DEC Annual Meeting—Too Much Is at Stake to Leave Rural Communities Behind
Dear Member,
Douglas Electric Cooperative (DEC) holds its annual membership meeting Saturday, April 4, in the Community Conference Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. I hope you will join us.
Our annual meeting is more than just a business session. It’s a chance for members to come together, learn more about DEC, and visit with friends and neighbors. Registration starts at 9 a.m., the business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m., and lunch follows.
The annual meeting is an opportunity for us to share updates on issues affecting DEC and the cost of electricity. 1 of those issues is a lawsuit spearheaded by the state of Oregon that could result in about a 6% rate increase for DEC members.
For generations, the dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers have helped power the Pacific Northwest. That hydropower has been the backbone of our electric system, providing electricity that is affordable, reliable, and carbon-free for families and businesses across Douglas County.
That system is once again tied up in the courtroom. The lawsuit is pushing for federal dams to spill more water over the spillways to help fish pass downstream, instead of sending that water through the turbines that generate electricity. It would require drawing down reservoirs, which further reduces how much power those dams can produce. In fact, a federal judge in Oregon has already ordered more spill.
The problem is that there’s no clear scientific proof that drastically increasing the spill will improve salmon recovery. What we do know for certain is it would mean less electricity being generated and higher costs for people who depend on it.
For Douglas Electric members, that could translate into higher power bills and a greater risk of power shortages, especially at a time when electricity demand across the West is growing quickly, and power supplies are already tight. Hydropower plays an important role in keeping the lights on because it can respond quickly when the grid needs extra power.
Recently, I joined other electric cooperative leaders in asking Gov. Tina Kotek to meet with us so we can work toward a balanced solution—one that supports fish recovery without putting the financial burden on rural families and communities that rely on affordable hydropower.
We still believe it’s time to talk and not fight. Too much is at stake for the state of Oregon to stay in the courtroom and leave rural communities behind.
Sincerely,
General Manager Keith Brooks