From the Source

Answers for OTEC's member-owners

Last updated September 2, 2026

OTEC is a not-for-profit cooperative, and our responsibility to serve our communities continues during the strike. More than 23,000 member-owners deserve clear, direct answers - about their electric service and about the issues being discussed publicly.

JOINT STATEMENT: OREGON TRAIL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE AND IBEW LOCAL 125 REACH AGREEMENT, RESOLVING STRIKE

OTEC continues to serve its communities and member-owners during the strike. OTEC’s contingency plan is in place, with safety and outage response as our first priorities. Offices are open on their usual schedules, other than closing for lunch from 11 a.m. to noon. Staff are handling payments, new service requests and billing questions. Some non-emergency work may take longer.

To report an outage: 1-866-430-4265. For regular business: 541-523-3616.

OTEC’s IBEW journeyman linemen currently earn $63.24 to $73.35 an hour in base wages - $131,539 to $152,568 a year in base pay before overtime, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. OTEC pays 85 percent of healthcare premiums. The current benefits package also includes either an enhanced 401(k) with a 12 percent OTEC contribution or a defined-benefit retirement plan, plus 21 days of paid time off for new employees, increasing with seniority to 36 days.

For context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a May 2025 national 90th-percentile annual wage of $128,690 for the broader occupation of electrical power-line installers and repairers. OTEC’s current journeyman base-wage range, annualized on a 2,080-hour year, starts above that figure. The BLS category includes all experience levels, and this comparison does not adjust for regional cost of living.

On August 18, 2026, OTEC made the following offer. As of August 28, 2026, it remains OTEC’s most recent proposal. It includes wage increases compounding to more than 14 percent over the three-year term, plus increased retirement contributions. The terms presented to IBEW Local 125:

Year 1: 5 percent wage increase, effective the first pay period after ratification
Year 2: 4 percent wage increase, effective April 1, 2027
Year 3: 4.5 percent wage increase, effective April 1, 2028
Enhanced 401(k) contribution: 12 percent in Year 1, increasing to 13 percent on April 1, 2027, and 14 percent on April 1, 2028

After the first increase, the journeyman lineman base-wage range would annualize to $138,116 to $160,196 before overtime, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year.

The parties are scheduled to meet on August 31, 2026. OTEC remains available to bargain with IBEW Local 125.

The wage ranges previously listed provide base wages. Per the contract, OTEC pays its represented employees two times their hourly rate for any hours worked outside of their normal shift - not only during storm response. Because overtime varies by year, storm activity and individual, OTEC publishes base ranges: the Cooperative guarantees those figures.

Questions? Contact Us!

We will share updates as they are available. If you have questions, email communications@otec.coop.

Additional Resources:

2025 Annual Report

2026 Annual Meeting

From the Source

Answers for OTEC's member-owners

OTEC is a not-for-profit cooperative, and our responsibility to serve our communities continues during the strike. More than 23,000 member-owners deserve clear, direct answers - about their electric service and about the issues being discussed publicly.

JOINT STATEMENT: OREGON TRAIL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE AND IBEW LOCAL 125 REACH AGREEMENT, RESOLVING STRIKE

Read More

Questions? Contact Us!

Additional Resources:

Baker City Office

John Day Office

Burns Office

La Grande Office

Office Hours

Contact

From the Source

Answers for OTEC's member-owners

OTEC is a not-for-profit cooperative, and our responsibility to serve our communities continues during the strike. More than 23,000 member-owners deserve clear, direct answers - about their electric service and about the issues being discussed publicly.

JOINT STATEMENT: OREGON TRAIL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE AND IBEW LOCAL 125 REACH AGREEMENT, RESOLVING STRIKE

Read More

What should member-owners know about electric service and OTEC office access during the strike?

What reasons has IBEW Local 125 given for the strike?

What is the status of the ULP charges?

What are OTEC's current wages and benefits for journeyman linemen?

What is OTEC's most recent proposal?

How is overtime paid for OTEC's represented lineworkers?

When does OTEC meet with IBEW Local 125 next?

What types of work do OTEC’s represented employees perform?

Why doesn’t OTEC discuss individual personnel matters with third parties?

How can member-owners contact OTEC with questions about billing or outages?

Questions? Contact Us!

Additional Resources:

Baker City Office

John Day Office

Burns Office

La Grande Office

Office Hours

Contact