Across the West, the legislative focus has been on deterrence rather than mandates on security procedures. By Ted Case They are the consummate...
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...
State Senators Janeen Sollman and Lynn Findley bridge the partisan divide the old-fashioned way: by working together. By Ted Case Oregon State Senators...
Oregon co-ops prepare to electrify a small village in Guatemala By Joseph Hathaway A team of Oregon cooperative lineworkers will soon climb the...
Columbia Power lineworkers rescue woman from the freezing waters of Camas Creek. By Jody Foss Columbia Power Cooperative’s lineworkers never know what the...
In a town known for setting records, Eugene’s Lane Electric Cooperative has set one of its own with a board that looks like...
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...
Two Oregon co-ops are participating in a federal research and development program that could transform the industry By Ted Case Situated between Madras...
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...
By Ted Case History sometimes repeats itself. In 1939, Ivan Laird could not get electricity to his farm in Sitkum, a small town...
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...
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...
After nearly eight decades, Hood River Electric Cooperative changed its name to reflect a new mission. By Britni Davidson It is safe to...
By Britni Davidson Most people associate scholarships with high school graduation and higher education. However, for several electric cooperatives, scholarships are awarded much...
As snowstorms wreaked havoc on Oregon power lines, neighboring utilities stepped forward in the spirit of cooperation By Britni Davidson After unusually high...
By Brian Booher and Maddie Sligh, D+R International Driving around Oregon, you probably have noticed more electric vehicles on the road, even in...
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...
Cooperative employees help stop fire from spreading through neighborhood Story and photos by Craig Reed Douglas Electric Cooperative (DEC) linemen Ty Olds, Nathan...
A Senate infrastructure bill helps small rural utilities harden their grid— and keep consumers and communities safe By Ted Case In August, the...
One year after the Beachie Creek Fire devastated the Santiam Canyon, a tour revealed communities are rising from the ashes. By Ted Case...
A federal assessment concludes the lower Snake River dams provided crucial energy and reserves during the brutal ice storm of 2021 By Ted...
FDR and Eleanor stopped at Bonneville Dam and Timberline Lodge in 1937 By Scott Laird On September 28, 1937, Oregon received a special...
Representative Mark Owens (R-HD 60) will talk to anyone on any issue to help his constituents in rural and frontier Oregon. By Ted...
Harney Electric Manager Fred Flippence urges Governor Brown to adopt the “Harney County way” By Ted Case What follows this article is an...
By Ted Case Oregon electric co-ops rallied as February storms devastated areas served by Consumers Power Inc., Salem Electric, and West Oregon Electric...
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...
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...
Co-ops use a variety of methods to mitigate wildfire threats By Erin Kelly As the threat of devastating wildfires continues in the West,...
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...
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...
By Ted Case In a virtual meeting with Oregon’s governor, utility leaders put a human face on those who benefit from Lower Snake...
By Lisa Jacoby Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative in Baker City continues to use the newest technology to educate communities on how to safely...
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...
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...
As the coronavirus swept though the state, three crucial days in March demonstrated the role Oregon’s electric cooperatives play in the lives of...
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’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...
Wasco Electric’s Bob Durham is adding another job to an already heavy workload: president of the ORECA Board of Directors. Bob Durham is...
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...
Prelude to Power: On the Cusp of a New Way of Life Oregon electric co-ops prepare to bring electricity to the Guatemalan village...
ORECA’s 2019 annual meeting highlighted the importance of passing the RURAL Act, while honoring those who kept Americans free. The Oregon Rural Electric...
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 adds secretary of state to her distinguished resumé of public service By Courtney Cobb Deschutes County commissioner, Oregon state representative, speaker...
Salem Electric’s photovoltaic program provides incentives for members who want to take control of their energy future By Ted Case On August 21,...
ORECA’s midyear meeting in Bend offered a variety of speakers, including an inspiring address by NRECA President Curtis Wynn and a call for...
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...
Oregon electric co-op leaders travel to Capitol Hill seeking disaster aid for storm damage— as well as relief from policies that could have...
Electric co-op leaders traveled to Salem amidst a flurry of legislative action. They were also honored for their work restoring power after devastating...
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...
Be aware of your surroundings and don’t get complacent near power lines Each year, nearly 400 people die from electrical accidents in the...
Two Oregon electric co-ops took a heavy blow this winter, but picked themselves up with true grit, a relentless spirit, constant communication and...
Two rising stars in the Oregon Legislature bring different perspectives to climate policy, but share backgrounds in local government and a deep connection...
Oregon electric cooperatives return to their roots and prepare to bring light to people who only dream of electricity By Ted Case Eighty...
Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s 76th annual meeting had a bit of everything for the nearly 200 attendees who met in the Salem...
While November’s blue wave solidified an urban stranglehold on policy and politics in Salem, it also shifted the center of power in our...
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...
The worst fire season in Wasco County history takes a financial and emotional toll By Drew Myron Wildfire made history this summer, though...
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 traveled to the Northwest to learn how Oregon electric cooperatives bridge the digital divide for their members By Ted...
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...
Oregon Congressman Kurt Schrader is not only playing a key role for electric co-op consumers, he is on a bipartisan roll on the...
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...
OTEC helps introduce Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Eastern Oregon By Lisa Jacoby Since the beginning of the year, several Oregon electric cooperatives...
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...
Major legislation or just legislative tweaks? The question will soon be answered as the 79th Oregon Legislative Assembly convenes with some new leaders,...
With the theme “Our Past, Our Future, Our People,” the ORECA annual meeting went heavy on the latter category by recognizing those who...
Two high-ranking Oregon senators join the influential Northwest Power and Conservation Council The Northwest Power and Conservation Council was created nearly four decades...
A former ORECA executive manager tells the organization’s story as it reaches a milestone anniversary By Mark Glaess Years ago, astronaut Allan Bean...
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...
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...
July 6, 2017 Governor Kate Brown State Capitol Building 900 Court Street NE, 160 Salem, OR 97301 Dear Governor Brown: As leaders of...
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...
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...
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...
Oregon electric cooperative leaders take to the state Capitol in defense of federal hydropower By Ted Case Rep. Caddy McKeown (D Coos Bay)...
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 federal government’s NEPA process provides an opportunity to clear up misconceptions about the Northwest hydro system By Ted Case In a cavernous...
Electric co-op leaders explore a changing industry, as well as grapple with a contentious election and an uncertain legislative session In December, Oregon...
Scenes from the December Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting at the Salem Conference Center Photos by Mike Teegarden
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 and Consumers Power CEO Roman Gillen are powerful voices for rural Oregon—while rarely raising their voices By Ted Case...
The Umpqua Indian Utility Cooperative is a unique entity, much like the tribe it serves in Southwestern Oregon By Ted Case It’s a...
Four unlikely towns welcome EV charging stations, opening scenic byways and creating economic development opportunities By Ted Case The territory served by Columbia...
Gary Miller: His One Job Now is Giving Back Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Director Gary Miller retired from his job as a telephone...
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Salem Electric keeps the lights on in the communities it serves—and a whole lot more. Reliable to a Fault – Now 75, Salem...
Reps. Deborah Boone and Brad Witt are watchdogs in the Oregon Legislature for West Oregon Electric Cooperative and its member-owners. The following profiles...
