Outage Map
CEO’s Message – September 2026
Healthy Forests, Reliable Power
CEO’s Message – August 2026
When a Court Decision Harms Fish & Hurts Your Pocketbook
CEO’s Message – June 2026
Facing Another Challenging Wildfire Season
CEO’s Message – May 2026
Growing Together: Redmond Campus Reimagined
CEO’s Message – March 2026
CEC Is Securing Its Energy Future
CEO’s Message – February 2026
Protecting Our Forests & Clean, Reliable Power
CEO’s Message – January 2026
Help Us Help You Save Money & Energy
CEO’s Message – December 2025
Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) Issues $3,000,000 in Capital Credits
CEO’s Message – November 2025
It’s Time to Talk, Not Fight
CEO’s Message – October 2025
Gradual Rate Increase Offsets Rising Costs
CEO’s Message – September 2025
Members Weigh In & Give High Marks
CEO’s Message – August 2025
Rate Adjustments Coming This Fall
CEO’s Message – July 2025
Wildfire Preparedness Never Takes a Break
CEO’s Message – May 2025
Let’s Be Careful Out There
CEO’s Message – March 2025
Tree Trimming Reduces Outages, Wildfire Risk
CEO’s Message – February 2025
Your Voice Is Needed
CEO’s Message – January 2025
The Path Forward in 2025
CEO’s Message – December 2024
Rate Redesign Enters Final Phase
CEO’s Message – November 2024
Lend a Helping Hand to Other Members This Holiday Season
CEO’s Message – October 2024
Ongoing Infrastructure Improvements Update
CEO’s Message – September 2024
Take Action Now to Weather the Winter Cold
CEC Pursues Grant for Infrastructure Improvements
CEC has invested considerable time exploring and pursuing ways to maintain safe, clean and affordable electricity for CEC members while updating and enhancing our electric system and delivering increased capacity and resiliency.
Unlocking Success for Safety and Reliability
To ensure safety and reliability, CEC must have access to member's property to inspect equipment, meters, and power lines at all reasonable times.
Mitigating Wildfire Risk
The Oregon Capital Chronicle recently reported a panel of University of Oregon professors—who study climate change, smoke and wildfire—convened to discuss the 2024 wildfire season with interested journalists.
Legislative Update
Oregon’s 2024 Legislative Assembly recently wrapped up its short session.
Safety, Safety, Safety
No matter the time of season, always be aware of your surroundings when dealing withe electricity.
CEC Employees Are Crucial to Co-op’s Success
Throughout the years, CEC has built an excellent reputation as 1 of the best service-oriented companies in Central Orgon, and that is because of its employees.
Settlement Details Pose Risk
The recent agreement could have long-term adverse impacts on rates and system reliability.
Secret Deal Creates Uncertainty
As a not-for-profit member-owned utility, certainty is imperative. Central Electric Cooperative wants to be certain now and in the long term that the electricity it provides to its members will remain clean, affordable, and reliable.
Central Electric’s Year in Review
While change is constant, Central Electric Cooperative’s mission stays the same every year: deliver our members safe, clean, reliable electricity at the lowest possible rates.
2024 Rate Changes
CEC must implement a rate change impacting all customer classes effective January 1, 2024.
Member Survey Says?
Central Electric Cooperative members who participated in our member satisfaction survey in June gave us an overall satisfaction rating of 90%, with 70% being very satisfied.
Ready to Lead the Cooperative
View an introductory message from Brad Wilson, Central Electric Cooperative’s new president and CEO.
Take Advantage of CEC’s Energy-Efficiency Programs
Weather events can adversely affect your electric bills. CEC wants to serve as your trusted energy adviser to help you maximize saving and experience year-round comfort while having a home that benefits from greater efficiency.
Legislation Puts Reliability & Local Control at Risk
The 2023 state legislative session is underway, and there is considerable activity on energy-related issues. 2 bills have emerged that would undermine your electric cooperative’s system reliability and local governance.
Recent Substation Attacks Raise Heightened Awareness
The recent surge in physical attacks sabotaging electrical substations throughout the country serves as a somber reminder of the vulnerability of the electric grid’s critical assets
Understanding Your Bill
Central Electric Cooperative, a not-for-profit utility, buys almost all its power from the federal Bonneville Power Administration to deliver more than 95% renewable, carbon-free electricity to its members.
Entering the Home Stretch
Phase IV of Central Electric Cooperative’s gradual rate design begins in January 2023.
Join Us!
Join a Member Virtual Meeting, Thursday, December 8, from 7 to 8 p.m.
Keeping Pets & Energy Bills Comfortable
I don’t know about you, but I consider my 4-legged companions part of the family.
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
In this space, I have expressed skepticism about the political process and gamesmanship involving efforts to breach the 4 lower Snake River dams, an integral part of the Federal Columbia River Power System.
Join Us!
Member Virtual Meeting, Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Website/Conference Call.
Dam Politics
The lower Snake River dams—a critical component of the Federal Columbia River Power System—produce firm, reliable, carbon-free, affordable energy and play an essential role in keeping the lights on for millions of consumers, especially during extreme winter and summer events.
Did You Know?
Central Electric Cooperative’s price for residential electricity is among the lowest in the state and country.
Remain Vigilant: Wildfire Season is Back
1 may have a false sense of security after the past 2 months of rain, snow and cool temperatures left the upper elevations of the eastern Cascades in deep snow, with patches below 4,500 feet.
Join Us!
Public Virtual Meeting, Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Website/Conference Call. Learn about CEC's public safety efforts, including wildfire mitigation, and the value of hydropower as a carbon-free resource.
Beware of the Scam–Call Central Electric
The recent trial of Theranos’ founder and former CEO Elizabeth Holmes in a U.S. court for fraud captured my attention.
Above & Beyond Cybersecurity Measures
Last November, a small electric cooperative in Colorado became the victim of a cybersecurity attack that paralyzed the co-op’s payment processing, billing, and other internal systems.
Capital Credit Returns Reflect Co-op Success
In mid-December, the Central Electric Cooperative Board of Directors returned $4 million in capital credits to current and former cooperative members who bought electricity in 1996.
A Year of CEC Highlights
During another year in the grip of COVID-19, Central Electric Cooperative experienced challenges and successes worth highlighting.
We Appreciate Our Veterans In Word & Deed
Veterans Day is November 11, and this month’s magazine honors Central Oregon’s veterans. We understand the debt owed to these men and women and want to recognize and show our appreciation with not just words, but deeds.
Stay Comfortable While Keeping Bills Under Control
As cooler temperatures descend upon us this autumn, the extreme summer heatwaves will not soon be forgotten.
Legislature Addresses Clean Energy, Wildfires
A sweltering June Saturday in Salem, where temperatures soared to an all-time high of 103 degrees, seemed a fitting backdrop to conclude an extraordinary state legislative session.
CEC Unveils EV Rebate Program
Do you own or are you considering the purchase of an electric vehicle? Are you looking to buy and install a Level 2 charger at your home? If so, I have good news for you.
Preparing for Wildfire Season
As Central Oregon enters fire season, I urge you to explore this month’s Ruralite dedicated to wildfire and Public Safety Power Shutoff preparedness.
CEC Sells its Telecom Subsidiary
Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) announces that it has sold its ownership interest in LS Networks (LSN).
State Legislative Priorities for Co-Op Members
The 81st Oregon Legislative Assembly is underway. Significant bill proposals could financially affect Central Electric Cooperative and the state’s consumer-owned utilities.
CEC Formalizes Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Last year, Central Electric Cooperative undertook a comprehensive effort to update and formalize its existing wildfire mitigation plan.
Governor Should Reconsider
Upon hearing Gov. Kate Brown’s intent to sue the federal government over how it manages the federal Columbia River system, I was disappointed but not surprised at her decision. I encourage her to reconsider.
A Year Unlike Any Other
COVID-19 unleashed a tidal wave of epic proportions this year, inflicting human suffering and economic hardships, and disrupting social norms.
Balancing Differences Among Rate Categories
In January 2021, Phase III of Central Electric Cooperative’s gradual rate redesign goes into effect. Residential members will see a slight decrease in the kilowatt-hour energy charge offset by a slight increase in the monthly facilities charge on their February bills.
California Blackouts Serve as a Cautionary Tale
With temperatures topping 100 degrees and millions working from home due to COVID-19, hundreds of thousands of California homes went dark in August.
Seeking Solutions to Reduce Wildfire Risk
Vegetation management helps reduce the threat of wildfires and enhances the resiliency of the electric grid.
Energy Efficiency: Extending Today’s Energy Supply
According to the mantra, energy efficiency is the low-hanging fruit—and history confirms it. Since the 1970s energy crisis, the deployment of federal, state, and local energy-efficiency programs have resulted in tremendous energy and cost savings.
Members Helping Members
In response to COVID-19, the Central Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in late March postponed April’s annual meeting.
COVID-19 Response & Federal Agencies Abandon Idea to Remove Dams
As we continue to navigate the evolving coronavirus pandemic, Central Electric Cooperative has implemented measures to protect its employees and members while continuing to deliver safe and reliable electricity.
Annual Meeting Postponed
The Central Electric Cooperative Board of Directors announced in late March its decision to postpone the upcoming 79th annual member meeting scheduled for April 10 until further notice due to the rising coronavirus risks and concerns for the safety and health of co-op members and employees.
Reducing the Threat of Wildfires
Nearly 50,000 wildfires burned 4.6 million acres throughout the United States last year, with the West hit especially hard.
Hydropower Essential to Delivering You Clean Energy
A recent report by the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America caught my attention.
Unfinished Legislative Business
With a new year upon us, it is important to consider what the state and federal legislatures have in store for electric cooperatives.
Rising BPA Costs & Strategic Investment Initiative Drive Rate Changes
Central Electric Cooperative will implement a rate increase impacting all customer classes effective January 1, 2020.
Members Show Giving Spirit
This month, most of us will pause from our busy lives to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends.
CEC Member Satisfaction Survey Still Open
Win a $500 credit off your February 2020 electric bill!
CEC Rate Increase Likely in January 2020
In July, the Bonneville Power Administration—the supplier of nearly all of Central Electric’s wholesale electricity—announced its record of decision to set rates for the 2-year rate period beginning October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2021.
Cap & Trade Fails, But It Is Not Over
Throughout this year, I have shared with you my concerns about the Oregon Legislature’s push for an economywide cap-and-trade-bill and our efforts to address the new cost exposure to Central Electric Cooperative of more than $7 million between 2021 and 2030.
Grassroots Efforts Help Mitigate Financial Risk
For the past decade, the Oregon Legislature tried passing various versions of an economywide cap-and-trade bill to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
Selling BPA’s Assets Ill-Advised; Keep BPA Rates Competitive
This spring, I joined Oregon electric co-op leaders and others throughout the country for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
CEC Looks to 2019 and Beyond
At last month’s 78th annual meeting, I highlighted Central Electric’s chief accomplishments made possible by the board of directors’ leadership and dedicated staff.
Governor, Legislature Make Cap & Trade a Priority
The Oregon Legislature is moving ahead with one of the more sweeping and complicated pieces of legislation in modern Oregon history, targeting reductions in the state’s carbon emissions.
Keeping You Informed of Changes in Your Rates
I encourage you to take time to read the important articles about changes to your electricity rates on pages 28 and 29 of the February 2019 edition of Ruralite.
Washington Whale Recovery Plan Includes Spill, Dam Removal Study
Acting on the recommendations of his task force for orca recovery, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has proposed budgeting $1.1 billion to fund recovery efforts for Puget Sound’s killer whale population.
CEC Electrical Grid Continues to Amaze
As much as you hear the word “amazing” these days, I don’t find myself using it very much.
Outage Information at Your Fingertips
Unfortunately, power outages are a fact of life at every electric utility.
Hydroelectricity Kept Northwest Cool
Do you remember our late July heat wave in Central Oregon?
BPA Offsets Most Experimental Columbia River Spill Costs, Full Costs Likely to Hit Consumers Later
The final financial impact of increasing the amount of water spilled past Columbia River hydroelectric dams this spring and summer will be $38.6 million, slightly less than the Bonneville Power Administration’s projected cost of $40 million.
Tune In to Safety Messages
Just about a year ago, there was a tragic news story about a 14-year-old New Mexico girl electrocuted when her cell phone fell into the bathtub with her while the phone was plugged into a charger.
CEC & Energy Trust of Oregon Approaches Differ
CEC has a long history of helping homeowners, businesses, and the agricultural sector conserve energy and save money.
Oregon’s Co-ops Land Congressional Victory
A rare event took place last month in Washington D.C.
The Cooperative Difference Spelled Out
Central Electric has added a lot of new members in the past few years.
77th Annual Meeting of Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Deschutes County Fairgrounds South Sister Conference Hall
Energy-Efficiency Programs Save Members Money
Since the late 1970s, Central Electric Cooperative has led the charge for energy conservation and efficiency programs.
Members Receive Record Payout of Capital Credits
In mid-December, the Central Electric Cooperative Board of Directors returned $2.1 million in capital credits to current and former cooperative members from the years 1993 to 1995.
BPA Rates Increase, CEC Rates Remain Stable
I am pleased to tell you that despite an average 5.4% increase in the Bonneville Power Administration’s wholesale electricity rates effective October 1, we are keeping Central Electric’s rates at current levels.
Member Involvement Builds Our Political Strength
Election Day this year will be quiet, with voter decisions limited to local issues and candidates.
Going Solar With CEC Easier, More Affordable Than Ever
With new lower-than-ever prices and enhanced service through our website, it has never been a better time to join the CEC solar community.
Bonneville Power Increase Announced, CEC Analysis Underway
In July, BPA announced rate changes for wholesale electricity and transmission services for the 2018 to 2019 rate period beginning October 1.
A Critical Time for NW Hydro
Our article on page 4 of this month’s edition of Ruralite highlights the value of the Northwest’s hydroelectric dams.
Elected Officials Stand Up for Oregon’s Co-ops
Bipartisan political action is all but unheard of these days.
Indicators Point to Rising Rates
Although specifics will not be available until summer, I feel it important to keep you, our members, advised of developments at the Bonneville Power Administration likely to affect your electricity rates.
CEC Shows Concern for Community
At last month’s Central Electric Cooperative annual meeting (see story beginning on page 4), I had the pleasure of acknowledging our board of directors for its support of one of the Seven Cooperative principles, Concern for Community.
Legislative Issues Concern Co-op Members
We must constantly monitor the rules, regulations, and laws affecting Central Electric to protect the affordability and reliability of your electric service.
76th Annual Meeting of Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Deschutes County Fairgrounds South Sister Conference Hall
Dam Removal Maneuver is Mind-Boggling
“Foolishness” is the nicest word I can use to describe a recent legal maneuver that could someday make your bills increase.
New Rate Redesign Affects Each Rate Class Differently
As addressed in the story on page 4 in this month’s Ruralite, Central Electric is embarking on a historic change to the design of our rates