News

2008

OTECC Nominating Committees Appointed

Baker City, OR – December 22, 2008 – The board of directors for Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) appointed the director nominating committees for Baker, Grant, and Union County during its regular meeting on December 9.
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OTECC Announce 2009 Speakers Bureau

Baker City, OR – December 15, 2008 – Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) announced the implementation of its 2009 Speakers Bureau.
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OTECC Distributes Refunds for 14th Consecutive Year

Baker City, OR – December 8, 2008 – For the 14th consecutive year, Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative’s (OTECC) board of directors is pleased to announce capital credit checks will once again be distributed to its members.
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OTECC Announce the 2009 Youth Tour Program

Baker City, OR – December 1, 2008 – Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) is pleased to announce the continuation of its participation in the national “Youth Tour” program.
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OTECC Writer named “Ruralite Writer of the Year”

Baker City, OR – November 13, 2008 – Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) is proud to announce that Ms. Lee Farren was named “Ruralite’s 2008 Writer of the Year.”
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OTECC Offers Green Power

Baker City, OR – November 7, 2009 – Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) reminds members that “Green Power” is available through OTECC. The recent political campaigns, news stories of potential green power development in the region, and interactions with members reaffirm the importance of the OTECC Green Power program.
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OTECC Opposes BPA’s Plan to Subsidize Aluminum Industry

Baker City, OR – November 3, 2008 – Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) issued comments in opposition to a Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) plan to provide inexpensive power to two aluminum plants in the Northwest. This plan would ultimately result in a rate increase to BPA customers like OTECC of 2-3 percent, or about $100 million for all BPA customers.
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OTECC Announces 2009 Scholarship Program

Baker City, OR – November 3, 2008 – Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) is pleased to announce the continuation of its scholarship program by offering $48,000 in scholarships for the Fall 2009 academic period.
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OTECC Lowers Rates to Large Power Members

Elgin, OR – October 22, 2008 – Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) announced that industrial class electric rates will decrease by 7.5% effective November 1, 2008. The announcement was made at the Timber Roundtable hosted by Congressman Greg Walden in Elgin.
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2009 OTECC Annual Meeting Date and Location Scheduled

Baker City, OR – October 15, 2008 – The Board of Directors of Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) has scheduled the time and place for OTECC’s 2009 Annual Meeting.
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OTECC Launches New Communication Tool For The Computer Savvy

Baker City, OR – October 6, 2008 – Increased computer and internet usage by Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) members leads to a proactive approach by OTECC to communicate more effectively with its computer savvy members.
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Baker City Council Celebrates OTECC’s 20th Anniversary

Baker City, OR – October 2, 2008 - Mayor Jeff Petry (Baker City) issued an official proclamation establishing October 5, 2008, as “OTECC Day” and October as “Cooperative Month” in the City. In his proclamations for OTECC Day and Cooperative Month, Mayor Petry “encouraged all citizens to join in the observance,” and to “thoughtfully consider the value of the democratic cooperative structure, and acknowledge through private acts and public policy the role of cooperatives in meeting the economic and social needs of our nation.”
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OTECC Lowers Rates

Baker City, OR – October 1, 2008 – Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) is pleased to announce that electric rates will decrease beginning with all member billings printed after October 1, 2008. The rate reduction will reduce all electric rates by an average of 0.68%.
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Governor Kulongoski Proclaims October 5 as OTECC Day

Baker City, OR – September 29, 2008 – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has proclaimed October 5, 2008, as OTECC Day in Oregon. This official proclamation was issued in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Oregon Trial Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC). In his proclamation, Governor Kulongoski “urged all citizens to observe this month and day by acknowledging the value of cooperatives and their important contributions to our City’s economy and their role in improving the quality of life in our community.”
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OTECC teams with KBKR’s “Your Voice”

Baker City, OR – September 17, 2008 – The Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) is excited to announce that it will be the featured guest on KBKR/KLBM’s “Your Voice” radio program on the third Thursday of each month. The first show featuring OTECC will be Thursday, September 18.
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OTECC Locally Owned, by You – Thank Goodness!

Baker City, OR – September 4, 2008 – According to a report in the Portland Oregonian (9/4/08) PacifiCorp made an announcement that has sent shivers down the spines of its customers. PacifiCorp said this week it will likely limit repairs in Utah during outages, curb discretionary maintenance and consider curtailing electric service to customers because regulators have declined rate increase proposals.
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OTECC Labors on Labor Day

Elgin, OR – September 2, 2008 – On a day traditionally reserved to provide a day off for working citizens and celebrate labor unions, the union crews of the Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) were working to provide the highest level of service to one of its largest members.
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OTECC Members Indicate High Level of Satisfaction

“Results of a recently completed Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) residential survey indicate members are highly satisfied with their electric cooperative,” said JoAnn Arnold, Senior Advisor, Market Research, with National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
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New Business Hours

Beginning July 1, 2008 all Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) offices will begin opening for business and answering telephones at 9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.
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22nd Annual Meeting Held

Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative’s (OTECC) 22nd annual meeting of members was held Saturday, May 3, at the Baker County Fairgrounds Show Barn in Baker City. A record crowd of 315 OTECC members enjoyed live music played by Too Loud MacLeod and Sweet Medicine, a band from La Grande.
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OTECC Selects 24 for Scholarships

“On behalf of Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative’s (OTECC) Board of Directors, we are pleased to announce that 24 students have been selected to receive $2,000 educational scholarships for the 2008 fall semester,” said Werner Buehler, general manager of OTECC. “Our scholarship program grew again this year as we added four additional scholarships.
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OTECC Donates to Baker County Library

Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) made a $2,500 donation on April 15, 2008 to the Baker County Library. The purpose for the contribution was so the library could purchase a special software license that goes with a video conferencing system.
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New Low-Flow Showerhead Program

Beginning March 1, Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) will launch a new energy conservation low-flow showerhead program. Free for the asking, the low-flow showerheads are designed to reduce electrical usage by lowering the flow of electrically heated water.
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OTECC Selects 2008 DC Youth Tour Participants

Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) recently selected four high school students to represent OTECC at the 2008 Washington, D.C. Youth Tour. Selected were: Steven Crader of Union, Savannah Kowing of Canyon City, Dakota Olson of Baker City and Patrick Stampke of Hines.
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OTECC Adds Four Scholarships

Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative’s (OTECC) Board of Directors decided at the February board meeting to add four additional $2,000 educational scholarships. This brings the total number of annual educational scholarships offered to members to 24.
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2007

OTECC Contributes to Energy Assistance

Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) is pleased to announce a significant cash contribution to Eastern Oregon’s Low-income Energy Assistance program (LIEAP). OTECC contributed a total of $30,354 for this important program.
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La Grande Nominating Committee Appointed

The board of directors for Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) appointed the director nominating committee for Union County during its regular meeting on November 27. Appointed to serve were Beverly Lousignout, Colleen Macleod, and Sandy Wyland.
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Burns Nominating Committee Appointed

The board of directors for Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) appointed the director nominating committee for Harney County during its regular meeting on November 27. Appointed to serve were Ethel Bossout, Mike Choate, and Ken Post.
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Baker Nominating Committee Appointed

The board of directors for Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) appointed the director nominating committee for Baker County during its regular meeting on November 27. Appointed to serve were Nelson Clark, Robert McKim, and Karen Yeakley.
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Record Capital Credit Refund Authorized

For The 13th consecutive year, Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative’s (OTECC) board of directors is pleased to announce the authorization of the return of margins to its members. OTECC will return about $2.1 million to its members this year, which represents a portion of each member’s capital credit account.
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Elm Street Substation Activated

On Friday, October 26, Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (OTECC) energized a new 25MVA Waukesha transformer in Baker City that has the capacity to serve a substantial portion of Baker City. The new $950,000 transformer located in the Elm Street substation will provide additional capacity to meet new load growth in and around Baker City.
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