CEO’s Message – February 2026

Back to the Grind…?

As we pack up January like last year’s lingering Holiday decorations, most of us have returned to our routine. In the groove, back to the grind. Call it what you will, the Holidays are always a nice break. Or are they? For most of us, I hope so. For some, the beat goes on straight through the season without much of a skip.

Linemen exemplify this reality more than anyone. During the week before Christmas, while others were enjoying the spirit of the season with family and friends, our line crews were out in the field, round the clock (with breaks for sleep and nourishment) braving cold winds, long nights, and unpredictable, if not terrible, weather to restore power from a major windstorm that swept across the entire Pacific Northwest, registering wind speeds between 80 and 100 miles per hour across our region.

When the mess in our own backyard was finally cleaned up, Columbia Rural Electric Association (REA) sent 2 line crews to Idaho to assist Clearwater Power, which sustained damage to every main distribution line on their system, causing outages for nearly 11,000 members. Again, our guys and dozens of other linemen from regional co-ops worked day and night to get power restored to Clearwater’s 11-county service area. We are thankful that our crew was able to make it home safely for Christmas…just barely. And our thanks also go out to all the remaining line crews across the PNW who stayed on the job through Christmas and beyond. Their dedication is the quiet heroism that allowed our holiday festivities to shine—literally.

Behind the scenes, staff across all our departments tackle year-end responsibilities that keep Columbia REA running smoothly. Accounting closes the books on 2025, Operations finalizes plans for the coming year’s investments in system growth and operational efficiency, and our management team and Board of Directors evaluate what worked well last year and where improvements can be made going forward. It’s a time of reflection, but also a time of intense focus.

Behind the scenes, staff across all our departments tackle year-end responsibilities that keep Columbia REA running smoothly. Accounting closes the books on 2025, Operations finalizes plans for the coming year’s investments in system growth and operational efficiency, and our management team and Board of Directors evaluate what worked well last year and where improvements can be made going forward. It’s a time of reflection, but also a time of intense focus.

Work during the Holiday season may not always slow down—but it’s meaningful, impactful, and rooted in service to you, our members, and to the communities we serve.

Best,
Scott Peters, CEO