For more than a century, Idaho Power has proudly served eastern Oregon — delivering reliable energy, volunteering in the community, and protecting the region’s natural resources.
After careful, thorough consideration, we believe Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC), a local eastern Oregon energy provider, is uniquely positioned to serve our Oregon customers going forward and have reached an agreement to sell the Oregon portion of our service area to OTEC. OTEC has deep roots in eastern Oregon, and they share the same dedication to reliable service and local support that has guided Idaho Power for generations.
This proposal must be reviewed and approved by state and federal regulators before being made final.
We know our Oregon customers will have questions, and we will do our best to address those and keep customers updated throughout the approval process. High-level frequently asked questions are available below, with more detailed information available on OTEC’s website.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more detailed information on what it means to be an OTEC member-owner and how they’re planning for the transition, please visit their website:
What is included in the sale, and why is it being proposed?
Oregon represents a small portion of Idaho Power’s business, and reducing our service area to one state will help us focus on the investments and infrastructure needed to serve our growing Idaho population. Because OTEC’s existing service area is already connected to Idaho Power’s Oregon operations, they’re in a strong position to welcome Idaho Power customers as new members and support them efficiently.
If the sale is approved by state and federal regulators, OTEC would take over the distribution infrastructure that delivers power directly to roughly 20,000 Oregon customers. Idaho Power would continue to own and operate generation and transmission resources, including the Boardman to Hemingway transmission line, that provide power to Oregon, Idaho, and across the region.
Why is the sale beneficial to Oregon customers?
OTEC is a long-standing eastern Oregon energy provider with deep roots in their communities. As Idaho Power’s geographic neighbor, their teams and resources are well-positioned to serve Oregonians with quick outage response times, a new service center and customer-facing office in Ontario, and a local board of representatives made up of member-owners from across their territory.
What kind of customer programs and offerings does OTEC provide?
Learn more about OTEC’s service, program offerings, billing and assistance options, and more under the New Member FAQ section on their dedicated webpage.
What happens to electricity rates for new OTEC customers when the sale closes?
Without the sale, Idaho Power would likely need to pursue a general rate increase of at least 17% to recover their current cost of service. Capital investments and inflation have increased service costs, and Idaho Power has not raised base rates in Oregon since 2024. With the sale, OTEC would need to recover the investment already made in the system and would need to charge former Idaho Power customers approximately 5.7% more than their current Idaho Power rates upon transaction approval. Either path forward requires some rate adjustment to reflect the current cost of service.
Learn more about OTEC’s pricing.
Will my bill automatically transfer to OTEC?
While OTEC will seamlessly take over your service and account billing during the transition, you will receive a final bill from Idaho Power that will need to be settled as you normally would. Please note that your electric service will not be interrupted during the transition. You’ll continue to have power throughout the changeover. We’ll provide clear information so the entire process is smooth for customers.
Will my deposit with Idaho Power be refunded? Will I have to pay another deposit with OTEC?
Any deposit currently held by Idaho Power for Oregon customers’ service will be returned to you during our final billing process. This is separate from OTEC’s deposit policy, which will be waived at closing for transitioning member-owners. This is a one-time accommodation for the change of service provider. After the transition window, OTEC’s standard deposit policy will apply to all member-owners.
When will the sale be final?
The proposed sale is subject to state and federal approvals. We anticipate the approval process could take ten months or longer, potentially closing in early 2027. We will keep you updated along the way.
Does this change the need for B2H?
No. The Boardman to Hemingway (B2H) transmission line has always been and will continue to be a critical resource for serving customers in Idaho, Oregon, and across the region.
How will OTEC supply power to their new member-owners transitioning from Idaho Power?
OTEC will purchase wholesale power from Idaho Power through a multi-year power supply agreement. Long-term, OTEC’s plan is to transition the acquired service territory to Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) supply. The specific power-mix designation will depend on BPA tier availability at the time of transition.
Current OTEC member-owners continue to receive 100% of their power from BPA.
Will Idaho Power continue to operate in Oregon when the sale is final?
In addition to providing wholesale power to OTEC for transitioning member-owners, Idaho Power will retain:
- Most Oregon high-voltage transmission assets (above 100kV).
- All Oregon generation assets, including the Hells Canyon Complex (Oxbow Dam, Brownlee Dam, Hells Canyon Dam) and the associated FERC license, fish hatchery, habitat management, recreation, and water-quality programs.
- Key Oregon substations that primarily serve Idaho customers.
Current OTEC member-owners will continue to receive 100% of their power from BPA.
How are Idaho customers impacted by the sale?
The sale would allow Idaho Power to focus funding, infrastructure investments, and our workforce on Idaho’s growing population and energy demand.