History
Central Lincoln: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Our mission is to ensure our communities have access to reliable and affordable energy products and services.
- Before Central Lincoln PUD was established, residents received electrical service provided by surplus generated by local lumber companies for their own operations, but it was unreliable.
- In 1940, residents of central Lincoln County voted for dependable, affordable, publicly-owned electricity, creating a People’s Utility District, a not-for-profit local governmental entity.
- Directors were elected, funds were provided by a small levy, and the sale of revenue bonds. The coastal facilities of West Coast Power were purchased, and on May 5, 1943, the Central Lincoln PUD officially began operations.
- The purchased facilities were badly in need of repair, rights-of-way were not maintained, and many people in remote areas were not even connected. Central Lincoln launched a massive upgrade and line extension program.
- Directors negotiated with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) for power generated by dams being constructed on the Columbia River and its tributaries. A Bonneville line was built to Toledo in 1946 and a substation was installed to supply the District’s lines, with additional substations following in Mapleton and Reedsport.
- In later years, elections were held by voters wanting to join Central Lincoln’s District. By 1960, our modern service territory borders were largely in place.
- Central Lincoln — which once had about 5,000 customers — now serves more than 55,000.
- The District now maintains a dependability rate of over 99.9 percent, while our rates have remained among the lowest in the nation.
