Bringing Local Power to Washington, D.C.
Dear Members,
Summer is here, bringing with it often unpredictable weather. In the past few years, Oregon has experienced heat domes that bring triple-digit temperatures and create ripe conditions for catastrophic wildfires. How West Oregon Electric Co-op responds to extreme weather may ultimately depend on policymakers in our nation’s capital.
That reality took 18 Oregon electric cooperative leaders to Washington, D.C., recently to meet with members of Congress and talk directly about the federal policies shaping reliability, safety, and affordability for the communities we serve.
Those conversations highlighted the significant investments co-ops are making in wildfire mitigation—from vegetation management to system hardening—and the barriers that can slow that work. We emphasized the need for common-sense federal land management reforms, including provisions in the Fix Our Forests Act, which allow utilities to mitigate wildfire risk more quickly and safely.
Over the past several years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been vitally important to Oregon’s electric co-ops. While in Washington, D.C., we emphasized the value of the FEMA Reform Act of 2025, which allows co-ops to recover faster, rebuild stronger, and restore power without shouldering years of reimbursement delays.
Finally, we also outlined the serious implications of Oregon’s ongoing anti-hydropower litigation. We have seen how critical the Federal Columbia River Power System is not only in keeping your rates affordable but also in ramping up and helping keep the lights on during extreme temperatures when demand is high. The state of Oregon’s actions will raise electricity rates and increase the likelihood of blackouts.
As summer temperatures rise and wildfire season intensifies, the stakes for reliable and affordable electricity have never been higher. The decisions made in Washington, D.C., may feel far away, but they have real consequences here at home. They affect how quickly we can respond to emergencies, strengthen our system, and keep power flowing when our communities need it most. That’s why we will continue advocating for practical policies that protect the reliability, affordability, and safety our members depend on all year long.
Thank you,
General Manager Billi Kohler