Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative

What Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative does

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative founded in 1988 in Baker City, Oregon, and currently serving approximately 32,000 meters (roughly 60,000 residents) across Baker, Grant, Harney, and Union counties in Eastern Oregon. OTEC distributes electricity through approximately 3,000 miles of overhead and underground distribution lines representing an investment of more than $196 million, sourcing the bulk of its wholesale power from the federally owned Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) hydroelectric system. In May 2026, OTEC filed with the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) to acquire Idaho Power's Oregon service territory for a $154 million base purchase price, which would add approximately 20,000 residential, irrigation, commercial, and industrial customers in Malheur, Harney, Baker, and Wallowa counties, expanding the service footprint to 8 counties and roughly 52,000 meters, with expected closing in early 2027.

The cooperative's core offering is regulated retail electricity distribution, supplemented by a portfolio of energy management programs including residential, commercial, agricultural, and low-income efficiency rebates; a community solar subscription product ($250 per share, 20-year term); rooftop solar interconnection services; EV-charging resources; and prepaid metering. OTEC maintains a Wildfire Mitigation Plan (revised 2022) with a weather-station monitoring network, Public Safety Power Shutoff protocols, and VR-based safety training for first responders. The cooperative also runs community programs including the WILD wildfire-education initiative for children, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, DC Youth Tour, multiple scholarship programs, Member-to-Member charitable round-up, and Co-op Connections discounts.

OTEC operates on a regulated, subscription-based retail electricity model with rates set by the OPUC and annual Power Cost Adjustment pass-through of wholesale costs. As a cooperative, excess margins are returned to member-owners as capital credits rather than distributed as profit. The distribution platform is supported by Salesforce-based service applications, the Meridian Customer Portal for online bill payment, and a four-office footprint (Baker City headquarters plus John Day, Burns, and La Grande district offices). Strategic financing is provided through the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), the same lender that financed OTEC's 1988 founding, and OTEC is a member of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives national network.

Name

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative

Website

https://otec.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative serving approximately 32,000 meters across four Eastern Oregon counties, distributing BPA-sourced hydroelectric power through 3,000 miles of lines and pursuing a $154 million acquisition of Idaho Power's Oregon territory to roughly double its customer base by early 2027.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Utilities (22), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI), Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA), Demand Response & Load Flexibility Services (EUAMAJAF)

Keywords

• Electric distribution services
• Electric cooperative services
• Community solar programs
• Energy efficiency rebates
• Rooftop solar interconnection

Headquarters

HQ city

Baker City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Electricity Sales: OTEC generates revenue primarily through retail electricity sales to approximately 32,000 member-owners across Baker, Grant, Harney, and Union counties. As a not-for-profit cooperative, revenues above operating costs are returned to members as capital credits. Rates are regulated by the Oregon Public Utility Commission and cover power purchase costs, operating expenses, and capital investment recovery. Rate adjustments are based on prior years' reported power purchases and operating costs combined with projected operating costs.
2. Capital Credits: As a cooperative, OTEC returns excess revenue (margins) to member-owners in the form of capital credits, which are retired annually based on the cooperative's financial position. Members may also donate capital credit checks to the OTEC Member Foundation to support charitable programs.
3. Community Solar Share Sales: OTEC sells shares in its community solar program at $250 per share, offering members a voluntary 20-year subscription to receive monthly bill credits based on the output of the utility-scale solar farm. Shares can be transferred among members and are portable within OTEC's service territory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative distributes electricity purchased from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) hydroelectric system to approximately 32,000 member-owners across Baker, Grant, Harney, and Union counties in Eastern Oregon through roughly 3,000 miles of overhead and underground distribution lines. It supplements core electricity delivery with a Community Solar share subscription program, rooftop solar interconnection/net metering, prepaid metering, an online Meridian Customer Portal for bill payment, and energy efficiency rebates spanning residential, commercial, agricultural, and low-income members.

Product overview

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) is a member-owned electric distribution utility providing electricity to approximately 32,000 meters across Baker, Grant, Harney, and Union counties in Eastern Oregon. The cooperative's core offering is electricity distribution service, with power sourced primarily from hydroelectric energy through the Bonneville Power Administration. OTEC supplements its core service with a comprehensive portfolio of energy management programs including residential, commercial, and agricultural rebate offerings, renewable energy options (community solar, rooftop solar, EV charging), and an extensive Energy Efficiency Center with DIY resources. Beyond electricity, the cooperative offers community programs including scholarships, DC Youth Tour, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Co-op Connections discounts, and Member-to-Member charitable giving. The cooperative operates member-facing digital platforms including the Meridian Customer Portal for bill payment, and maintains safety and wildfire mitigation programs including vegetation management and Public Safety Power Shutoff protocols.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Core electricity distribution service providing safe, reliable electricity to approximately 32,000 member-owners across Baker, Grant, Harney, and Union counties in Eastern Oregon. OTEC purchases power from Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) hydroelectric sources and delivers it through approximately 3,000 miles of overhead and underground distribution lines representing a $196M+ infrastructure investment.
• Community Solar Program Voluntary subscription program allowing OTEC member-owners to purchase shares in a utility-scale community solar farm located in La Grande along Highway 30 near OTEC's Ladd Substation. Shares cost $250 each (up to 2,000 shares available) for a 20-year term, with members receiving monthly bill credits based on the solar farm's system output. Shares are transferable and portable within OTEC's service territory.
• Prepaid Metering Prepaid electricity metering option that allows member-owners to pay for electricity in advance, providing budget control and energy cost awareness. Members apply through a Prepaid Metering Agreement on the OTEC website.
• Rooftop Solar Interconnection Grid interconnection service for member-owned rooftop solar systems, providing one-to-one net metering with billing credits at the full retail rate. OTEC guides members through the interconnection process; interconnections of 2MW or more require additional analysis and must meet additional requirements. OTEC does not sell or install solar panels but provides interconnection services.
• Meridian Customer Portal Online bill payment and account management platform (ebill.otec.coop) enabling member-owners to view accounts, pay bills, and manage their OTEC accounts electronically. Reached at ebill.otec.coop/mcp/quick-pay for bill payment and ebill.otec.coop/mcp/login for account login.
• WILD Program (Wildfire Information Learning and Development) Wildfire-prevention education program targeting children in third grade and under and their families in Eastern Oregon. Includes 'The WILDfire Song' video, the story book 'The WILD Bunch and Their Camping Adventure,' and an activity book featuring character Ember Hare and the WILD Bunch to teach families to be smart and help stop wildfires before they start.

Quantifiable outcome

• OTEC offers rates lower than for-profit utilities due to not-for-profit cooperative structure and tax-exempt status; transitioning Idaho Power customers would pay approximately 5.7% more than current Idaho Power rates vs. Idaho Power's projected ~17% rate increase without the sale
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Idaho PowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026OTEC has entered into an agreement to assume ownership of Idaho Power's Oregon service territory. If approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, this would transfer Idaho Power's 20,000 residential, irrigation, commercial, and industrial customers in Malheur, Harney, Baker, and Wallowa counties to OTEC. The proposed sale has a base purchase price of $154 million and is expected to close in early 2027. Idaho Power would continue to own and operate generation and transmission resources in Oregon, including the Boardman to Hemingway transmission line, and would supply wholesale energy to OTEC under a multi-year power supply agreement. OTEC will honor existing net metering structures for legacy Idaho Power solar customers.
• Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)coreOthersSince OTEC started in 1988, its primary source of electricity has been hydroelectric power purchased from the federally owned and operated Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which provides one-third of the Northwest's electricity. BPA is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Energy. OTEC's power supply is sourced through BPA, and OTEC promotes energy efficiency programs and incentives offered by BPA.
• Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC)coreOthersOTEC is regulated by the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC), which sets rates, reviews the proposed Idaho Power acquisition, and enforces vegetation management and safety standards. OTEC is subject to PUC Chapter 860 Division 24 safety standards for vegetation clearance from electrical infrastructure.
• Elkhorn Valley Wind Farm (Horizon Wind Energy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Elkhorn Valley Wind Farm, operated by Horizon Wind Energy, provides up to 101 MW of wind power to the Northwest region. Located approximately 6 miles east of North Powder in Union County, Oregon, the wind farm uses 61 turbines over about 10,000 acres leased from local landowners. OTEC promotes wind power as part of its renewable energy portfolio.
• Touchstone Energy CooperativesminorOthersOTEC is a member of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, a national network of electric cooperatives. The brand association provides shared resources, marketing materials, safety programs (including the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program - RESAP), and cooperative identity. OTEC's website is powered by SHiNE, a Touchstone Energy cooperative technology platform.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Clearwater Power Company: Member-owned electric cooperative in north-central Idaho; very similar rural distribution cooperative profile, BPA-supplied, regional Northwest peer.
• Umatilla Electric Cooperative: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving northeastern Oregon and parts of Washington; BPA-served, Touchstone Energy affiliate, comparable rural distribution utility model in the same regional market.
• Lane Electric Cooperative: Oregon-based member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving Lane County; comparable BPA-served Touchstone Energy cooperative with similar residential/commercial/agricultural member mix.
• Midstate Electric Cooperative: Distribution cooperative serving Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, and Wheeler counties in Central Oregon; comparable rural cooperative, BPA-supplied, Touchstone Energy member.
• Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative: Distribution cooperative based in Mount Vernon, Oregon serving Wheeler, Grant, Gilliam, and Morrow counties; overlaps OTEC's service territory in Grant County, similar BPA-served cooperative structure.
• Central Electric Cooperative (Oregon): Distribution cooperative serving Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, and parts of Linn and Grant counties in Oregon; similar cooperative structure, BPA power supply, and rural Oregon service profile.

Broad incumbents

• Idaho Power Company: Investor-owned utility and the counterparty selling its Oregon service territory to OTEC; relevant comparator for rate levels, service-territory economics, and the IOU alternative OTEC is replacing in Eastern Oregon.
• PacifiCorp: Multi-state IOU also selling Oregon distribution territory (Wallowa County) to OTEC; benchmark for investor-owned utility cost structure and rate benchmarks in the same geography.

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: National brand network of electric cooperatives of which OTEC is a member; relevant ecosystem comparator for shared services, safety programs, and cooperative governance standards across U.S. rural distribution co-ops.
• Bonneville Power Administration: Federal power marketing administration supplying wholesale electricity to OTEC and the broader Pacific Northwest cooperative network; the upstream supplier whose rates and policy decisions directly shape OTEC's economics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/otecooperative
• Facebookfacebook.com/OTECoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oregon-trail-electric-cooperative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative