A Year of Progress & Commitment
At Wasco Electric Cooperative’s (WEC) 85th annual meeting on November 23, we reflected on a year of achievements, challenges, and continued dedication to our members and community. It was a privilege to share the progress we have made and outline our vision for the future. A highlight was the election of a new board member. We are pleased to welcome Shawn Sorenson to the WEC board.
Shawn grew up in Klamath Falls and spent many summers and holidays in Wasco County with his grandparents. These experiences fostered a lifelong connection to the area’s natural beauty and community spirit. After dedicating nearly 22 years to the U.S. Air Force, Shawn retired in 2008 and returned to his family property outside Dufur. Since then, he has served the community in various capacities, including as a parole and probation officer for the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and as a Soil and Water Conservation District board member.
During the meeting, I shared that WEC concluded the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years with $241,687 in margins. As part of our commitment to our members, the board approved the retirement of $390,000 in capital credits from 1998.
Alongside financial stewardship, we have been hard at work enhancing infrastructure to ensure system reliability. Major projects in 2024 include rebuilding the Antelope Substation, upgrading 119 poles, and rebuilding 4.4 miles of line in the Cherry Heights area. Vegetation management crews have rimmed more than 2,100 trees and removed nearly 3,900 since October 2023.
Our wildfire mitigation efforts took a significant step forward with the award of a $1.4 million Wildfire Assessment and Resilience for Networks grant. This funding supports undergrounding 4.1 miles of overhead line in the Mt. Hood National Forest to reduce wildfire risks and improve service reliability. Combined with a $1 million investment in vegetation management for 2025, this initiative underscores our commitment to protecting our community and infrastructure.
As we navigate rising material costs and increased power supply expenses, including adjustments from Bonneville Power Administration, we strive to maintain financial stability and reliable service. To this end, a rate increase for many rate classes takes effect in May. These adjustments are critical for sustaining the cooperative’s operations and reliability in the long term.
Looking ahead, we are planning significant investments to meet our growing needs. New warehouses are planned for Grass Valley and Maupin, with upgrades to our facility in The Dalles on the horizon. Additionally, a headquarters rebuild is in development to support evolving operational requirements. In 2025, we will introduce a drone inspection program to improve outage assessments in remote areas.
Our metering systems are undergoing modernization. These advancements will enhance outage response, provide members with more detailed energy use insights, and pave the way for programs such as prepaid metering and demand rates.
Our commitment to community engagement remains strong. This past year, WEC dedicated more than 800 hours to safety education and community events across Wasco and Sherman counties. We have expanded our team, adding staff across all departments to enhance our focus on reliability, service, and system improvements.
Thank you for your continued trust and support as we work together to power our community and build a brighter future for Wasco Electric Cooperative.
General Manager Lindsay Forepaugh