Manager’s Message – November 2025

Rates & the Lower Snake River Dams

As you read in this issue, we are raising our kilowatt-hour rate in response to the rising cost of purchased power from the Bonneville Power Administration. It’s not a decision the board or I take lightly. We recognize that power is a necessity in our daily lives.

This is an increase to our kilowatt-hour rate, so you’ll see it reflected in your energy use. We hope this will give you flexibility to manage your usage. The new meters we’re rolling out across the system will also help in that effort.

Looking ahead, we’re monitoring another development that could affect the cost of power for you and more than 1 million Oregonians. On October 14, the state of Oregon restarted litigation over the operation of the federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers. The lawsuit calls for a dramatic reduction in hydropower generation.

In response, I signed a letter with my colleagues from Oregon’s other consumer-owned utilities to Gov. Tina Kotek expressing our concern with this decision and conveying that we believe now is the time to talk rather than fight over hydropower and salmon.

The best way to ensure we have a robust salmon population and adequate, clean, reliable electricity is to step out of the courtroom and back to the table.

We are responsible for keeping your lights on and using our voice when there are threats to cost and power delivery.

We will continue to have these difficult conversations and work on your behalf.

General Manager Scott Coe