Member Input Shapes the Co-op's Future
1 principle that sets electric cooperatives apart is member ownership. As a Wasco Electric Cooperative member, you have a voice in how your co-op operates and plans for the future. That is why your input is so important.
Our membership survey is underway, and I encourage every member to participate. Available on our website, the survey is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts on the services we provide, the challenges and opportunities you see ahead, and the issues that matter most to you. The results will help guide planning and decision-making by management and the board of directors.
1 issue affecting electric consumers throughout the Pacific Northwest is ongoing Columbia River System Operations litigation. While the litigation focuses on balancing fish recovery objectives with operation of the federal hydroelectric system, the decisions being considered could significantly affect the affordability and reliability of electricity.
Public power organizations, including the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Public Power Council, and Northwest Requirements Utilities, continue to advocate for balanced, science-based solutions that support fish recovery and reliable, affordable electricity. Analyses presented to public power leaders have raised concerns that restrictions on hydropower operations could reduce operational flexibility, increase power costs, and create additional reliability challenges during periods of extreme weather and growing energy demand.
For electric cooperatives, this issue is not simply about dam operations or court proceedings. Hydropower remains a cornerstone of the Northwest electric system, providing reliable, carbon-free, and cost-effective energy throughout our region.
When hydropower generation is reduced, utilities often must rely on more expensive replacement power sources, thus increasing costs that ultimately affect consumers. Public power advocates continue to support meaningful fish recovery efforts while ensuring the region maintains a dependable and affordable energy supply.
These concerns are an important topic of discussion among policymakers. Earlier this year, ORECA’s Voices for Cooperative Power campaign encouraged cooperative members to engage Gov. Tina Kotek regarding the importance of preserving the benefits of the federal hydropower system. Oregon cooperatives are working to ensure lawmakers understand that reliable and affordable electricity is fundamental to rural communities and local economies.
I encourage you to visit the Articles of Association information page under the Governance tab on our website. Later this year, you will be asked to vote on a proposed restatement of our articles of association. The restatement modernizes language, removes outdated provisions, improves readability, and aligns the document with Oregon law and cooperative governance standards while preserving WEC’s member-owned structure and democratic principles.
The website includes information explaining reasons for the update and summarizing key changes under consideration. I encourage you to review these materials and be prepared to vote later this year.
Thank you for your continued support of Wasco Electric Cooperative. Whether through completing the membership survey, staying informed on issues affecting reliable and affordable electricity, or participating in co-op governance, your involvement helps ensure the cooperative remains responsive to the members it serves.
General Manager
Lindsay Forepaugh