“Cooperatives are more than just electric providers – we bring people together,” said Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s General Manager and CEO Robert Echenrode during the co-op’s annual meeting on Saturday.
That was certainly the case at the Eastern Oregon Trade & Event Center where a capacity crowd enjoyed dinner, entertainment and heard highlights of the past year.
“Our theme tonight is ‘Our Power is People,’ ” said Echenrode. “It reflects the collective energy of our members working together.”
Echenrode highlighted some of UEC’s achievements of the past year which included:
- Employing more than 100 people by the end of 2022
- UEC’s employees overseeing more than 2,300 miles of power lines and nearly 50 substations
- The co-op continuing to offer energy efficiency programs
- UEC’s employees connecting nearly 300 new home and businesses
- Responding to over 25,000 phone calls
- Installing over 50 miles of new distribution lines to its members
- Building three substations to increase capacity and system reliability
Echenrode praised the dedication of UEC employees to safety.
“Electric utilities can be one of the most dangerous industries to work in,” he said. During 2022, UEC employees worked nearly 250,000 hours without a lost-time injury.
“I’m incredibly proud of our employees and their commitment to work safely,” he said.
“Although the projects and initiatives we completed brought more power to your life, it was the opportunity to connect with our community that made this past year the brightest yet.”
In January, UEC received Umatilla County Fair’s Business Partner of the Year award. UEC also connected with its members by hosting activities during National Cooperative Month in October with more than 900 members participating. That same month, UEC employees raised $8,200 for breast cancer awareness.
UEC continues to grow along with the community, said Echenrode. In 2022, the co-op sold nearly 6 billion kilowatt hours, which Echenrode said was a milestone only few electric cooperatives ever experience.
A major challenge to the UEC system came last July.
“In the summer, our system was truly tested for its reliability and stamina,” he said. “During a heat wave at the end of July with temperatures above 110 degrees, a new system record was set at over 800 megawatts. I’m proud to say that the system responded well to the surge in demand with no significant outages.”
UEC Board President Bryan Wolfe celebrated the growth of communities within the co-op’s service area. Some examples included:
- Boardman breaking ground on a new fire station as well as plans to expand the SAGE Center
- Hermiston celebrating the opening of its new city hall building
- Irrigon adding a new track to its high school
- Stanfield completing construction of its secondary school and welcoming new businesses to town
- Echo completing a new wastewater project to support the city’s growth
- Hermiston breaking ground on HEROS Sports Complex
- Pilot Rock adding two businesses
- Umatilla adding a new sports complex and upgrading the marina
“These projects take considerable investment and effort by all involved,” said Wolfe. “These types of community improvements are why Eastern Oregon is such an incredible place to live and raise families.”
Wolfe also highlighted UEC’s support of community events ranging from donations to food banks, senior citizen lunch programs, sponsoring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Hermiston Little League and youth livestock auctions.
UEC also gave out $47,000 in scholarships to college-bound students, as well as returning more than $10 million in capital credits to its members in 2022.
“As a not-for-profit business, we have a stake in the communities we serve,” he said. “What we do, we do for our members.”
Echenrode ended his remarks with a tip of the hat to Cecilia Correa, the last surviving member who can be traced back to UEC’s beginnings. She passed away last year at the age of 102.
“Cecelia and her husband signed up for electric service in late 1937 and her acreage the Echo Meadows has been continuously served by UEC for 85 years,” said Echenrode, who added that her connection to UEC went beyond receiving electrical service. One of her sons, Dave Correa, retired as a line equipment operator at UEC after 24 years, and one of her cousins, Roy Penney, was a founding father of UEC.
“It’s the people that make our communities what they are,” said Echenrode.
After the meeting’s business agenda was complete, the crowd was treated to the interactive entertainment of Rock Dee House Dueling Pianos which got the 500-plus audience singing along to hit songs by Elton John, Billy Joel and more.
