of their children and grandchildren.

''They wanted to help the younger generations in school. In the past, I looked for funding with different foundations but had no success,'' Cayaditto said. ''Now, we have about 100 people on the waiting list for more [solar power] systems.''

Eva and Tim Castillo moved back to the Navajo Nation a year ago to offer their four young daughters a chance to learn how to grow their own food, care for livestock and play outside without fear.

The family built a one-room hogan, a chicken coop and planted a vegetable garden. But adapting to a life without electricity or running water was a challenge for their children.

''My older daughter would say, 'Mom you ruined my life.' They'd have to do their homework before the sun went down, and they never liked going to school,'' Eva Castillo said. ''But now they can read at night. They're gonna do real good [in school] this fall.''

Torreon resident Floyd Jim received the hybrid system two months ago. Before then, Jim would use power converters hooked to his car battery for the power needs of his wife and six children.

Jim said older Navajo generations did fine without electricity, but he worries that his children will struggle without access to the conveniences of urban life.

''[The electricity] is mainly for my kids. They're being left behind,'' said Jim, who says he prefers living the rural life of most Navajos.

''Down where we live, that land is ours. The land is part of our tradition. We have to carry it on for our children,'' Jim said.