Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) is headquartered in Baker City, Oregon, with district offices in La Grande, John Day, and Burns. OTEC’s story began with 700 pennies when 4 founding members got together to purchase former investor owned utility territory and create the cooperative in 1988. Today it 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.

Eastern Oregon boasts the stunning Blue Mountains, Mount Emily, the Strawberry Mountains and the Steen Mountains, which attract outdoor enthusiasts for year-round recreational opportunities including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, skiing, snowboarding and more! The diverse landscape includes high alpine slopes covered in fir trees and valleys adorned with sagebrush.

In former frontier towns such as Baker City, traditional ranchers and cowboys mix with a rising number of artisans and craftsmen. Heading towards John Day and Burns, sprawling scrubby ranchlands boast a beauty of their own here in the high desert country. Stunning vistas and unexpected river canyons dominate the landscape that harkens back to the early days of settlers and gold-mining. There are wonderful camp sites, hot springs and little towns bursting with hospitality throughout the region.

OTEC is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative. Its policies are established by a nine-person Board of Directors - each board member is a bill- paying, residential member-owner of OTEC elected by fellow member-owners.

Voluntary & Open Membership

Open to all individuals willing to accept the responsibilities of membership.

Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions.

Autonomy & Independence

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members.

Members’ Economic Participation

Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative.

Education, Training, & Information

Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, & employees so they can contribute to the development of their cooperatives.

Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.

Concern for Community

While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.

Our Mission

is to provide safe, reliable electricity and services that support the economy and quality of life of OTEC Member-Owners based on the cooperative principles.

Our Vision

is to be in the top 10% in member satisfaction nationally. 

Our Values

are safety, adaptability, reliability, economic stewardship, environmental stewardship, commitment to community members, commitment to employees, integrity, and accountability.