Ruralite

Following a thorough review of all 29 applications, Columbia REA’s 2025 MPT Grant funds will be presented to two local non-profit organizations with a tightly focused mission

Each year, Columbia REA recognizes one staff member as the Power Player of the Year. This honor is awarded to the employee who best understands and supports Columbia REA’s vision and values; incorporates that vision when planning, generates enthusiasm and embodies the Seven Cooperative Principles of Voluntary and Open membership.

Few topics are generating more discussion in communities across the Northwest, and right here in our backyard, than data centers. Supporters point to new jobs, tax revenue, and economic growth, while others have questions about water use

How is your old air conditioner holding up through another eastern Washington summer? If your system is struggling, running constantly or needing frequent repairs, it may be using more energy than necessary. For rural customers, where service calls can take extra time and travel, replacing an aging system with the right equipment can improve comfort, reliability and monthly energy costs.

In the electricity world, a connector helps bring power from the source to the end user. In our Connectors feature, we introduce you to your real-life Columbia REA Connectors, our staff.

26 years ago, Columbia iConnect was launched with pretty much the same mission as Columbia REA carried with it six decades earlier: Fast, reliable service backed by people who live and work in the same communities they serve. In other words, fill the void left by the big national brands who made all their decisions based on dollars, which left rural residents out in the cold.

Wildfire season is here. Columbia REA takes fire safety very seriously. One of the key steps we take is placing our equipment in Fire Safety Mode, known in the industry as “one-shot” operation. This setting helps reduce the risk of ignition from electrical arcs or sparks.

Taking the Time to Get It Right. A year ago, in this column, we talked about Columbia REA’s adoption of AI technology, specifically Microsoft CoPilot, into our workflow. The headline that day was “Fast, Flexible and Forward-thinking.”

Portland, OR – June 11, 2026. The Public Power Council (PPC) is expressing concerns over new, court-ordered Columbia River operations at John Day Dam following reports that adult salmon passage there has been significantly delayed during the current migration season. The John Day Dam concern comes just after PPC joined a stipulation filed in late May by Federal Defendants in the ongoing Columbia River System Operations (CRSO) litigation to protect spawning salmon migrating up the Columbia River after adult passage was being slowed by new river operations at Lower Monumental Dam on the Snake River.

June is a Great Time for Eastern Washington Families to Prepare for Summer Energy Use. Hot afternoons, cool nights, and strong sunshine can quickly change how much electricity a home, shop, or farm uses from day to day. In many rural communities, summer demand is not just about keeping the house comfortable. It can also […]