History

In October 1970, a small group of citizens assembled at the Elmira Grange Hall. They met to discuss means for relief from ever-increasing utility rates charged by the investor-owned utility, Pacific Power and Light - rates that were approximately twice that of surrounding ratepayers in Lane County who were served by publicly-owned utilities. The question of forming a People's Utility District was raised. Five months later, a group of 50 people met in Harris Hall to hear a representative from the State Engineer's Office outline the requirements for forming a P.U.D. A steering committee, consisting of people from Cottage Grove, Noti, Junction City, Goshen and Pleasant Hill was formed. The journey had begun.

Much work lay ahead.

The State Grange and its local chapters throughout rural Oregon strongly supported the cause. The committee took information about the cause wherever an audience could be found. Attorneys gave legal counsel without renumeration.

The most immediate problem facing the committee was forming boundary descriptions of the area to be served. Stephen Ford and Associates, Surveyor-Engineers, was retained for that purpose. Because the process of describing legal boundaries in legal language was extremely time-consuming and very expensive, there were continuous drives for money and for workers. Fundraising events (and opportunities for disseminating information) included concerts, films, auctions, garage sales and newspaper recycling. Individuals and businesses that would be served by the proposed P.U.D. made donations.

In 1973, the State Engineers Office approved boundary descriptions. Hearings were scheduled throughout the District. Upon completion of the hearings, the State Engineer's Office was obliged to file a public report referred to as a "Recommendation of Feasibility." In fact, the report only noted that the decision about forming a P.U.D. would be made by the voters. It was a "non-decision."

Was power available?

In 1974, the committee circulated petitions to put the question on the ballot. The major issue involved was the availability of power for a Public Utility District. Because Bonneville Power Administration would not guarantee a steady supply of power for a "new" customer, the voters soundly defeated the measure by almost a two-to-one majority. Subsequently, in 1975, Fourth District Representative Jim Weaver and the EPUD committee brought suit against the BPA to halt its discrimination against new electric cooperatives and public utility districts; and to stop preferential selling of power at lower rates on long-term contracts to aluminum companies and other heavy users of electricity.

The agony of defeat was short-lived for the P.U.D. crusaders. A more politically astute committee went back the drawing board, determined to get the proposal passed by District voters at the next possible election in 1976. After all, Pacific Power had spent in excess of $100,000 to defeat the measure, compared to about $1,500 spent by the P.U.D. supporters. There was definitely hope.

Public power declared feasible.

After investigations and public hearings, the head of the Oregon Department of Energy officially concluded in 1976 that the BPA would be able to provide power at a substantially lower price to P.U.D.s. An attempt to get a formation election on the ballot in 1976 was aborted due to a technical and logistical problem with Oregon election law.

Emerald P.U.D. finally approved.

In 1978, when the scarcity of energy, as well as its costs and controls, had generated much public and media interest, the voters approved the formation of the Emerald People's Utility District. In the spring of 1979, voters approved $150,000 for engineering studies and legal expenses in a levy election. In 1981, voters within the Emerald District approved authorization of $72.5 million in revenue bonds. After the Oregon Supreme Court in 1982 sustained the legality of the bond election, the stage was set. Emerald was ready to begin the negotiation process to acquire Pacific's distribution system in Lane County. Over a three-year period, Emerald had been in litigation with PP&L on 14 separate occasions!

In late 1982, Emerald sold $23.5 million in revenue bonds. The investment of these funds provided money for starting up and employing the first General Manager and other personnel. Monies were also set aside for acquiring a fleet of utility trucks and purchasing and leasing office equipment and accounting systems. On July 27, 1983, after six months of active negotiations and twelve and a half years of effort, PP&L finally agreed to sell its facilities to Emerald for $25.5 million.

$36 million in revenue bonds were offered in the securities market. The funds provided money to pay PP&L, retire the earlier $23.5 million debt, and launch Emerald as a fully operational electric utility.

"Switchover" occurred November 17, 1983, with a solemn ceremony followed by a splendid one. Long-time supporters were there, along with new employees, media and scores of well-wishers. The new P.U.D. was born out of an ongoing commitment to putting people first. The success of Emerald P.U.D. was, and is, based on people - the consumers-owners past, present, and future, for whom we exist.