Board Information
The Board approved updates to the Scholarship Policy, Board of Directors Travel Policy, and Board Donations Policy, as recommended by the Board Policy Committee. In addition, the Board took action to discontinue AMI deferrals as of January 27, 2026. This does not affect members who currently have an AMI deferral. The Board also voted to reschedule the March and April board meetings due to scheduling conflicts. Board meeting dates can be accessed from Salem Electric’s home page.
General Manager’s Report
Tony Schacher provided a status update regarding the property acquisition in Keizer. Salem Electric is working with an architect, construction firm, and the City of Keizer to secure the site and facilitate removal of the current structure, so that Salem Electric can move forward with property improvements.
2025 Year-End Report Highlights
SE employees worked 85,607 hours in 2025 with no recordable injuries. The Engineering & Operations Department came in under budget for 2025, and members experienced an average outage time of 6.09 minutes for the year (excluding the December 17 windstorm) and 41.48 minutes including the storm. By comparison, the national median is over 260 minutes annually.
The Information & Technology Department upgraded essential operating equipment, shared key cybersecurity milestones, and praised Salem Electric employees for their diligence in protecting Salem Electric from phishing attacks.
Member Services statistics showed that 92% of incoming phone calls were answered in the first two rings. New process improvements included navigating a PCI compliant phone payment process, providing members with the option of self-serve payment arrangements, the addition of a solar calculator on the website, and early retirement of capital credits for the estates of qualified persons. The department also participated in 21 community events and donated to 98 local non-profit organizations.
The Administrative Services Department presented detailed charts on net margins, operating revenue, total expenses, power cost, operating expenses, utility billing revenue, and MWh sales, noting that Salem Electric’s financials are strong and member funds are managed efficiently.