Eugene Water & Electric Board
| Company type | Public utility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electricity, Water |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Headquarters | Eugene, Oregon, United States |
Number of employees | 500+ |
| Website | www.eweb.org |
The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) is Oregon's largest customer-owned utility. Founded in 1911, EWEB provides electricity and water to more than 86,000 customers in and near Eugene, Oregon.
Chartered by the City of Eugene, a five-member Board of Commissioners is elected by the citizens of Eugene and governs the utility.[1] Four commissioners are elected by their respective geographic wards; a fifth commissioner is at-large and elected by all of Eugene's voters. This board retains full control and sets policies for the water and electric utilities.[1]
Electric resource portfolio
More than 95 percent of the electricity EWEB needs to serve its customers comes from hydropower, wind and other sources that do not generate carbon-based emissions that are linked to global warming.[2]
Most of this electricity comes from the federal Bonneville Power Administration and from EWEB's own hydroelectric projects.[3] EWEB was the first public utility in Oregon to own a wind farm, and the utility has contracts to purchase a substantial amount of wind and geothermal power generated in the Northwest.[2]
EWEB-owned power projects
| Hydro | Wind | Steam Co-generation |
|---|---|---|
| Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project | Foote Creek Rim Wind Project | EWEB/International Paper Steam Co-generation Plant |
| Smith Creek Hydroelectric Project | Harvest Wind | Wauna Steam Co-Generation Project |
| Leaburg-Walterville Hydroelectric Project | ||
| Stone Creek Hydroelectric Project |
Electric resource plan
EWEB’s Integrated Electric Resource Plan[4] provides a road map for future resource decisions. The current plan, developed with the help of citizens, sets two priorities:
- Continue an aggressive energy conservation effort, then
- Acquire renewable power to meet any increase in demand that cannot be offset by conservation efforts
EWEB's renewable energy programs include EWEB Greenpower and a solar electric program.[5]