Timeline

OPALCO Turns 50!

January 1, 1987

1987:  OPALCO celebrated 50 years of service.

Union Now! OPALCO Becomes IBEW Shop

January 1, 1987

OPALCO employees voted to unionize under an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) contract.

OPALCO Heroically Files for Bankruptcy in Response to WPPSS Quagmire

June 1, 1982

OPALCO was swept up in the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) debacle, the biggest and most notorious municipal bond default in U.S. history.  OPALCO was one of … Read More

Lineman Ole Pederson Tragically Killed

October 14, 1980

One of OPALCO’s own, Bruce “Ole” Pederson, Journeyman Lineman of Lopez Island, was killed while working on a 7,200-volt regulator bank on Lopez.

Washington Public Power Supply System Debacle

January 1, 1980

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, OPALCO was swept up in the “Whoops!” Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) debacle, the biggest and most notorious municipal bond … Read More

38th Annual Meeting on Board “Kaleetan”

April 3, 1975

Photos courtesy of the Orcas Island Historical Museum, The Islands Sounder, and photographer Gordon Keith.

1972 Winter Storm Topples Thousands of Trees

Provided by the Orcas Island Historical Society

January 1, 1972

Thank you to the Orcas Island Historical Society, The Island Sounder and photographer Gordon Keith for these images of 1972’s big winter storm on Orcas. “…Trees lay like … Read More

1970s Crew

January 1, 1970

San Juan Island’s Nourdine Jensen Joins Board

December 10, 1964

Nourdine Jensen was appointed to the Board to replace John G. Jones.

Tidal Vibrations Take Out Sub-Marine Cable

November 1, 1964

OPALCO members experienced an extended outage due to a submarine cable break caused by the vibration of the cable (Aeolian action) induced by marine tidal current action. “…Walter … Read More