A New Energy
You might have already noticed Hood River Electric & Internet Co-op is a little different that your previous electric and internet providers. We were created in 1945 by our members (that’s you!) for our members, and we couldn’t be more proud to serve you and our community all these years.
HR Co-op is proof that a community can rise to meet its own needs despite being overlooked by investor-owned, big box utility companies. First with electricity in 1945, and then with broadband internet service in the early 2000’s.
America’s smaller communities like ours are changing in remarkable ways—while holding steadfastly to the values that, for generations, have made them the places people choose to build a better life for themselves and their families.
We embrace a simpler lifestyle. We live independently; yet, are part of a community that looks out for neighbors. We feed the world, change the world, and build the future.
Our rural community may seem quiet—but scratch below the surface and you’ll find a whole lot happening. There’s a new energy here to go along with our down-to-earth way to live that’s been here all along. And the opportunities to create something new have never been greater.
You might think of us as the local electric and internet company, and you’d be right: We’re led by members like you, created by and for the communities we serve. Our member-owned cooperative is a community-focused organization that works to deliver reliable, safe, and sustainable energy & internet service to our members. HR Co-op is as unique as the community that shapes it, changing over time as our community grows and changes.
We’re local and we’re independent. But together, we’re mighty. W brings electricity to over 3,900 homes, farms, and businesses, and internet service to 3,000. We provide family-wage jobs, invest in our local economy every year, and help attract and grow business and industry in our area.
As a member-owned co-op, we aren’t just economic engines. We’re innovators, working with other co-ops to incorporate beneficial sources of renewable energy into a balanced energy mix. And we’re always looking for new ways to help our members save energy, save money, and take advantage of the efficient technologies that change the way we live.
The cooperative spirit that has always been one of the best things about living in our community all along. Neighbors looking out for neighbors. People working for the common good. Even as we celebrate our differences and our individual achievements, knowing that we can’t do everything alone—we’re all in this together. And we are stronger and better for it.
That’s community. It is what fueled HR Co-op so many years ago—and it’s the source of our new energy today. The power of community is what being a member-owned cooperative is all about.