Around the Cooperative: Project Updates

Lane Electric Cooperative crews continually work to improve the reliability and safety of the co-op’s electric system. Here are 2 recent project updates:

New Metering System: Foundational Work in Oakridge & McKenzie

Members in Oakridge and McKenzie may have seen Lane Electric crews installing new equipment on power poles in their area. These are relays for the co-op’s new metering system.

These devices receive and transmit information to equipment on Lane Electric’s network, creating a grid that provides more pathways for communication across the co-op’s system. It’s a foundational step for meter installation.

Relays—in combination with upgraded meters— make getting reads from homes and reporting outages quicker and more dependable. Meter installation in these areas is scheduled for 2026.

Reliability Improvements in Veneta

In April, the Lane Electric staking team surveyed new pole locations for a reliability project in Veneta. This project, which begins this month, brings together 2 primary ties, creating greater resiliency for more than 1,100 members in the area. The work requires replacing 51 poles and 50 spans of overhead line.

4 poles in the Fern Ridge Reservoir will also be removed, improving access to Lane Electric equipment.