Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) is a member-owned, non-profit cooperative electric utility providing services to San Juan County since 1937. OPALCO’s mostly hydro-electric power is generated by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and delivered to the islands by way of submarine cables.
OPALCO distributes electricity to 20 islands in the archipelago and employs approximately 60 people in the county. The Cooperative is governed by its member-owners who elect a seven-member board of directors. Elections are held each year at the annual meeting.
Snapshot by the numbers:
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205,574,989 kilowatt hours sold (2008)
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$19.2 million in annual sales (2008)
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$238,830 paid out to members (1983) in capital credits (2008)
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1,138 miles of power lines (82% underground) including
49 miles of transmission lines (overhead and submarine cable) -
20 islands served
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15 distribution submarine cables, covering
14 miles -
11 transmission submarine cables
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11 substations
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4 warehouses
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3 crew stations
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2 public-access offices
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1 healthy and financially stable cooperative