The Language of Electricity

01 Jun

Inside Ruralite

The Language of Electricity

A team from Oregon’s electric co-ops raced against the clock to bring electricity to a remote Guatemalan village, changing the lives of all...

01 Apr

Inside Ruralite

An Environment of Trust

State Senators Janeen Sollman and Lynn Findley bridge the partisan divide the old-fashioned way: by working together. By Ted Case Oregon State Senators...

01 Feb

Inside Ruralite

Paying it Forward

Oregon co-ops prepare to electrify a small village in Guatemala By Joseph Hathaway A team of Oregon cooperative lineworkers will soon climb the...

01 Dec

Inside Ruralite

Community First

Columbia Power lineworkers rescue woman from the freezing waters of Camas Creek. By Jody Foss Columbia Power Cooperative’s lineworkers never know what the...

01 Nov

Inside Ruralite

A Lane of Their Own

In a town known for setting records, Eugene’s Lane Electric Cooperative has set one of its own with a board that looks like...

01 Oct

Inside Ruralite

Power Players

OTEC holds first-of-its-kind business summit at Anthony Lakes By Joseph Hathaway Amid the splendor of the majestic Elkhorn Mountains, government officials and business...

01 Sep

Inside Ruralite

Using All the Tools

Two Oregon co-ops are participating in a federal research and development program that could transform the industry By Ted Case Situated between Madras...

01 Aug

Inside Ruralite

Oregon Co-cops Send Youth to D.C.

Oregon Youth Tour delegates saw the sights and their government in action By Britni Davidson When then-U.S. Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson spoke at...

01 Jul

Inside Ruralite

Bringing High-Speed Fiber Where No One Else Will Go

By Ted Case History sometimes repeats itself. In 1939, Ivan Laird could not get electricity to his farm in Sitkum, a small town...

01 Jun

Inside Ruralite

Heard on Capitol Hill

Oregon’s co-op leaders visited Washington, D.C. for NRECA’s Legislative Conference and held meetings with Oregon’s Congressional Delegation. By Britini Davidson For decades, the...

01 May

Inside Ruralite

From the Co-op to Kyiv

Two women in energy—unlikely friends—live 5,600 miles apart. One worries as her friend faces an uncertain future in war-torn Ukraine. By Ted Case...

01 Apr

Inside Ruralite

Making a Name

After nearly eight decades, Hood River Electric Cooperative changed its name to reflect a new mission. By Britni Davidson It is safe to...

01 Mar

Inside Ruralite

What a Way to Make a Difference

By Britni Davidson Most people associate scholarships with high school graduation and higher education. However, for several electric cooperatives, scholarships are awarded much...

01 Feb

Inside Ruralite

Winter Wallop

As snowstorms wreaked havoc on Oregon power lines, neighboring utilities stepped forward in the spirit of cooperation By Britni Davidson After unusually high...

01 Jan

Inside Ruralite

Getting in the Driver’s Seat of the Electric Vehicle Revolution

By Brian Booher and Maddie Sligh, D+R International Driving around Oregon, you probably have noticed more electric vehicles on the road, even in...

01 Dec

Inside Ruralite

ORECA’s 79th Annual Meeting

After a nearly two-year hiatus, Oregon electric co-op leaders gathered in Salem to hear industry experts, honor outstanding achievement and see some old...

01 Nov

Inside Ruralite

Linemen to the Rescue

Cooperative employees help stop fire from spreading through neighborhood Story and photos by Craig Reed Douglas Electric Cooperative (DEC) linemen Ty Olds, Nathan...

01 Oct

Inside Ruralite

Investing in a Safer Grid

A Senate infrastructure bill helps small rural utilities harden their grid— and keep consumers and communities safe By Ted Case In August, the...

01 Sep

Inside Ruralite

A Comeback in the Canyon

One year after the Beachie Creek Fire devastated the Santiam Canyon, a tour revealed communities are rising from the ashes. By Ted Case...

01 Aug

Inside Ruralite

Clutch Performers

A federal assessment concludes the lower Snake River dams provided crucial energy and reserves during the brutal ice storm of 2021 By Ted...

01 Jul

Inside Ruralite

When the Roosevelts Visited Oregon

FDR and Eleanor stopped at Bonneville Dam and Timberline Lodge in 1937 By Scott Laird On September 28, 1937, Oregon received a special...

01 May

Inside Ruralite

In the Conversation

Representative Mark Owens (R-HD 60) will talk to anyone on any issue to help his constituents in rural and frontier Oregon. By Ted...

01 Apr

Inside Ruralite

State of Oregon’s Decision Undermines Regional Collaboration

Harney Electric Manager Fred Flippence urges Governor Brown to adopt the “Harney County way” By Ted Case What follows this article is an...

02 Mar

Inside Ruralite

Hammered by Ice— But Not Isolated

By Ted Case Oregon electric co-ops rallied as February storms devastated areas served by Consumers Power Inc., Salem Electric, and West Oregon Electric...

01 Feb

Inside Ruralite

A Cost-Effective Way To Bridge the Digital Divide

Oregon’s electric co-ops support a bipartisan bill (HB 2654) that is one of the best steps Oregon lawmakers can take to deploy rural...

The Coos-Curry Board of Directors and staff kicked off Beacon Broadband on December 17. Clockwise from back left are Jim Kolen, John Herzog, Daryl Robison, Pete Radabaugh, Georgia Cockerham, Daniel Loshbaugh, Paul Recanzone and Brent Bischoff. Photo by Kelsey Bozeman

01 Jan

Inside Ruralite

A Beacon of Light— and High-Speed Internet

Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative reaches into its storied past to bring forward-looking technology to Oregon’s south coast when no one else will By Ted...

01 Dec

Inside Ruralite

Getting Ahead of the Blaze

Co-ops use a variety of methods to mitigate wildfire threats By Erin Kelly As the threat of devastating wildfires continues in the West,...

A group of federal, state, and county leaders met in Lyons to hear Consumers Power CEO Roman Gillen discuss the co-op’s response to the wildfires.

01 Nov

Inside Ruralite

‘A Long, Difficult Road’

FEMA’s tour of fire-ravaged Consumers Power territory created opportunities, challenges, and a Plan B. By Ted Case “This is the spot,” Consumers Power...

01 Oct

Inside Ruralite

Misery and Miracles

As communities in rural Oregon grapple with unimaginable tragedy from deadly wildfires, electric co-ops band together to restore power—and hope. By Ted Case...

10 Sep

Inside Ruralite

Utility Leaders: Dams Help Protect Most Vulnerable Oregonians

By Ted Case In a virtual meeting with Oregon’s governor, utility leaders put a human face on those who benefit from Lower Snake...

View from inside a tractor, looking at the field.

01 Aug

Inside Ruralite

OTEC Uses Virtual Reality to Bring Eastern Oregon to the World

By Lisa Jacoby Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative in Baker City continues to use the newest technology to educate communities on how to safely...

Two men install protective barrier in an office

01 Jul

Inside Ruralite

Back to Business — But Never Shutting Down

Oregon’s electric co-ops are transitioning open, but with a new look focused on safety By Ted Case Photos by Bailey Anderson To say...

A man standing behind a podium in front of the American flag. Salem Electric, An Electric Cooperative. Affordable energy. Salem Electric is a not-for-profit electric cooperative. Electricity is brought to members at cost and any excess revenue is shared back with the people we serve in the form of capital credits. Salem Electric has returned over 30 million dollars in capital credits to members and former members. Salem Electric Goals. Reliable service, good customer relations, good employee relations, financial integrity, low rates. Community Focused. Salem Electric is committed to the communities we serve by providing

01 Jun

Inside Ruralite

Meeting the Moment

Oregon electric co-ops take extraordinary steps to help their members in extraordinary times The first in a series on how Oregon electric co-ops...

Six women standing down a hallway in an office, maintaining distance between them

01 May

Inside Ruralite

Three Days of the Coronavirus

As the coronavirus swept though the state, three crucial days in March demonstrated the role Oregon’s electric cooperatives play in the lives of...

01 Apr

Inside Ruralite

The Preferred Approach: No Dam Breaching

A government study concludes: Snake River dam breaching would harm Northwest families, electric grid reliability and the global environment The Columbia River System...

Dave Markham, right, was the only electric co-op representative on a panel that included members of academia and the CEO of Pacific Gas & Electric. Photo courtesy of The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

28 Feb

Inside Ruralite

Anatomy of a Hearing: The Power of a Single Pole

Dave Markham’s testimony on wildfire mitigation helped establish America’s electric cooperatives as the anti-PG&E. By Ted Case The title of the January 28...

01 Feb

Inside Ruralite

Working Hard for Wasco—and ORECA

Wasco Electric’s Bob Durham is adding another job to an already heavy workload: president of the ORECA Board of Directors. Bob Durham is...

01 Jan

Inside Ruralite

Where Does Your Power Come From?

By Paul Wesslund We depend on electricity 24/7, but have you ever wondered how it’s made, or where it comes from? To understand...

01 Jan

Inside Ruralite

ORECA’s Guatemala Project

Prelude to Power: On the Cusp of a New Way of Life Oregon electric co-ops prepare to bring electricity to the Guatemalan village...

01 Dec

Inside Ruralite

A Wave of Oregon Electric Leaders

ORECA’s 2019 annual meeting highlighted the importance of passing the RURAL Act, while honoring those who kept Americans free. The Oregon Rural Electric...

California’s 2018 Camp Fire burned at rate of a football field every second.

01 Nov

Inside Ruralite

Getting Ahead of the Blaze

As the Oregon Legislature considers wildfire mitigation measures, Oregon electric co-ops are implementing plans to protect their communities By Ted Case For Billy...

Bev Clarno is surrounded by her husband, Ray, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at her swearing-in ceremony.

01 Oct

Inside Ruralite

Thinking Big, Staying Local

Bev Clarno adds secretary of state to her distinguished resumé of public service By Courtney Cobb Deschutes County commissioner, Oregon state representative, speaker...

Salem Electric General Manager Tony Schacher, Tom Tomczyk and Energy Analyst Marcos Huerta

01 Sep

Inside Ruralite

Bringing Solar to Salem

Salem Electric’s photovoltaic program provides incentives for members who want to take control of their energy future By Ted Case On August 21,...

Oregon Emergency Management Director Andrew Phelps

01 Aug

Inside Ruralite

A Little Bit of Everything

ORECA’s midyear meeting in Bend offered a variety of speakers, including an inspiring address by NRECA President Curtis Wynn and a call for...

Lane Electric Cooperative Manager Debi Wilson, left, and Douglas Electric Cooperative Manager Keith Brooks

01 Jul

Inside Ruralite

The RURAL Act to the Rescue

Legislation to protect electric co-op’s tax-exempt status is pending in the U.S. Congress, but it needs a push. Oregon’s electric cooperatives may soon...

cooperative leaders standing in front of the U.S. Capitol building

01 Jun

Inside Ruralite

Masters of Disaster

Oregon electric co-op leaders travel to Capitol Hill seeking disaster aid for storm damage— as well as relief from policies that could have...

01 May

Inside Ruralite

ORECA Legislative Day 2019

Electric co-op leaders traveled to Salem amidst a flurry of legislative action. They were also honored for their work restoring power after devastating...

01 May

Inside Ruralite

An Initiative to Work Safely

By Pam Blair Nearly two decades ago, Northfork Electric Cooperative’s Heath Martin survived a 7,200-volt shock on the job. He admits the accident...

01 May

Inside Ruralite

May Is Electrical Safety Month

Be aware of your surroundings and don’t get complacent near power lines Each year, nearly 400 people die from electrical accidents in the...

Structures with both transmission and distribution lines brought down

01 Apr

Inside Ruralite

“I’m not upset with the power company. They’re heroes.”

Two Oregon electric co-ops took a heavy blow this winter, but picked themselves up with true grit, a relentless spirit, constant communication and...

Reps. Karin Power and David Brock Smith confering during a meeting

01 Mar

Inside Ruralite

A Local Perspective on Carbon Legislation

Two rising stars in the Oregon Legislature bring different perspectives to climate policy, but share backgrounds in local government and a deep connection...

A lineman and local villager work on the Energy Trails Electrification Project in Guatemala

01 Feb

Inside Ruralite

Lighting Up Latin America

Oregon electric cooperatives return to their roots and prepare to bring light to people who only dream of electricity By Ted Case Eighty...

Oregon State Senators Cliff Bentz and Michael Dembrow at ORECA’s annual meeting

01 Jan

Inside Ruralite

Defending Our Members: The Miracle of Electric Cooperatives

Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s 76th annual meeting had a bit of everything for the nearly 200 attendees who met in the Salem...

Salem, Oregon Capitol building in the evening

01 Dec

Inside Ruralite

The 2018 Election and Oregon’s Electric Cooperatives

While November’s blue wave solidified an urban stranglehold on policy and politics in Salem, it also shifted the center of power in our...

31 Oct

Inside Ruralite

Setting the Facts Straight On Salmon, Orcas and Dams

In October, federal experts recommended that facts and science—not emotion around dam breaching—guide the recovery of southern resident killer whales By Ted Case...

A tree is engulfed in flames while two people look on.

01 Oct

Inside Ruralite

A Summer of Fire

The worst fire season in Wasco County history takes a financial and emotional toll By Drew Myron Wildfire made history this summer, though...

01 Sep

Inside Ruralite

Capping Off a Busy Legislative Year

The legislature’s Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction is crafting a bill to help meet the state’s carbon goals. The state of Oregon’s policy...

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai shaking hands with Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative’s Tommy Wolff

01 Aug

Inside Ruralite

‘We Proved Them Wrong Once Before’

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai traveled to the Northwest to learn how Oregon electric cooperatives bridge the digital divide for their members By Ted...

01 Jul

Inside Ruralite

Taking Charge in Rural Oregon

Midstate Electric and other co-ops have embraced electric vehicles, but the state of Oregon’s divisive spill program is undermining potential carbon reductions By...

Photo featuring Kurt Schrader and Colleagues

01 Jun

Inside Ruralite

Someone Who Gets Things Done

Oregon Congressman Kurt Schrader is not only playing a key role for electric co-op consumers, he is on a bipartisan roll on the...

Midstate Electric CEO Dave Schneider briefs Sen. Ron Wyden about the impacts of cuts to low-income assistance programs

01 May

Inside Ruralite

36 Hours on Capitol Hill

Twenty-four Oregon electric cooperative leaders participated in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual Legislative Conference April 10-11. The group met with Oregon’s...

01 Apr

Inside Ruralite

Bringing Books to Cooperative Territory

OTEC helps introduce Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Eastern Oregon By Lisa Jacoby Since the beginning of the year, several Oregon electric cooperatives...

01 Mar

Inside Ruralite

Capping Off a Frenzied Legislative Session

Carbon legislation took a high-profile role in the Oregon legislative session, but ORECA’s leader testifies that the state’s carbon policies are far from...

06 Jan

Inside Ruralite

New Faces, Big Issues and a Ticking Clock

Major legislation or just legislative tweaks? The question will soon be answered as the 79th Oregon Legislative Assembly convenes with some new leaders,...

01 Jan

Inside Ruralite

Seventy-Five Years and Going Strong

With the theme “Our Past, Our Future, Our People,” the ORECA annual meeting went heavy on the latter category by recognizing those who...

Sens. Ted Ferrioli, left, and Richard Devlin join the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

01 Dec

Inside Ruralite

Transfer of Power

Two high-ranking Oregon senators join the influential Northwest Power and Conservation Council The Northwest Power and Conservation Council was created nearly four decades...

Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual pilgrimage to Capitol Hill has been an important part of the organization’s history.

01 Nov

Inside Ruralite

Seventy-Five Is a Good Number

A former ORECA executive manager tells the organization’s story as it reaches a milestone anniversary By Mark Glaess Years ago, astronaut Allan Bean...

01 Oct

Inside Ruralite, Legislative Advocacy

Power Meets Power

Secretary of Energy Rick Perry gets a close-up view of the Columbia River system, and gives his perspective on America’s energy future By...

01 Sep

Inside Ruralite

ORECA Midyear Meeting 2017

Co-op leaders met in Hood River as political winds blow toward carbon legislation As the Oregon Legislative Assembly departed Salem, Oregon’s electric cooperative...

29 Jul

Inside Ruralite

Salmon Success Story

July 6, 2017 Governor Kate Brown State Capitol Building 900 Court Street NE, 160 Salem, OR 97301 Dear Governor Brown: As leaders of...

01 Jul

Inside Ruralite

Auctioning Off Your Power

The sale of BPA’s transmission system is not a new idea—but still a bad one By Ted Case The Proposal Summary documents of...

01 Jun

Inside Ruralite

Charging up the Hill (Capitol Hill, that is)

Oregon co-op leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., as the Trump administration crossed its 100-day threshold with a strong focus on energy issues By...

Mark Johnson, right, has been a successful contractor in Hood River County for three decades. Photos by Lynn Howlett

01 May

Inside Ruralite

A Blueprint for a Better Oregon

Rep. Mark Johnson brings a builder’s sensibility—and political savvy—to the Oregon Legislature By Ted Case Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Hood River) is not a...

Rep. Caddy McKeown, right, discusses the issues with Todd Munsey of Douglas Electric Cooperative. Photos by Lynn Howlett

01 Apr

Inside Ruralite

Electric Co-ops Are in the House and Senate

Oregon electric cooperative leaders take to the state Capitol in defense of federal hydropower By Ted Case Rep. Caddy McKeown (D Coos Bay)...

Gene and Josie Whisnant sit at Gene’s desk in the House of Representatives. “I wouldn’t go down there without her,” he says. Photos by Lynn Howlett

01 Mar

Inside Ruralite

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Legislator

State Representative (and Colonel) Gene Whisnant and his wife, Josie,have lived a life worthy of a John le Carré novel. By Ted Case...

The format for December’s National Environmental Policy Act meeting focused on information and constructive dialogue. Photo courtesy of the Bonneville Power Administration

01 Feb

Inside Ruralite

Getting Out the Facts

The federal government’s NEPA process provides an opportunity to clear up misconceptions about the Northwest hydro system By Ted Case In a cavernous...

Legislative panelists Greg Peden, Rep. Bill Post and Rep. Paul Holvey share a light moment at the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting. Photos by Mike Teegarden

01 Jan

Inside Ruralite

Rural Oregon Back in the Spotlight

Electric co-op leaders explore a changing industry, as well as grapple with a contentious election and an uncertain legislative session In December, Oregon...

Executive Director Ted Case, left, is presented with Ruralite’s Communicator of the Year Award by CEO Mike Shepard.

01 Jan

Inside Ruralite

Going for the Gold Every Day

Scenes from the December Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting at the Salem Conference Center Photos by Mike Teegarden

Jim Matheson, the sixth National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO in the organization’s history, speaks to NRECA employees. Photo by Denny Gainer

01 Dec

Inside Ruralite

“We Need to Rise Above It”

In a tumultuous political era, National Rural Electric Cooperative CEO Jim Matheson brings a proven track record of bipartisan credentials to his new...

State Rep. Sherrie Sprenger’s legistlative district overlaps Consumers Power Inc.’s service territory, and she also is a member of the co-op. “Sherrie understands her constituents and our members,” says Consumers Power CEO Roman Gillen. “And she’s not afraid to take on the tough issues.” Photos by Lynn Howlett

01 Nov

Inside Ruralite

Leading by Example

State Rep. Sherrie Sprenger and Consumers Power CEO Roman Gillen are powerful voices for rural Oregon—while rarely raising their voices By Ted Case...

Lonnie Rainville is the operations officer of Umpqua Indian Utility Cooperative—and a tribal member. Photo by Cheryl Rainville

01 Oct

Inside Ruralite

Lucky Number Seven and Much Hard Work

The Umpqua Indian Utility Cooperative is a unique entity, much like the tribe it serves in Southwestern Oregon By Ted Case It’s a...

Dedicating the electric vehicle charging station in Condon are, from left, Condon Mayor Jim Hassing, Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative Director Roy Carlson, CBEC staff member Josh Coiner, CBEC staff member Debbie Lankford, Gilliam County Judge Steve Shaffer and Condon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director K’Lynn Lane. Photos by Tommy Wolff

01 Sep

Inside Ruralite

Getting Lots of Mileage

Four unlikely towns welcome EV charging stations, opening scenic byways and creating economic development opportunities By Ted Case The territory served by Columbia...

Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative Director Cliff Kelley performs cowboy mounted shooting—one of many interesting things co-op leaders are doing on their own time.

01 Aug

Inside Ruralite

Giving Back, True Callings and Colt .45s

Gary Miller: His One Job Now is Giving Back Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Director Gary Miller retired from his job as a telephone...

| Tagged Oregon co-op leaders

Salem Electric Manager Terry Kelly calls his co-op’s employees “innovative” and “forward-looking.” Photos by Michele Adkins

01 Jul

Inside Ruralite

Small Footprint, Big Impact

Salem Electric keeps the lights on in the communities it serves—and a whole lot more. Reliable to a Fault – Now 75, Salem...

Power Couple Rep. Gene Whisnant and his wife, Josie, have lived a life of service— and one worthy of a spy novel

01 Jun

Inside Ruralite

Two of a Kind

Reps. Deborah Boone and Brad Witt are watchdogs in the Oregon Legislature for West Oregon Electric Cooperative and its member-owners. The following profiles...