New Year, New Oregon Legislative Session
Dear Member,
The new year is off to a good start at Douglas Electric Cooperative. We’re working hard to keep your lights on and our rates affordable while maintaining focus on our communities. At the same time, we’re closely watching the Oregon Legislature as it convenes this month for the 83rd Legislative Assembly.
We expect 1 of the big issues this session will be funding the Oregon Department of Transportation. But there are other issues we want to keep at the forefront, such as wildfire mitigation and the importance of our federal hydropower system in delivering reliable, low-cost electricity.
Even in the winter, we never stop preparing for the next wildfire season. Like last session, we will use this time in Salem to help lawmakers understand the uncertainty that comes with wildfire liability, and that the time has come for the state to recognize we need healthy forests and healthy utilities.
We also want to raise awareness about the state of Oregon’s lawsuit against the federal hydropower system supplying affordable, reliable electricity to our homes and businesses. According to Northwest Requirements Utilities, Oregon’s lawsuit could raise rates by 22% and increase the chance of rolling blackouts by 30%. This is concerning, especially following a legislative session that emphasized keeping energy costs affordable for Oregonians.
We appreciate our legislators’ service and look forward to working with them to advance thoughtful policies that protect reliability, affordability, and the long-term energy needs of our community.
Sincerely,
General Manager Keith Brooks