CEC keeps Measure 37 claim alive

Central Electric Cooperative Inc. (CEC) is continuing with its $7.9 million claim with Deschutes County under Measure 37, according to Al Gonzalez, president and CEO of the cooperative.

In a letter mailed to cooperative members this past week, Gonzalez wrote that this action is being taken because of failure of the State Legislature to act on SB 413. That bill, introduced last January at CEC’s request, would have allowed Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. to upgrade existing transmission lines located on easements granted by private property owners.

CEC took that step following its unsuccessful effort to upgrade power lines to the Sisters area across the Cyrus property east of town. CEC wanted to install taller steel towers for the new lines. The Cyruses opposed that action because of their belief that the towers would degrade scenic views from the property. CEC claimed that the new transmission lines were needed to meet the growing demand for electrical power in the Sisters area.

Deschutes County approved the CEC plan, but reversed that decision after the Cyruses appealed the county’s decision to the Land Use Board of Appeals and won. The Cyruses went on to defend that decision in the Oregon Court of Appeals.

SB 413 bill passed the Senate on April 11 by a vote of 23 to 5. Despite efforts to draft amendments in a House committee, no action was taken by the committee. Instead, legislators asked CEC to negotiate with the Cyruses and one other private property owner opposed to the new lines.

“Central Electric has never paid ‘compensation’ for transmission line easements in its 65-year history. It does not intend to pay for these rights now, nor in the future,” Gonzalez wrote.

“Reluctantly, we have filed a Measure 37 claim with Deschutes County in the amount of $7.9 million,” Gonzalez added. “This is the extra cost that all Central Electric members would be required to help fund if CEC was forced to place the existing Sisters transmission line underground through private property.”

“We never did propose placing the transmission line underground, but that was one of the suggestions we were given during the legal review,” said Jim Crowell, Member Services Director for CEC.

“If it did come down to that and it was the only legal way to serve the Sisters area, then that’s what the cost would be at this time.”