History

A Brief History of Tanner Electric Cooperative

Tanner Electric was founded in 1936 as the "Mutual Power and Light Association of Tanner" by the rural members who lived along Edgewick Rd, southeast of the city of North Bend. These early members first approached the existing electric utility in the area, Puget Sound Power and Light Company, known today simply as Puget Sound Energy or PSE, and were informed that if they wanted power, it would be up to them to install electric distribution lines to their homes, then PSE would be happy to take over and serve them. After hearing this, the Edgewick folks made the decision to form a rural electric cooperative and run it themselves. 

The original group approached the Rural Electrification Administration and with the assistance of J.D. Ross, then Superintendent of Seattle City Light, the group was able to obtain the first R.E.A. loan in the State of Washington. This loan for $13,000.00 was made to construct 13 miles of line to 32 consumers. The contracts were let and by the end of 1937 the Cooperative had their first 32 consumers. They purchased 6,000 kWh from Seattle City Light's Cedar Falls plant. The Cooperative's revenue was $286.67 in the first year. 

From 1937 to 1947, all power used by the Cooperative was purchased from Seattle City Light at Cedar Falls. In 1947, the first contract with Bonneville Power Administration was signed and the Cooperative began to purchase Bonneville power wheeled by Seattle City Light. The wheeling arrangement with Seattle was continued until November 1966, when a new Bonneville contract shifted the point of delivery for the North Bend members to Puget Sound Power and Light Company substation located behind the Ranger station in town. In 2007, North Bend currently serves over 1,850 members.

In 1954, the residences of Ames Lake attempted to obtain power from Puget Sound Energy and were unsuccessful. Tanner Electric was then contacted and in late 1954 the cooperative obtained a contract with Puget Sound Energy to purchase power to serve Ames Lake. Tanner Electric constructed the necessary lines and began service that year to approximately 50 members. In 2007, we currently serve 1,450 accounts in the Ames Lake area.

In 1960, the Cooperative was requested to serve Anderson Island by the Rural Electric Association (REA). Before this time, a network of diesel generators served the island. A two-mile submersible cable was installed and the first 44 accounts were connected in late 1961. We currently serve 1,100 members on Anderson Island.

As of 2008 we have a utility plant valued at $17,665,982. Our Kilowatt sales stand at over 64 million. Quite an increase over those initial 1937 numbers! Given our new commercial members, North Bend Middle School and the Snoqualmie Casino, we are sure to see these numbers grow even larger.