Bringing Local Power to Washington, D.C.
Dear Member,
As summer arrives, so does the potential for extreme weather across Oregon. In recent years, we’ve experienced triple-digit temperatures, dry conditions, and an increased risk of catastrophic wildfires. How Douglas Electric Cooperative can respond to extreme conditions may ultimately depend on policymakers in our nation’s capital.
In April, I joined 17 other Oregon electric cooperative leaders in Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress to discuss the federal policies shaping safety, reliability, and affordability for our members.
1 of the key topics was wildfire mitigation. Douglas Electric and cooperatives across Oregon continue to make major investments in vegetation management, system improvements, inspections, and other wildfire prevention efforts. We also stressed the importance of practical federal land management reforms, including provisions in the Fix Our Forests Act that would help utilities reduce wildfire risks more efficiently.
Over the past several years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been vitally important to Oregon’s electric co-ops, including Douglas Electric. We emphasized the value of the FEMA Reform Act of 2025, which allows co-ops to recover faster, rebuild stronger, and restore power without shouldering years of reimbursement delays.
Finally, we outlined the serious implications of Oregon’s ongoing anti-hydropower litigation. We have seen just how important the Federal Columbia River Power System is for keeping electricity affordable and reliable, especially during periods of extreme heat when power demand is at its highest. Hydropower gives us the ability to respond quickly and help keep the lights on when we need them most. The state of Oregon’s actions will raise electricity rates and threaten to increase the likelihood of blackouts in the Pacific Northwest.
As we head into another summer season, we want our members to know that we’ll continue doing everything we can to safely provide reliable and affordable power. The decisions made in Washington, D.C., may feel far away, but they have real consequences here at home, affecting how quickly we can respond to emergencies, strengthen our system, and keep power flowing when our communities need it most.
Whether it’s preparing for wildfire season or speaking up for rural communities, we’re proud to advocate for practical policies that protect the safety, reliability, and affordability our members count on every day.
Sincerely,
General Manager Keith Brooks