Baker City, OR – A federal court decision, backed by the State of Oregon, is forcing changes to how the Columbia and Snake River dams operate – cutting the clean, competitively priced hydropower that has powered the Pacific Northwest for generations.
More than 84% of the electricity OTEC delivers across Baker, Union, Grant, and Harney counties comes from hydropower. It powers our homes, farms, ranches, schools, and small businesses.
Now, early estimates show these changes could drive power costs up 6% almost overnight – and up to 17% when stacked with recent rate pressures. The replacement? Higher-cost power bought on the open market. Rural Oregon pays the price first.
OTEC and 37 other Oregon cooperatives asked the Governor’s office to sit down and talk about this. Twice. No response from the Governor.
As a member-owned cooperative, Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative is committed to advocating for policies that protect grid reliability and keep electricity costs affordable for our members.
As a member of Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative, your voice matters.
Click the link below to use your voice today:
👉 https://voicesforcooperativepower.com/or-lsrd2026/
Our Power. Our Future. Our Voice.
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