Wasco Electric Cooperative

What Wasco Electric Cooperative does

Wasco Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, nonprofit electric distribution cooperative founded in 1941 and headquartered in The Dalles, Oregon. It provides electricity to more than 4,700 meters across approximately 1,700 miles of distribution lines, 25,000 poles, and 5,000 square miles spanning Wasco, Sherman, and parts of Jefferson, Gilliam, and Marion counties. Its customer base is composed of residential, agricultural (notably irrigation-dependent farms and ranches), and commercial members, with agricultural load being a defining characteristic of its low-density rural territory (2.8 members per line mile).

The cooperative's core technology is its owned distribution infrastructure, including substations that step high-voltage transmission down to residential delivery levels. It is investing in Automated Meter Infrastructure to improve reliability and efficiency, operates a proactive vegetation management program, and maintains Public Safety Power Shutoff capability to mitigate wildfire risk, a material operational concern in its service area. It purchases wholesale power primarily from the Bonneville Power Administration.

Wasco generates revenue by selling electricity to members at rates set by its elected board of directors, billed monthly, with optional Budget Billing for predictability. As a cooperative, it allocates operating margins back to members through capital credits (e.g., $600,598 retired in November 2023) rather than distributing profit to external shareholders. It supplements core electric service with net metering, residential and commercial energy-efficiency rebates, and community programs (WECare bill assistance, scholarships, economic development grants). The cooperative received a $1.4 million U.S. Department of Energy WARN grant in December 2024 to harden its system against wildfire risk.

Name

Wasco Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Wasco Electric Cooperative

Website

https://wascoelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wasco Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, nonprofit electric distribution utility founded in 1941, serving more than 4,700 residential, agricultural, and commercial meters across 1,700 miles of line in north-central Oregon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

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

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Distribution System Planning (DSP) & Non-Wires Alternatives (NWA) (EUADAGAB)

Keywords

• Electric utility services
• Electric distribution
• Rural electric cooperative
• Energy efficiency rebates
• Member-owned utility

Headquarters

HQ city

The Dalles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Electric Utility Service: Sale of electricity to residential, commercial, and agricultural members within the service territory. Revenue is generated through electric rates charged per kilowatt-hour plus fixed charges. Wholesale power is purchased primarily from Bonneville Power Administration.
2. Capital Credits System: As a cooperative, Wasco Electric allocates operating margins back to members based on their energy purchases. These capital credits represent members' share of cooperative income and are periodically retired and returned to members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Wasco Electric Cooperative distributes electricity to approximately 4,700+ residential, agricultural, and commercial meters across 1,700 miles of owned power lines spanning 5,000 square miles in north-central Oregon. The cooperative supplements distribution with Net Metering, Budget Billing, Capital Credits, energy efficiency rebates, a Co-op Connections Card, and 24/7 outage reporting and restoration. Wholesale power is purchased primarily from the Bonneville Power Administration, and operating margins are returned to members as capital credits.

Product overview

Wasco Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit electric utility that operates as a single, unified cooperative providing electricity distribution services to approximately 4,700 meters across 1,700 miles of power lines in north-central Oregon. The cooperative's core offering is electricity distribution, supplemented by member benefit programs (Budget Billing, Capital Credits, Co-op Connections Card), energy efficiency programs (Residential and Commercial Rebates, Net Metering), outage and safety services (vegetation management, fire mitigation, storm preparedness, backup generation guidance), and community programs (WECare assistance, Economic Development Grants, Scholarships, NRECA Youth Tour). The cooperative does not operate a platform-plus-modules architecture; all offerings are services provided directly by the cooperative to its member-customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Core electricity distribution service delivering power through 1,700 miles of owned power lines and 25,000 poles to approximately 4,700+ residential, agricultural, and commercial meters across 5,000 square miles in north-central Oregon.
• Net Metering

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of survey respondents are satisfied to very satisfied with the job the cooperative does in providing dependable and reliable electric service
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association (ORECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWasco Electric Cooperative is a member of ORECA, a statewide association that lobbies against mandates and laws threatening local control and affordable power. ORECA coordinates grassroots advocacy through the ORECA-Action program, allowing member co-op members to engage in policy advocacy.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association representing electric cooperatives across the United States. NRECA provides resources including training programs, credentialing for directors, and executive search services.
• Bonneville Power AdministrationcoreTechnology or IntegrationFederal agency that generates and transmits hydroelectric power in the Northwest. WEC purchases wholesale power from BPA, which represents one of the cooperative's largest expenses and drives retail rate decisions.
• Great Northwest InstallationsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in the Heat Pump Water Heater Program, providing installation services for energy efficiency equipment.
• Efficiency Services GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal partner that manages the cooperative's energy conservation programs and rebate offerings.
• Direct EfficiencyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides weatherization audit request services for residential members seeking energy efficiency improvements.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Salem Electric: A member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving members in the Salem, Oregon area. Comparable as a small Oregon electric cooperative with similar capital credits structure and BPA wholesale power supply.
• Central Electric Cooperative (Oregon): An Oregon member-owned electric cooperative serving rural and agricultural members in central Oregon. Directly comparable in customer base (farms/ranches/residential), cooperative governance model, and distribution-only operations.
• Consumers Power, Inc. An Oregon member-owned electric cooperative serving rural communities in the Willamette Valley and coast range. Closely comparable in size, rural service profile, cooperative governance, and member programs.
• Lane Electric Cooperative: An Oregon electric cooperative serving rural Lane County. Comparable in cooperative structure, rural distribution focus, wildfire exposure, and reliance on BPA for wholesale power.
• Umatilla Electric Cooperative: An Oregon-based member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving rural members in northeastern Oregon. Highly comparable in cooperative structure, rural low-density service territory, NRECA membership, and reliance on BPA wholesale power.
• Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative: A small Oregon electric cooperative serving rural Lane County. Comparable in scale, low customer density, and member-owned distribution-only business model.
• Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative: An Oregon rural electric cooperative serving coastal and southern Oregon communities. Comparable as a small member-owned distribution co-op with similar terrain, vegetation management needs, and NRECA affiliation.
• Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative: An Oregon-based electric cooperative serving rural eastern Oregon and parts of Idaho. Comparable in rural cooperative model, BPA power supply, and large geographic service area.

Regional players

• Clearwater Power Company: A member-owned electric cooperative serving north-central Idaho. Comparable as a rural Pacific Northwest electric cooperative with similar wholesale power arrangements, though operating in a different state.

Broad incumbents

• PacifiCorp (Pacific Power): A large investor-owned utility serving customers across Oregon and the broader Pacific Northwest. Comparable in operating geography and distribution function, but a much larger IOU with generation assets, contrasting with Wasco Electric's distribution-only cooperative model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wasco-electric-cooperative-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Wasco Electric Cooperative