For Florence Serviceman Jason, it started like any other workday. He was traveling along Highway 126 west of Florence between work assignments when he found himself at the scene of a serious head-on collision.
He immediately called 911. One of the vehicles was smoking, so he grabbed the fire extinguisher from his service truck to keep a fire from igniting. The man trapped inside the car was seriously injured, so he used his high-visibility safety vest to apply pressure to a severe wound. He stayed with the man and tried to keep him calm until emergency responders arrived. When asked about it afterward, Jason was quick to downplay his actions. “I didn’t do a whole lot. I just did what anyone else would do.”
Central Lincoln employees aren’t emergency responders. Their job is to safely build, maintain, and restore the electric system. Every day, they travel throughout the communities we serve — often along rural highways and in remote locations. Every Central Lincoln service vehicle carries safety equipment designed to protect employees while they’re doing their jobs. Occasionally, those same tools — a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit or AED — allow an employee to help someone else while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
Over the years, Newport Serviceman Jake has found himself in similar situations. He remembers driving toward Depoe Bay when he saw a man and woman pinned beneath their motorcycle along the side of the road. “I pulled over, put on my flashers, and helped lift the bike off of them,” he said. “I just feel like if you come across a situation and you can help, you should. I’d like to think that someone would help me if I needed it.”
Jake also recalls putting out a roadside brush fire before it spread and helping extinguish a fire that threatened a Florence home when he was stopped to fuel up his vehicle nearby.
During a major windstorm, Jake and Newport Journeyman Lineman Blake helped rescue an Oregon Department of Forestry worker trapped beneath a fallen tree.
“It was one of those days where everything that could go wrong did,” Jake recalled. “Roads were blocked by fallen trees, we were trying to reach a fire in Depoe Bay, and another tree came down and seriously injured an Oregon Department of Forestry worker. We helped free him so emergency responders could get him out.”
The willingness to help isn’t limited to line crews. Senior Distribution Engineering Technician Bernie and Newport Serviceman Dan also found themselves helping after a fire near Sturdevant Road in Toledo spread into multiple spot fires.
“There was a large plume of smoke in the distance and lots of smaller fires along the road,” Bernie said. “I emptied my fire extinguisher, grabbed my shovel, and then Dan showed up. He had extra firefighting equipment, and we just started working our way through the smaller fires one by one.”
That same willingness to help shows up in quieter moments, too.
Southern Operations Supervisor Troy remembers hearing what sounded like a faint cry while he and then-Reedsport Serviceman Les were working near Templeton Lane in Hauser.
“I asked Les if he heard it too, and he thought it sounded like a bird somewhere nearby,” Troy recalled. “I said, ‘No, it’s a weird crying noise.’”
After finishing their work, they followed the sound and discovered a young fawn tangled in an old barbed-wire fence. Troy carefully held the fawn still while Les used wire cutters to free it.
As soon as it was free, the little fawn sprinted into a nearby field. Moments later, its mother came running down the hillside. The two quickly reunited, and the fawn began nursing as if nothing had happened.
On another occasion, Jason and Apprentice Lineman Chris spotted a large dog wandering in the middle of Highway 101 north of Florence. After safely getting the dog out of the road, Southern Operations Supervisor Megan transported the gentle giant — a 150-pound mastiff nicknamed “Tiger” — to the local animal shelter, where he was later adopted into a loving home.
Former Reedsport tree crew member Talon once stopped what he was doing to grab a first aid kit from his truck and bandage the hand of a customer who had been injured loading equipment into his vehicle. The customer later called Central Lincoln simply to say thank you, adding that after working for another utility himself, he knew that “we don’t always hear the good stuff.”
Perhaps that’s because many employees don’t think these moments are remarkable. To them, they aren’t stories at all. They’re simply moments when someone needed help.
Preparing for the unexpected often starts with emergency kits, communication plans, and knowing what to do in a crisis.
Sometimes, though, preparedness looks a little different.
It looks like a fire extinguisher pulled from the back of a service truck.
A high-visibility vest used to stop severe bleeding.
A first aid kit offered to a stranger.
A crew taking a few extra minutes to rescue a frightened animal.
Or simply keeping someone calm on what may be the worst day of their life.
Those moments aren’t in anyone’s job description.
But they say a great deal about the people who choose to do the job.
Trees are one of the things that make our communities so beautiful, but they also present one of the greatest challenges to maintaining a safe and reliable electric system. Our crews work year-round to maintain safe clearances around power lines. Even with ongoing vegetation management, trees and large limbs beyond the areas we routinely maintain can still fall or be blown into our lines during storms and other weather events, resulting in outages.
Maintaining more than 2,000 miles of energized wire across our service area is an ongoing responsibility. To help reduce wildfire risk, vegetation management efforts continue to expand, along with the frequency of inspections across the electric system. Transmission right-of-ways are maintained on a more frequent cycle, and crews use a combination of aerial inspections, ground patrols, and other monitoring tools to identify potential hazards before they become problems.
During periods of elevated fire danger, we increase monitoring activities, implement additional system protections, and coordinate closely with local fire agencies, emergency management organizations, and neighboring utilities.
Together, these efforts help create a safer and more resilient electric system for the communities we serve.
]]>Some of this work is visible, such as replacing poles, trimming vegetation, or installing new underground lines. Much of it happens out of sight. Crews inspect and maintain substations, replace aging equipment before it fails, upgrade communications systems, and make improvements designed to reduce outages and strengthen the electric system.
In some locations, overhead power lines are being moved underground to help reduce outages, improve access for our crews, and lessen the impact of trees and vegetation. Current undergrounding projects include Hidden Valley Road (Toledo), Siltcoos Station Road (Westlake), and the Cape Perpetua corridor between Yachats and Florence. However, underground construction is expensive and is not practical in every location. We evaluate each project individually and focus undergrounding efforts where they provide the greatest benefit for safety, outage reduction, and long-term maintenance.
Some projects are designed to address long-term risks before they impact service. One major project currently underway involves relocating a substation in the Toledo area from a low-elevation site vulnerable to flooding to a new location on higher ground. The new substation incorporates modern equipment and technology and will help reduce flood-related risks while supporting the area’s future power needs.
Not every reliability project involves building something new. In many cases, extending the life of equipment already in service is the smartest investment. For example, we recently replaced a radiator on a transformer serving the Lincoln Beach area. By repairing and upgrading key components rather than replacing the entire transformer, we can often extend the life of critical equipment for years while avoiding the significantly higher cost of a full replacement. This approach helps make responsible use of customer dollars while maintaining dependable service.
Reliable electric service doesn’t happen by accident. It is the result of ongoing planning, maintenance, and investment. The work may not always be visible, but it helps ensure Central Lincoln is prepared to serve our communities today and for years to come.
Whether you’re replacing a fence, planting trees, installing a mailbox, building a deck, or completing a landscaping project, it’s important to know what’s below before you dig. Underground utility lines may include electric, water, sewer, natural gas, telecommunications, and cable facilities, and they aren’t always where you might expect them to be.
Striking an underground utility line can cause service interruptions, costly repairs, and serious injuries. In many cases, those responsible for the damage may also be responsible for repair costs.
Calling 811 is free. Simply dial 8-1-1 or submit a locate request online through Dig Safely Oregon. Utility representatives will mark the approximate location of underground facilities on your property, typically within two business days. A few minutes of planning can help keep your project safe and on track.
Learn more or submit a locate request at DigSafelyOregon.com.
Residential customers using SmartHub can now access new energy insights designed to provide a clearer picture of how energy is used in their homes. These tools can help customers identify usage trends, monitor changes, and better understand what’s driving their energy use.
New features include:
- Additional energy-use graphs and visualizations
- Notifications about unusual spikes in energy use
- Personalized insights into what may be contributing to higher energy consumption
One of the most useful additions is a mid-cycle bill projection alert. If energy use is running higher than normal, customers can receive an early notification, giving them an opportunity to investigate potential issues before their bill arrives.
SmartHub already allows customers to pay bills, view account information, track usage, and manage account notifications, including email and text alerts, through an online portal or mobile app. The new energy insights build on those existing features by providing even more information about household energy use.
Customers already enrolled in SmartHub automatically have access to these new tools. To learn more or sign up, visit our SmartHub page.
From our July 2026 Coastlines Newsletter
]]>We are proud to be part of the communities we serve and appreciate every opportunity to connect with our customers at local events and activities.
From our July 2026 Coastlines Newsletter
]]>Effective July 1, residential electric rates increased by 3%.
This adjustment helps ensure we can continue providing the safe, reliable service our customers depend on every day. Even after this increase, our residential rates remain among the lowest in Oregon and below national averages.
The chart below shows how Central Lincoln’s residential rates compare with other Oregon electric utilities.
For a complete list of updated rates, visit our Rate Schedules page.
Residential Rate Comparison Data
| Utility | Monthly Cost (1,000 kWh) |
|---|---|
| Portland General Electric | $212.83 |
| Blachly Lane Electric Cooperative | $170.90 |
| Pacific Power | $161.40 |
| Lane Electric Cooperative | $152.40 |
| Douglas Electric Cooperative | $147.99 |
| EWEB | $146.70 |
| Consumers Power Inc. | $142.50 |
| Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative | $140.29 |
| Tillamook PUD | $134.90 |
| Emerald PUD | $129.80 |
| Central Lincoln PUD | $120.10 |
| Columbia River PUD | $111.00 |
| N. Wasco PUD | $90.92 |
| Clatskanie PUD | $87.50 |
From our July 2026 Coastlines Newsletter
]]>Spill refers to water flowing over a dam rather than through turbines that generate electricity. When that water bypasses the turbines, less hydropower is produced.
What does this mean for Central Lincoln customers?
Because Central Lincoln purchases all of its electricity from BPA, changes affecting the federal hydropower system directly influence the cost of the electricity we provide to our customers. Traditionally, this has provided strong value, with the federal hydropower system supporting affordable rates, high reliability, and low carbon impacts.
However, due to the State of Oregon’s action in the lawsuit, public power consumers — including Central Lincoln customers — will not be shielded from the negative financial impacts. Early estimates show the ruling will add approximately $300 million in costs to consumer-owned utilities across the Northwest over the next two and a half years. Central Lincoln’s share is estimated at about $6.5 million.
When less hydropower is available, BPA must purchase replacement power from the market to meet its obligations. Market power is more expensive, often twice the cost of hydropower, and typically comes from sources with a higher carbon footprint.
BPA’s operating revenue comes from the utilities that purchase power from it. As a result, these increased costs will be reflected in the wholesale power rates utilities pay — and because Central Lincoln is a nonprofit, community-owned utility, ultimately in customer electric rates.
These changes are the result of federal court rulings and regional policy decisions that determine how the Columbia River system is operated. Unfortunately, Central Lincoln does not have a role in those decisions. In fact, along with the other 34 community-owned utilities in Oregon, Central Lincoln has consistently supported efforts to encourage productive dialogue with the Governor’s office rather than continued reliance on the current lawsuit process. Despite consistent efforts by public power providers, the state has been unwilling to engage in that discussion or to consider solutions outside of the courtroom.
While Central Lincoln does not believe a lawsuit is the answer, your electric utility remains committed to being good stewards of the environment. For decades, electric utility customers across the Northwest have helped fund efforts to protect and restore salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin.
Today, approximately 25% of BPA’s power costs (about $700 million annually) go toward fish and wildlife programs, including fish passage, habitat restoration, and related efforts. These costs are paid by customers through their electric bills. Central Lincoln customers alone contribute about $12.5 million each year to support these programs, which represents roughly 10% of your power bill.
These investments have contributed to measurable improvements in salmon and steelhead returns over time. In 2024, more than 1.7 million adult salmon and steelhead returned to the Columbia River system — about 370% more than when the first federal dams began operating in 1938.
At the same time, hydropower from the Columbia River system remains a critical source of reliable, carbon-free electricity for the Northwest. It plays a key role in keeping power costs low and maintaining an adequate power supply. As regional forecasts continue to show increased demand for power in Oregon, now is not the time to be eliminating existing clean energy-generating sources.
The recent court order is a preliminary ruling, and additional decisions are expected as the case continues. Future rulings could further increase costs. While it’s never fun to deliver bad news, Central Lincoln is committed to keeping our customers informed and providing transparency about the factors impacting utility rates.
In the coming months, BPA will be working with utilities to determine how to bill the costs associated with the court’s order and how those costs will be passed on to customers. We will continue to communicate updates on timing and impacts as more information becomes available. Central Lincoln will continue operating as efficiently as possible, but these cost increases are driven by the State of Oregon’s lawsuit and are outside of our control.
If you would like to learn more or share your perspective on this issue, please visit the Northwest Public Power Association’s website.
From our June 2026 Coastlines Newsletter
]]>Why This Project Matters
As shared in our September 2025 issue, Central Lincoln’s existing headquarters was built in 1981 and was not designed to withstand earthquakes. Seismic evaluations show it would likely collapse in a major earthquake and could be severely damaged even in a smaller one.
Like local hospitals, schools, and public safety facilities that have been rebuilt to modern seismic standards, Central Lincoln’s headquarters is a critical facility. It houses essential administrative, operations, engineering, and information technology functions that must remain operational — especially during emergencies.
Supporting Local Work and Businesses
In addition to enhancing utility resiliency, this project is also contributing to the coastal economy. To date, site excavation, underground utilities, and concrete foundation work have been done by local contractors. The general contractor, Lease Crutcher Lewis, has crews living locally, dining at local restaurants, and purchasing materials from area suppliers.
What This Means for Rates
This project is being funded through bonds, which allows costs to be spread over a long period of time. Bond payments are part of Central Lincoln’s normal capital budget and are not tied to a separate rate increase for this project.
Looking Ahead
Construction will continue through 2026, with completion expected in early 2027. Central Lincoln will remain fully operational throughout the process.
Like other critical facilities along the coast, this investment is about preparing for the future — so we can continue providing safe, reliable power to our communities, even during major events.
From our June 2026 Coastlines Newsletter
]]>Before you get started, take a moment to look up, look down, and look around. Electricity is a part of everyday life, but it’s easy to forget the risks. A little awareness can go a long way in keeping you, your family, and your property safe.
Look Up: Be aware of overhead power lines
Overhead power lines are easy to overlook, especially when you’re focused on the task at hand. Whether you’re using a ladder, working on your roof, trimming branches, or spending time outside with family, always take note of where power lines are located.
Even everyday activities can create unexpected risks. We recently had an outage in Gardiner caused by a balloon coming into contact with power lines, which is not uncommon in our service areas. Balloons and kites can drift farther than expected and easily reach overhead lines, or even substations, leading to outages and dangerous situations.
Please avoid flying kites or releasing balloons anywhere near power lines or substations. Always assume lines are energized and keep a safe distance.
Look Down: Call before you dig
Before starting any project that involves digging — even something as simple as planting a tree or installing a fence — be sure to call 811. This free service locates underground utilities and helps prevent serious injuries, outages, and costly repairs.
It’s just as important to think ahead when trimming trees.
If you’re planning to trim around your service line (the line that runs from the pole to your home), give us a call first. We can temporarily disconnect or move the line so you can work safely, then reconnect it when you’re finished.
If branches are near or touching overhead power lines, do not attempt to trim them yourself. These lines carry high voltage and should only be handled by trained crews. Contact us, or submit a request through our online form, and we’ll take it from there.
Look Around: Give equipment space to operate safely
Padmount transformers — the green metal boxes you see in neighborhoods — play an important role in delivering power to homes and businesses.
Although padmount transformers are designed to be safe, with a case covering the transformer and conduit around the wires, they are electrical equipment that can carry more than 7,200 volts. Please don’t use them as picnic tables or play structures, and avoid planting fences, plants, or decorative items too close to them.
To ensure safe operation and allow crews quick access when needed, keep at least 10 feet of clearance in front of the transformer, and 3 feet at the rear and sides.
Downed Power Lines: Stay far away
Always assume downed power lines are energized. Electricity can travel through the ground and nearby objects, creating a dangerous situation even if the line isn’t sparking.
Stay far away from the line — and anything in contact with it, including vehicles, fences, or other objects — and call 911 and Central Lincoln right away to report the situation. If a power line falls on your vehicle, remain inside and wait for help unless there is an immediate danger, such as a fire.
If you must exit the vehicle, do not touch the ground and the vehicle at the same time. Jump clear of the vehicle and land with both feet together. Then hop or shuffle (keeping both feet on the ground at the same time) until you’re at least 50 feet away.
Talk with kids about electrical safety
Spring and summer mean more time spent playing outside, and it’s important to help kids understand what to avoid. Climbing trees near power lines, flying kites, or playing on padmount transformers can quickly turn dangerous.
Take a moment to talk with children about staying well away from power lines and electrical equipment. What may look like a place to climb or play is actually part of an active electrical system.
A little awareness makes a big difference
Taking a few extra moments to look up, look down, and look around before starting a project — or heading outside to play — can prevent serious accidents.
If you’re ever unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help.
From our May 2026 Coastlines Newsletter
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