PacifiCorp plans to sell some of its power lines and distribution assets in rural Oregon to electric cooperatives to shore up finances amid growing liabilities from 2020 wildfires.
If approved, the deals would shift 8,904 residents in Wallowa County, the Monroe area in Benton County and the Lakeview area in Lake County from PacifiCorp, an investor-owned utility, to their local electric co-ops.
Under the proposed agreements, Baker City-based Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative, Eugene-based Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative and California-based Surprise Valley Electrification Corp. would also acquire a combined 638 miles of distribution lines…