2021 Legislative Session Yields Historic Raft of Wins for Oregon’s Utility Consumers
Posted on July 1, 2021 by Samuel Pastrick
Tags, Energy
The 2021 Oregon legislative session ended on June 26 with a flurry of late breaking activity. Legislators worked through the final weekend in the face of record-breaking temperatures. In terms of CUB’s legislative priorities, this session was historic. As a direct result of 2021 legislation, utility customers in Oregon will soon benefit from robust transportation electrification policies, additional electric bill payment assistance and weatherization resources, rate relief for low-income utility customers, a more inclusive regulatory process overseeing utilities, and 100 percent clean electricity by 2040.
Five of CUB’s legislative priorities passed this session, which in and of itself is a major accomplishment. But what makes the 2021 legislative session historic is how passage of these bills will benefit Oregonians directly.
HB 2475 will help customers of Oregon’s major energy utilities who struggle to afford their bills and will increase community representation before the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC). The bill allows the PUC to consider income and related social factors when determining customers’ energy rates and developing other programs through utility regulatory proceedings. HB 2475 may also help community-based organizations that represent historically marginalized customer groups receive funding for their participation in PUC regulatory proceedings. CUB worked with a broad coalition on HB 2475. We look forward to continuing that work with our coalition partners to ensure that our most vulnerable family members, friends, and neighbors have fair and reasonable access to affordable energy bills.
HB 2165 dedicates funding for investments by Portland General Electric (PGE) and Pacific Power in transportation electrification projects, with an emphasis on low- and moderate-income customers. HB 2165 also clarifies how the PUC evaluates these investments, and expands Oregon’s electric vehicle rebate programs.
HB 2739 increases the Oregon Energy Assistance Program - the bill payment assistance program for PGE and Pacific Power customers with low incomes - by raising the meter charge that funds the program from $.69 to $1.00 per month. This will raise an additional $20 million over the next two years. Passage of HB 2739 was particularly critical with the PUC’s shut-off moratorium ending on July 16.
HB 3141 lowers the long-standing Public Purpose Charge on PGE and Pacific Power customers. At the same time, weatherization resources for customers with low incomes will be significantly increased. HB 3141 supports investments in system reliability, resilience, and grid integration; retains the expertise of the Energy Trust of Oregon to implement all cost-effective energy efficiency programs; improves projects for schools and low-income housing; and facilitates good utility planning by extending Public Purpose Charge funds to 2035.
HB 2021 requires PGE and Pacific Power, as well as electric service suppliers that serve many large industrial customers, to procure 100 percent clean electricity by 2040. This is a historic achievement. The largest and most diverse coalition to have ever supported Oregon clean energy legislation backed HB 2021. Not long ago, CUB believed that it would be extremely difficult for Oregon to develop and maintain a 100 percent clean electric system while keeping service affordable and reliable. CUB now believes that doing so is not only possible, but necessary as we contend with a hotter, dryer, and increasingly more dangerous climate.
Unfortunately, as is the case every legislative session, not all of CUB’s priority bills reached the finish line. HB 2698 - the Oregon Right to Repair Act, had it passed, would have empowered consumers with the ability to repair their household electronics. CUB first advocated for a similar Right to Repair bill in 2019. We fought hard again this legislative session because giving consumers the right to repair their household electronics would save them money while reducing waste and resource usage during manufacturing. CUB remains committed to the fair repair movement and will work with allies to carve a potential legislative path forward.
In the end, the 2021 Oregon legislative session yielded significant advancements in the interest of residential utility customers. Had any one of CUB’s major legislative priorities passed, we would have viewed the session as a success. Passing five major pieces of legislation is a significant achievement. This victory would not have been possible without strong leadership from key legislators and our allies – particularly those representing environmental justice communities and customers with low incomes. While the 2021 session has come to a close, work will soon begin in preparation for the five-week 2022 Oregon legislative session that kicks off in February. In the meantime, join the CUB email list to keep up with action alerts and other advocacy campaign updates right in your inbox!
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09/05/22 | 0 Comments | 2021 Legislative Session Yields Historic Raft of Wins for Oregon’s Utility Consumers