The Oregon Legislative Assembly faced another challenging session in 2025. Issues such as funding for wildfire suppression and aging transportation infrastructure captured the headlines, but the electric utility industry also received considerable attention.
Among other legislation, lawmakers considered proposals to expedite transmission line projects, increase access to rooftop solar, and cap utility rate increases from investor-owned utilities.
It is important to be engaged in the legislative process. Douglas Electric Cooperative spent time in the Oregon State Capitol early in the session advocating for policies that protect our ability to deliver affordable, reliable electricity. Our legislators appreciate that the cooperative business model has no profit motive and is governed by a democratically elected board of directors who live in our communities.
These efforts led to a bipartisan coalition in Salem to block proposals that could have dramatically increased your electric bills. This is good news, but there remains some unfinished business for the 2026 Legislative Assembly just around the corner.
Douglas Electric is proud of our wildfire mitigation plans, but the existential threat of wildfire from forces outside our control creates fiscal and operational challenges that could threaten our long-term viability. We look forward to further conversations with legislators about how healthy utilities are essential for local economies.
In the meantime, we want to thank the Oregon Legislative Assembly for listening to our concerns and working hard to solve Oregon’s most pressing problems.
Keith Brooks
General Manager