Ziply’s current broadband network in northwest Oregon. Blue is broadband, green is fiber. Photo courtesy Ziply website The rural portions of Washington County have always struggled to gain access to high speed internet, with some regions solely relying on satellite or microwave options, while others are on copper lines now[Read More…]
utilities
Goodbye Frontier, hello Ziply
A Frontier Communications truck in downtown Gales Creek. Photo: Chas Hundley OREGON – Frontier Communications officially completed the sale of their operations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana on Friday to the company now known as Ziply Fiber. The deal closed at $1.35 billion, according to Ziply, which is headquartered[Read More…]
Utility companies could charge Oregon ratepayers for electric vehicle infrastructure improvements under proposed HB 4066
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley SALEM – House Bill 4066, a prospective law that passed on a 7-2 vote that would allow the state Public Utility Commission (PUC) to provide electric companies with the ability to recover costs for electric vehicle investments from ratepayers, passed the[Read More…]
Letter to the Editor: Sen. Wyden Supported Rural Oregon
The West Oregon Electric Co-op offices in Vernonia. Photo: Chas Hundley Thank you to Senator Ron Wyden for listening to Oregon’s electric cooperatives and fighting tirelessly to add important legislation to the 2020 spending bill. The bill included a provision known as the RURAL Act, which protects electric cooperatives from[Read More…]
911 service restored in Washington County
Power lines near Forest Grove. File photo: Chas Hundley WASHINGTON COUNTY – Service for landlines with the 357, 359, and 992 prefix has been restored after an earlier 911 outage, according Forest Grove Fire & Rescue. The restoration came at 12:52 p.m., according to Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, and[Read More…]
Power outages in Timber, Buxton, Banks areas, 911 outage for some homes
A downed power line in Gales Creek. Photo: Chas Hundley BUXTON – High winds and soaking rain have already taken their toll during this weekend’s flood watch: Power outages throughout the region, from multiple causes, have impacted customers of Portland General Electric and West Oregon Electric Co-op in Timber, Buxton,[Read More…]
Letter to the Editor: Rural Oregon at Risk
The West Oregon Electric Co-op offices in Vernonia. Photo: Chas Hundley For the past 75 years Oregon’s electric cooperatives like West Oregon Electric Cooperative have provided our members affordable, reliable electricity. Sometimes that’s not easy. WOEC experienced four FEMA events in the last 6 years, leaving consumers without power, causing[Read More…]
West Oregon Electric Co-op director sets Timber meeting for Nov. 12
West Oregon Electric Co-op headquarters in Vernonia. Photo: Chas Hundley TIMBER – Newly elected West Oregon Electric Co-op board member Erika Paleck is holding a community meeting with several other officers of the utility cooperative on Tuesday, November 12 in Timber. The meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Timber[Read More…]
Letter to the Editor: Erika Paleck for WOEC board
The West Oregon Electric Co-op offices in Vernonia. Photo: Chas Hundley Dear Fellow WOEC Member/Owners, long power outages are dangers to our health, livelihoods and quality of life. Board of Directors’ policy and priorities are crucial aspects of how this is managed. I am running for the District 5 Board of[Read More…]
Letter to the editor: West Oregon Electric Co-op elections
The West Oregon Electric Co-op offices in Vernonia. Photo: Chas Hundley You will soon be receiving your invitation to West Oregon Electrics annual meeting. This year they are celebrating the 75th year anniversary. You will also be asked to vote for 2 Board Member positions in District 2 and District[Read More…]