We Are OTEC
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) is one of Oregon's largest distribution cooperatives.
Headquartered in Baker City, Oregon, with district offices in La Grande, John Day, and Burns, OTEC serves approximately 32,000 meters and nearly 60,000 residents in Baker, Grant, Harney and Union counties with a network of overhead and underground lines over 3,000 miles long. OTEC's distribution system represents an investment of more than $204 million. A story that began with 700 pennies and a hope for the future continues to flourish in beautiful eastern Oregon.
Image
Image
23863
Members
Image
32825
Meters
Image
11
Members Per Line Mile
Image
6734
Square Miles or Territory
Image
3084
Total Miles of Line
Our History
Can you really start an electric cooperative with seven hundred pennies? That's what three Baker City residents did in 1987. At the time, this part of northeastern Oregon was served by an investor-owned utility, CP National Corporation. This multi-state conglomerate was looking to unload its dilapidated system and to get out of the not-so-lucrative rural electric utility business. When several attempted purchases failed, Dick Haynes along with Peggi and Glenn Timm brought forward the notion of forming a cooperative to own and operate the utility locally. Thus in 1987, Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative was born.
Image
Image
Safety
Safety is not just a priority; it's a core value deeply ingrained in every aspect of our operations.
Image
Reliability
Reliability is not just our goal of delivering reliable electricity to our member-owners; it's a foundational principle day to day.
Image
Integrity
Integrity means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Image
Adaptability
Adaptability, to us, means being flexible, resilient, and proactive in responding to change. We embrace change as an opportunity for growth and innovation.
Image
Commitment to Members & Community
Our commitment to our member-owners and the broader community is at the core of who we are and everything we do.
Image
Commitment to Employees
OTEC employees are the Cooperative’s most valuable assets, and we are dedicated to creating an environment where we can thrive, grow, and succeed.
Image
Economic Stewardship
We ensure the proper use of cooperative assets, efficient allocation of resources, minimize waste, and safeguard the financial health of the cooperative for future generations.
Image
Environmental Stewardship
We want to protect the natural resources around us that make Eastern Oregon such a beautiful place to live.
Image
Accountability
We hold ourselves to high standards and follow through on our commitments to coworkers, member-owners, and the communities we serve.
Board meetings are held at OTEC’s Corporate Headquarters, 4005 23rd Street, Baker City, OR, at 9 am.
Board Policy No. 8 : Attendance of Members and Consideration of Member Concerns at Board Meetings
Board Policy No. 504 : Member Requests for Cooperative Information
Your OTEC Board of Directors is consistently working to keep your electric rates low, balancing recovery of the cooperative’s costs with safe, reliable electric service. As a cooperative, members are the owners of the business and elect a Board of Directors to represent the interest of the membership as a whole. One of the board’s primary purposes is to ensure fair and equitable recovery of costs for the service that is provided. The most recent tariff revision was in February of 2026, effective April 1, 2026.
For more information on OTEC rates, including tools to help you calculate your bills, please click here.