“From Frustration to Action: Learning from Ashland’s Public Utility”
I remember the day my electric bill arrived last month. I held it, stomach tightening. One number at the bottom, but it carried weight. It wasn’t just a bill — it was a reminder that in small towns like Myrtle Point, Coquille, Powers, and nearby coastal communities, rising energy costs touch everything: groceries, gas, heating, even little comforts that make life feel normal.
I see it on social media, neighbors posting the same frustration. “Another increase,” someone writes. “Seems like they can charge whatever they want.” And they can — because, for most of us, there’s only one company supplying power. One monopoly, one set of rules. No alternatives.
Then I think about Ashland. They didn’t sit back. They formed their own electric utility. Rates, upgrades, and priorities are decided locally. Any extra revenue stays in the community, funding projects that matter to the people who live there. They took control — and it shows that local power, literally and figuratively, makes a difference.
It’s not simple. Setting up a city-owned utility takes planning, money, expertise, and patience. But when bills climb so high that families feel squeezed every month, “possible” is worth considering.
This isn’t just about dollars. It’s about having a voice. Ask the questions: Who decides rates? Where does the money go? What would work best for our community?
Imagine a town meeting. Residents gathered, talking about the lights in their homes, the heat in their schools, and the dollars leaving their pockets. That conversation — that curiosity — is where change begins.
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