Manager’s Message – October 2025

The Cost of Power

Over the past few months, the team at Lane Electric has been developing our budget and plans for 2026, which we will present to the board of directors for approval.

We are taking a close look at managing investments in upgrades for reliability, efficiency, and system maintenance to keep costs manageable for members. It’s a complicated balancing act that I wanted to provide some perspective on.

Since 2019, we’ve seen a significant increase in equipment costs. In fact, the top 4 items we buy annually—transformers, overhead and underground wire, and poles—have increased by 467%. Additionally, we have recently been notified that the Bonneville Power Administration will increase its transmission rate by 19.9% and its generation rate by 8.8% on October 1, 2025.

These are not just issues for us. BPA provides about 1/3 of the electricity consumed in the Pacific Northwest. This is a challenge our neighbors at Blachly- Lane Cooperative, Eugene Water and Electric Board, Springfield Utility Board, and Emerald People’s District are also navigating. We are looking at the impact on our retail rates.

We will continue to work with our board to best manage these challenges with you, our member-owners, in mind.

General Manager Scott Coe