Douglas Electric Cooperative

Douglas Electric Cooperative (DEC) is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility, founded to deliver dependable, affordable electricity to our members.

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

Wildfire season is approaching, and in Douglas County it typically begins in mid-June. Now is the time to start preparing.
A few simple steps can make a big difference:
• Clear vegetation around your home.
• Make sure your address is visible.
• Update your contact information with Douglas Electric.
• Prepare an emergency kit and backup charging options.
• If you have a generator, make sure you test it and have fuel.
• Bookmark our Wildfire Status page. https://t.co/Nv3VAGnzHG
Stay prepared and stay safe!

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!
Douglas Electric is fortunate to have an incredible team, and today we want to take a moment to recognize and thank the people who keep everything running behind the scenes.

When you call or stop by for help with your account, you’re likely greeted by one of our Member Service Representatives—Stacey or Traci—always ready with a smile and a positive attitude. They work hard every day to take care of our members.

Farrah and Becki, our Operations Assistants, keep everything connected behind the scenes—supporting our crews and engineers while helping ensure work orders and member communications run smoothly for a positive member experience.

Rosalinda, our Accounts Payable Clerk, manages a high volume of transactions each month and ensures our members’ funds are used responsibly—paying only legitimate expenses. And while the rest of us aren’t always the best at paperwork, Rosalinda keeps us organized and on track.

A special shoutout to Grace, our payroll and HR professional, who keeps everything running behind the scenes—from making sure everyone is paid accurately to supporting our team every day. Her work truly touches every employee at Douglas Electric.

And if you attended the annual meeting, you’ve seen Erika’s work firsthand. As our Executive Assistant, she handles the heavy lifting behind that event—and so many others—while ensuring our Executive Team and Board of Directors are always prepared and informed.

We appreciate your dedication and all that you do—thank you! 💙
#AdministrativeProfessionalsDay #ThankYou #CooperativeStrong

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

It looks like we might get some decent weather, so go outside and enjoy it!

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

🦅 Osprey Nesting Season is Here

This time of year, we start seeing ospreys looking for places to build their nests—and unfortunately, utility poles can look like the perfect spot.

While we love seeing these incredible birds around Douglas County, nests on power poles can create safety risks for both the birds and our electric system. Sticks and debris can lead to outages, and energized equipment can be dangerous for wildlife.

If you notice an osprey starting to build a nest on one of our poles, please let us know right away.
Early notification gives us the opportunity to safely install nesting platforms or take other steps to protect both the birds and your power service.

📞 Call us or report it through our website.

We appreciate your help in looking out for wildlife and keeping our system safe and reliable!

This photo shows one of our nesting platforms and was taken by Tyson Olds, a long time employee and our Serviceman for the northern portion of our system.

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

Our crews do a lot of interesting work, but every now and then they really get to spread out—working in some incredible locations while tackling critical projects. What you’re seeing here is the first phase of a transmission structure replacement overlooking a canyon crossing between Drain and Elkton.

This line serves both the Elkton and Scottsburg substations, so maintaining it is essential to keeping the lights on for the members who rely on it.

In this phase, the crew is setting three new poles alongside the existing structure and preparing them for the conductor transfer. Installing the new poles is performed as hot work, meaning the line remains energized during this portion of the job. Later, we’ll perform switching to isolate the line for planned tree trimming. During that outage window, the conductor will be transferred to the new structure and the old one will be removed.

I also want to take a moment to publicly thank our crews for their hard work—and, just as importantly, for the safe way they approach every job. I’d also like to recognize Cody McCall, the foreman on this project, for capturing these great photos and helping share what our crews do in the field with our members.
-Phil Bigler, COO

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

#EnergyTipTuesday Lengthen the life of your clothes dryer with regular cleaning. Cleaning the lint filter after every load improves air circulation and safety. Check the lint trap opening to ensure it's clean. Use a vacuum to remove any lint that's fallen inside the opening.

If you use dryer sheets, check the lint filter for residue buildup. Remove any residue with hot water and a nylon brush or toothbrush. Over time, dryer sheets can leave a film on the filter, which can affect performance of the motor.

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

We have a contractor performing pole testing out of the Lookingglass substation so you may see vehicles marked with Cascade Pole testing or Jensen's Tree service in your area. They may also be in a side by side when testing poles off the roadway. Thank you!

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

🔌 Help Us Keep Your Power On: Gate Access Matters

At Douglas Electric Cooperative, our crews maintain hundreds of miles of power lines across private property. Many of these lines are located behind locked gates.

When our crews can’t access a gate, it can delay repairs, slow outage restoration, and prevent routine maintenance that keeps the lights on for you and your neighbors.

That’s why we ask members with gated property to help us by either:

🔑 Providing the combination to your gate, or
🔒 Allowing us to install a Douglas Electric lock alongside yours

Your gate will remain secure, and our crews will only use access when performing utility work such as:

• Power line maintenance/inspection
• Vegetation management
• Outage response
• Emergency repairs

Quick access helps us restore power faster, prevent outages, and keep our system safe and reliable.

If you have a gate on your property that may affect access to electric facilities, please contact our office so we can coordinate access.

📞 Douglas Electric Cooperative
541-673-6616

Thank you for helping us keep power flowing safely and reliably for our community.

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

⚠️ Cybersecurity Reminder for DEC Members

With increased cyber activity being reported nationwide, now is a good time to stay alert.

Scammers often pose as utilities and demand immediate payment.

🔹 We will NEVER demand payment by gift card or crypto
🔹 Don’t click suspicious links
🔹 Verify payment requests by calling us directly
🔹 Report suspicious messages to our office

When in doubt — call us first.

Stay vigilant 💡

#CyberSecurity #ScamAlert #DouglasElectric

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

11:30 PM - There are 270 meters without power in the Curtin area, crews are enroute but we have no estimates for restoration at this time.

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

If it sounds to good to be true, it is! Check out website out for more information on common utility related scams.
https://t.co/fMYPY4xExC

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

⚠️ Member Notice: Reminder About Unsolicited Calls

We’ve been made aware that some members have recently received unsolicited phone calls from individuals claiming to be affiliated with Douglas Electric Cooperative. We want to reassure you that these callers do not represent Douglas Electric and are not associated with us in any way.

In some cases, third-party solicitors may use publicly available information to identify which utility serves an address, which can make their outreach sound more official or familiar than it actually is.

Please know that Douglas Electric will always clearly identify ourselves when contacting members. If you ever receive a call or message that doesn’t feel right, we encourage you to contact us directly to verify it.

Your trust matters to us, and we’re always here to help. 💙

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

📞 Stay Connected with Douglas Electric ⚡

Outage alerts. Planned outage notices. Important account updates.

We can only reach you if we have your current contact information on file. If you’ve changed your phone number, email address, or moved recently, please take a moment to update your info with us.

✅ It helps us notify you faster
✅ It ensures you don’t miss important updates
✅ It keeps your account running smoothly

📲 Update your contact information today:
Call our office at 541-673-6616 or log in to your account online at https://t.co/dmnJ2Wd1yN

Thanks for helping us keep the lights — and the communication — on! 💡
— Douglas Electric Cooperative

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

❄️ Winter Energy Efficiency Tip ❄️
Cold weather makes your home work harder—even if your thermostat hasn’t changed. A few small steps can make a big difference in comfort and your energy bill:

🔹 Set your thermostat as low as comfortably possible
🔹 Seal drafts around doors and windows
🔹 Use space heaters safely and only in occupied rooms
🔹 Replace old bulbs with LEDs
🔹 Keep curtains closed at night to hold in heat

Every little bit adds up!⚡🏠

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

🔥 Why Does My Power Bill Still Go Up If I Use Wood Heat?

Even with wood heat, electricity use often increases in winter.

⚡ Blowers, fans, and controls still use electricity
⚡ Backup electric heat may run when the fire burns down
⚡ Longer nights mean more lights and electronics

Wood heat helps—but electricity still plays a role during cold weather.

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

This proves the sun is still out there!
Image taken from the top of the Callahans by TD Woodruff yesterday morning.

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

💡 Why don’t electric utilities bury all power lines?

It’s a common question—and a fair one.

While underground lines are protected from wind and falling trees, burying existing power lines is much more expensive and disruptive than most people realize.

🔹 The cost of underground lines can cost significantly more than overhead lines
🔹 Retrofitting requires digging through roads, driveways, and private property
🔹 Underground outages take longer to locate and repair
🔹 In rural areas, long distances and challenging terrain drive costs even higher

Instead of burying everything, utilities focus on targeted solutions like:
✔️ Undergrounding short, high-risk sections
✔️ Vegetation management
✔️ System hardening and upgrades
✔️ Require new services to underground, where possible.

This approach helps keep power safe, reliable, and affordable for everyone.

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

❄️⚡ Winter Electric Safety Tips

It's been pretty nice during the day for the last week or so, but how long can that last? ☺️

Cold weather brings extra challenges for homes and electrical systems. A few simple steps can help keep you and your family safe this winter:

• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn
• Never use extension cords with space heaters
• Clear snow and ice away from meters and vents
• Stay away from downed power lines—assume they are energized
• Use generators outdoors only and far from windows or doors

At Douglas Electric, we do our best to harden the system for winter storms, but safety starts at home. Taking a few precautions can make a big difference.

Stay warm. Stay safe. 💙

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

Today we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr..

Electric cooperatives were founded on the belief that everyone deserves access to safe, reliable, and affordable electricity — no matter where they live. That mission aligns closely with Dr. King’s vision of fairness, opportunity, and service to others.

On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we reflect on his words:
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

As a member-owned cooperative, serving our community isn’t just our job — it’s our purpose.

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

🎩🧢 National Hat Day

Today we’re tipping 🎩🧢 National Hat Day

Today we’re tipping our hats to the many hats worn across our electric cooperative — especially the hard hats that keep our crews safe every day.

From lineworkers and tree crews to operations and field staff, hats aren’t just a fashion statement around here — they’re a critical part of the job.

Thanks to our crews for wearing them with pride and for keeping the lights on safely for our members. ⚡

#NationalHatDay #SafetyFirst #ElectricCooperative #LineworkerPride #PoweredByPeopleour hats to the many hats worn across our electric cooperative — especially the hard hats that keep our crews safe every day.

From lineworkers and tree crews to operations and field staff, hats aren’t just a fashion statement around here — they’re a critical part of the job.

Thanks to our crews for wearing them with pride and for keeping the lights on safely for our members. ⚡

#NationalHatDay #SafetyFirst #ElectricCooperative #LineworkerPride #PoweredByPeople