Powerful Helps Umatilla Electric Cooperative Create Its First Employee Intranet
HERMISTON, OR– After five years of rapid employee growth, Umatilla Electric Cooperative (UEC) has launched its first-ever intranet to better connect and support its expanding workforce.
Serving more than 11,000 members across Northeastern Oregon, UEC relies on a connected, informed team to deliver reliable electric service. With 128 employees working across multiple departments and locations, UEC partnered with Powerful to create a digital hub designed specifically for internal use.
“With UEC seeing exponential growth in employment over the past five years, they needed a one-stop shop that would keep all employees connected and informed,” said Stacey Horton, project manager at Powerful. “This intranet gives their team a central place to come together.”
After previously working with Powerful to redesign its public-facing website, UEC saw an opportunity to bring the same clarity, usability and human-centered design to an internal platform. The new intranet was designed to support intuitive navigation, easy access to tools, increased engagement and timely internal communication. As the cooperative’s first intranet, the platform establishes a single, welcoming place where employees can find information, stay up to date on organizational news and connect across departments.
To support everyday tasks, Powerful created a navigation structure that organizes content by department, making it easier for employees to find information relevant to their roles. “We created a navigation structure that catered to each individual department,” Horton said, “so employees can quickly get to what matters most to them.”
UEC also implemented Powerful’s staff directory app, allowing employees to search for coworkers by name and view contact information, titles, departments and office locations. “The searchable employee directory allows visitors to easily find contact information for each department or an individual employee,” Horton said, pointing to how the feature helps teams connect more easily across the organization.
The intranet homepage highlights internal news, employee shoutouts and upcoming events through a custom layout designed to feel warm and familiar. “The homepage highlights company news and upcoming events through a unique layout design that makes employees feel at home,” Horton said.
To ensure a smooth transition into the new system, Powerful integrated single sign-on using Microsoft 365 credentials. Employees can log in using the same username and password they already use for everyday work tools, eliminating the need to remember new credentials and making access feel familiar from day one.
“I’m so excited for the Umatilla team and their first-ever intranet,” Horton added.
The new intranet supports UEC’s mission to invest in services that improve quality of life in its communities. By strengthening internal connection and communication, the platform helps employees collaborate more effectively and continue delivering dependable service to the members they serve.
About Powerful
Powerful is a leader in designing human-centered website designs for utility companies, enhancing digital interactions through innovative design and advanced technology. Their mission is to build lasting partnerships with utility organizations by creating engaging, visitor-friendly digital experiences. Specializing in functionality, visitor experience, and accessibility, Powerful tailors each project to the unique needs of their clients, ensuring websites are visually appealing, intuitive, and easy to navigate. With a focus on humanizing websites, their team is dedicated to understanding the specific challenges and goals of each client, crafting solutions that foster meaningful connections and drive engagement. Through a meticulous design process and commitment to excellence, Powerful helps utilities connect more effectively with their communities, providing websites that both inform and inspire.
About Umatilla Electric Cooperative
Umatilla Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric cooperative serving more than 11,000 members across Northeastern Oregon. Founded in 1937 during the rural electrification movement, UEC provides reliable, affordable power and invests in services that improve quality of life in the communities it serves.
