Short answer: please do not install an outlet on a UEC power pole. Contact UEC to learn what options are available.
Utility power poles are part of the electric distribution system and are Umatilla Electric Cooperative property. For safety, reliability, and liability reasons, only UEC personnel are authorized to make any attachments or modifications. Installing a receptacle or tapping into the pole could create serious hazards, including shock risk, fire, or damage to the system.
What you can do instead:
If you need power in that area, we’re happy to help you do it the right way. Options may include:
Installing a new service, meter, or pedestal closer to where you need power
Running a properly permitted line from your existing service
Give us a call at (541) 567-6414 and we can recommend a safe solution.
We appreciate you checking first—this is exactly the kind of question that helps prevent bigger issues down the road.
Yes. Keeping electrical lines clear of trees and other growth is a critical part of UEC’s safety and reliability efforts. If trees are growing into or near power lines on your property, UEC can assess and address what we refer to as “danger trees” or vegetation that may impact system reliability and safety. Never attempt to fell or trim any tree or vegetation when power lines are nearby.
Help us keep our system safe and reliable by submitting a request through our website or by calling our office, and our crews will follow up to evaluate the situation.
Capital credits are based on margins—the dollars that remain after all operating expenses are paid. UEC then returns the credits to members when the cooperative’s finances support payment. Since the program began in 1967, UEC has retired over $130 million in capital credits, $52 million of that just since 2012.
There are years there when costs creep closer to the revenue collected from members resulting in fewer margins to allocate to members. Fewer margins lead to smaller retirements compared with prior years, even when individual electric bills remain similar or higher.
All UEC members, including both renters and homeowners, earn capital credits based on their electric usage. These credits are allocated over time and returned to members on a cycle over 12 years. UEC strives to return a portion of member credits sooner than 12 years, yet the payout cycle could be adjusted based on the financial strength of the cooperate.
A member’s capital credits are funded if the amount exceeds a $10 threshold. If a member does not receive a check in a given year, it is usually because their accumulated credits have not yet reached the minimum amount for a payment, or no credits were earned for the payout cycle.
That’s a great suggestion—thank you! We’ll be sure to include district information in our new member packets, which are currently being updated. In the meantime, you’re always welcome to reach out to us by calling (541) 567-6414 or submitting a comment through the form on our website, and someone will be happy to help you.
Low water years can put pressure on power costs, but it’s not a direct one-to-one impact on member rates. When river flows are low, hydroelectric generation is reduced, and BPA, our primary power supplier for non-industrial members, may need to rely on alternative power sources often at higher costs.
These combined factors can increase BPA’s costs, which can impact UEC’s rates. A single low-water year may present manageable impacts, but an extended pattern of consecutive low-water years can create more significant and long-term operational and resource challenges. Any potential impact to member rates depends on a range of variables, and we work to manage those costs as effectively as possible.
The 2026 director election was the first year UEC offered online voting. Ballots were cast both by mail (63%) and online (37%). While overall voting turnout did not increase significantly, approximately 14 percent of eligible members voted in 2026. This was just over a 1% increase from the same district’s results in 2023, the online option was used by more than one-third of participating members, providing a convenient new way to vote. UEC plans to continue offering online voting as an option.
Yes, as part of our mission to better the communities we serve we give to organizations supporting youth, local events and economic development in our service region. To submit a request please contact Tami Sinor, PR representative at 541-567-6414.
UEC’s board nomination and election process is open to all eligible members, and we encourage interested members—including women—to consider serving. Our most recent female director retired in 2017 after serving District 6 for more than a decade. Directors are nominated and elected by the membership.
We appreciate you letting us know! Our crews take pride in operating safely and respectfully in the communities we serve. In the last 12 months, they’ve logged over 600,000 miles. UEC has been work in the Punkin Center Road area to support the community growth. The trucks you saw were in the area conducting routine inspection and construction work to maintain our electric system.
