The following article was provided by Sandra Flicker, Executive Director of the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

     The Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association (ORECA) was recently recognized at the annual meeting of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), for outstanding efforts to develop an effective grassroots program called Power of Community. Following is information on the development and success of Power of Community.
    ORECA is leading Oregon co-op efforts to protect the interests of co-op members by using the strongest political tool available to electric co-ops. Grass-roots advocacy is the primary political engine of electric cooperatives, the motor that provides torque to advance the member-owners' objectives.
    ORECA developed an Oregon grassroots coalition called "Power of Community," now with more than 3,600 members. Power of Community is using fundamental cooperative principles of democratic member control, education and information, and cooperation among cooperatives to make a difference in protecting the interests of consumers throughout the state.
     With Oregon at the brink of opening its electric power market to full competition, ORECA and Power of Community have been instrumental in protecting utility members. Among issues the group is monitoring are local control, allocation of Federal Columbia River Power System resources through the Bonneville Power Administration, and potential cost increases for Northwest consumers under FERC's proposed "seamless electricity market" with Regional Transmission Organizations.
     Letters, phone calls and e-mails from Power of Community members to Oregon Legislators helped maintain local control for electric cooperatives when the Oregon Legislature passed the electricity deregulation bill in 1999. Again in 2001, communications from Power of Community members helped convince the Legislature to delay deregulation in Oregon because of inadequate power supply levels to create a truly competitive market and avoid the blackouts and price surges seen in California. More recent communications with Oregon's congressional delegation are helping to preserve low-cost power for co-op consumers.
     Thank you to all who have signed on as Power of Community members and who have answered our request for political action. You have made a difference. If you have not joined, please consider doing so now. Complete the information below, tear off and mail to ORECA, or sign up online at www.oreca.org .

 

May 2002