What Salem Electric does

Salem Electric is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative corporation that distributes electricity to approximately 18,176 members across 17.48 square miles in parts of Salem and Keizer, Oregon. Founded July 23, 1938 and energized April 24, 1941, the cooperative purchased 317,035 MWh at an average load of 37.43 aMW in 2025 and recorded a 77.20 MW peak on August 11, 2025. The cooperative generates revenue almost entirely through usage-based electricity sales across three rate classes: Residential (88.2% of members, 61.2% of kWh), General Service / Commercial (11.4% of members, 38.3% of kWh), and Street Lighting (0.4% of members, 0.5% of kWh). As a cooperative, it operates at cost rather than for profit, with margins allocated back to members as capital credits historically refunded at approximately 5% per year after a roughly 20-year holding period. Rates are set by a seven-member Board of Directors elected by the membership.

The cooperative's technology and infrastructure foundation consists of 633 wire miles (363 overhead, 270 underground) and 260 pole miles (99 overhead, 161 underground) of distribution system operating at 12.5 kV, fed by a 115 kV supply from the Bonneville Power Administration's Federal Columbia River Power System. Member-facing systems include AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure), a GIS spatial database, the SmartHub web and mobile platform, and a real-time outage map. Product offerings extend beyond distribution to include Prepaid Billing, Average Pay Billing, the Member Payment Assistance Program ($185 annual credit for income-qualified members), SE Round Up donations, Capital Credits, EV charger rebates via ChargePoint Home Flex, smart thermostat rebates, heat pump and appliance incentives, solar interconnection with net metering up to 1,800 kW DC, new construction services, tree trimming, and community programs including college and lineworker scholarships.

The business model is structurally constrained: revenue scales with kWh volume within a fixed service territory, rates are board-approved (most recently a 5.41% increase effective April 1, 2026, the first change since October 2023), and all wholesale power is sourced from BPA under a newly signed 16-year Provider of Choice contract (October 2028 through September 2044). 2025 sales revenue totaled $33.27 million against total assets of $81.47 million and net plant of $60.38 million. The customer base of 18,176 distributed residential and commercial members, combined with zero reportable injuries across 85,607 hours worked and an average outage time of 6.09 minutes per member (excluding major events, versus a national median over 260 minutes), indicates operational stability rather than growth momentum. Forward-looking activity is concentrated in operational resilience (Keizer warehouse property purchase in November 2025), governance (new general counsel, Student Director Program), and incremental electrification programs rather than market or geographic expansion.

Name

Salem Electric

Legal name

Salem Electric

Website

https://salemelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Salem Electric is a not-for-profit electric cooperative distributing BPA-sourced carbon-free electricity to 18,176 members across 17.48 square miles in Salem and Keizer, Oregon, operating at cost under member-elected governance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

Keywords

• Electric utility distribution
• Electric cooperative services
• Residential electricity supply
• Commercial power distribution
• Community energy program

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electricity Sales: Sale of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial members. Revenue from electric service based on kWh consumption and demand charges. Rates established by elected Board of Directors. The cooperative operates at cost with no profit margin.
2. Capital Credits: As a not-for-profit cooperative, margins are allocated to members as capital credits based on electricity purchased. Credits are refunded over time (historically 5% annually) after approximately 20 years.
3. Connection and Service Fees: Fees for new service connections, disconnections, reconnections, line extensions, and new construction as outlined in the Schedule of Charges
4. Membership Fees: One-time membership fee for new members to join the cooperative

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Salem Electric is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative that purchases wholesale power from the Bonneville Power Administration and distributes electricity to approximately 18,176 residential, commercial/industrial, and street lighting members across 17.48 square miles of service territory in Salem and Keizer, Oregon. The cooperative sells electricity at cost through usage-based and demand-based rate schedules, offers energy efficiency incentives, prepaid and average-pay billing options, EV and solar interconnection programs, and a range of community-oriented services including capital credit refunds, scholarships, and member assistance.

Product overview

Salem Electric is a not-for-profit electric cooperative providing electricity distribution to parts of Keizer and Salem, Oregon. The core product is electric power distribution service, with a comprehensive member services platform centered on SmartHub—a digital portal and mobile app for account management, bill payment (including Prepaid Billing and Average Pay options), and usage monitoring. The cooperative offers energy efficiency incentives for appliances, smart thermostats, EV chargers, and EV registrations, alongside solar interconnection and net metering services. Community programs include college and lineworker scholarships, the SE Round Up donation program, member payment assistance, and Capital Credits (margin returns to members). Service offerings encompass new construction electrical installation, tree trimming near power lines, and real-time outage mapping. The cooperative is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors elected by the membership, with a newly established Student Director Program providing educational governance experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Power Distribution Service Core electricity distribution service delivering electricity purchased wholesale from the Bonneville Power Administration to 18,176 residential, commercial/industrial, and street lighting members across 17.48 square miles in Salem and Keizer, Oregon, using 633 wire miles of 12.5 kV distribution infrastructure.
• SmartHub Digital member portal and mobile app (iOS and Android) enabling account management, bill payment, usage monitoring, outage reporting, and service requests for Salem Electric members.
• Prepaid Billing Pay-as-you-go electricity service allowing members to pay for electricity in advance, with daily usage tracking, low-balance notifications via email or text, and no surprise bills, security deposits, or late fees.
• Average Pay Billing Billing option that averages monthly electricity costs to smooth out seasonal fluctuations, helping members avoid high bills in extreme weather months.
• Member Payment Assistance Program Low-income energy assistance providing a one-time $185 annual bill credit to qualifying members whose household income meets federal guidelines; seniors (60+) and persons with disabilities can apply starting December; others starting January.
• SE Round Up Program Voluntary donation program where members round up their monthly bill to the nearest dollar, with the difference donated to help fellow members facing financial hardship pay their electric bills.
• Capital Credits Not-for-profit cooperative program where margins are allocated to members as capital credits based on electricity purchased, with credits returned periodically as refunds, historically approximately 5% of outstanding credits annually.
• Energy Efficiency Appliance Incentives Rebates for ENERGY STAR certified appliances including $40 for clothes washers/dryers, $175 for heat pump clothes dryers, and $1,400-$1,800 for heat pump water heaters depending on tank size and installation location.
• Smart Thermostat Incentives $100 homeowner or $125 professional installation incentives for qualifying smart thermostats (ecobee, Nest, Lennox iComfort, Honeywell T9/T10) listed on BPA's Smart Thermostat Qualified Products List, installed in electrically-heated residences.
• EV Charger Incentive Up to $500 rebate for residential members who purchase and install a ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger at their residence, with instant incentive option through GenPac fulfillment or reimbursement after installation and Wi-Fi connectivity setup.
• EV Registration Incentive $50 bill credit for Salem Electric members who own or lease an EV or Plug-in Hybrid with minimum 2 kWh battery and current Oregon DMV registration within Salem Electric's service area.
• Solar Connection and Net Metering Solar interconnection service allowing members to install PV systems connected to Salem Electric's grid, with net metering and an aggregate cap of 1,800 kW DC nameplate capacity (approximately 2% of peak load).
• New Construction Services Electric service installation for new construction including temporary power, meter base requirements, underground service trenching, inspections, and coordination with BPA for large load applications.
• Tree Trimming Services Vegetation management service trimming trees near high-voltage primary distribution lines to prevent outages and ensure safe, reliable electric service.
• College Scholarships Ten $1,500 annual college scholarships for high school graduates, home-school graduates, GED graduates, or current college students enrolling in full-time undergraduate programs.
• Lineworker Scholarship $3,000 scholarship for individuals pursuing careers in electrical linework through Vocational Outside Line Training Academy (VOLTA) or Northwest Lineman College.
• Outage Map and Reporting Real-time outage mapping and reporting system allowing members to view current outages across Salem Electric's service territory and report new outages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6.09 minutes average outage time per member (2025, excluding major events)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Marion & Polk Early Learning HubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Salem Electric approved a $2,500 donation to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, which provides free age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth to age five in Marion and Polk counties.
• Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Salem Electric purchases all power from BPA's Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS). A new 16-year Provider of Choice contract was signed for power delivery period October 1, 2028 through September 30, 2044, locking in nearly carbon-free power at cost.
• ChargePointcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024EV charger program offering ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 chargers with up to $500 incentive. Salem Electric accesses charging data through ChargePoint to identify future EV initiatives.
• Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association (ORECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState association advocating for Oregon's electric cooperatives on legislative and regulatory issues affecting rates, reliability, and power supply.
• Northwest Requirements Utilities (NRU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRU advocates for cost-effective and reliable wholesale power supply and transmission service. Executive Director Zabyn Towner reviewed Salem Electric's new Provider of Choice contract with BPA.
• GenPacminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFulfillment partner for ChargePoint Home Flex EV chargers with instant incentive applied during checkout for Salem Electric members.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Consumers Power Inc. Oregon-based not-for-profit electric cooperative serving residential, commercial, and industrial members in a defined service territory. Closely comparable structure, member-owned governance model, and reliance on BPA power supply.
• Lane Electric Cooperative: Not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Eugene, Oregon serving Lane County. Highly comparable cooperative model, Oregon service territory, and BPA power supply relationship.
• Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative: Oregon rural electric cooperative serving rural Lane County. Comparable member-owned distribution utility structure, similar scale, and BPA wholesale power dependency.
• Central Electric Cooperative (Oregon): Distribution electric cooperative serving members in central Oregon through associated substations and cooperatives. Same cooperative business model and BPA-supplied power profile.
• Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative: Not-for-profit electric cooperative serving Oregon's south coast region. Directly comparable in governance structure, member-owned model, and rural/small-city distribution utility operations.
• Emerald People's Utility District: Oregon People's Utility District providing electric distribution in the Eugene area. Comparable publicly-owned utility operating under similar Oregon regulatory framework with overlapping service territory considerations.

Broad incumbents

• Portland General Electric: Investor-owned electric utility serving Oregon, including parts of the Portland metro area. Overlaps geographically near Salem Electric's territory but operates as a large incumbent IOU with broader generation portfolio.
• Pacific Power: Investor-owned electric utility operating across Oregon, Washington, and California. Larger incumbent with overlapping Oregon service territory; comparable in core electric distribution activity but structured as an IOU rather than a cooperative.

Regional players

• McMinnville Water & Light: Municipal electric and water utility serving McMinnville, Oregon. Comparable small-scale Oregon electric distribution utility operating under different ownership (municipal vs. cooperative) but similar regulatory environment.

Others

• Bonneville Power Administration: Federal agency that markets power from the Federal Columbia River Power System. Salem Electric's exclusive wholesale power supplier and a critical ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SalemElectricCooperative
• Instagraminstagram.com/salemelectric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Salem Electric