2024 In Review: CUB Annual Report
Posted on December 5, 2024 by Cassie Allen
Tags, Energy, General Interest
Join us in celebrating another successful year of work at CUB! As we reach the final stretch of 2024, there are many victories to celebrate. We came together as a community this year and helped advance the work to make Oregon’s utilities affordable, accessible, reliable, and clean. Read on to see what CUB did for Oregon utility customers in 2024!
Bob Jenk’s Winter 2024 Letter
Dear CUB Members,
This year has been one for the books. The CUB team has worked harder than ever, tackled more cases than ever, and seen more community support than ever before. I want to thank you for coming along for this wild ride—we couldn’t have done it without you.
Supporters like you showed up for our communities. When utilities asked for even more money from customers after four years of skyrocketing bills, you showed up. Thousands of you submitted public comments, talked to your neighbors, and shared the work we did this year.
We know that many of you have been hit hard by utility bills this year. Between ice storms, extreme heat, and rising billing rates, it certainly has been a difficult time for many of us. But we are carving a path forward.
This year we won a five-year fight against NW Natural’s subsidy to expand the gas system. We expanded programs for lowering energy bills. And we continued to fight for affordable clean energy from our utilities.
I know there will be significant challenges in the coming year, especially given the changing political landscape. But this year I have never been more proud of our team, our supporters, or our community. Thank you for supporting our work and we look forward to another year of success in 2025
–Bob Jenks, CUB’s Executive Director
CUB celebrates saving customers $10 billion
As CUB turns 40 this year, we are celebrating a major milestone for customers. Over countless cases, policy changes, and testimony, we have saved Oregon households $10 billion since our inception. Thank you for making this major milestone possible!
Keeping Your Utilities Affordable
Oregon is in an energy affordability crisis. After years of regulators siding with utility companies, we have seen a dramatic increase in energy bills across the state. Extreme weather has increased energy usage in our homes as ice storms and scorching heat make it harder to maintain safe inside temperatures. CUB has worked tirelessly in 2024 to create stronger protections and relief programs to make utilities more affordable.
CUB Fights More Bill Increases
This year, four of Oregon’s six for-profit energy utilities asked for double-digit rate increases. For NW Natural Gas customers in Western Oregon, we won phasing out subsidies for expanding fossil fuel infrastructure and costs for lobbying and fossil fuel trade associations. For Idaho Power customers in Eastern Oregon, we secured a monthly bill discount program for low-income households. We are still fighting increases from Pacific Power and Portland General Electric and expect big wins by the end of the year.
CUB Pushes for Cap on Rate Increases
This year, CUB called for a cap on all rate increases by for-profit utilities. We are asking the Public Utility Commission to limit rate increases to 10% or 7% plus inflation, whichever is lowest. This cap would apply to the total increase customers see over a year. Any requests over that cap would be pushed into the future.
Regulators are still considering this request and will decide by the end of the year. This cap could become a reality as early as January 2025.
“This year has been one for the books. The CUB team has worked harder than ever, tackled more cases than ever, and seen more community support than ever before. I want to thank you for coming along for this wild ride—we couldn’t have done it without you.”
- Bob Jenks, Executive Director
2025 Preview: Bill Discounts & Beyond
Expanding Programs for Lowering Energy Bills
While we’re fighting new rate increases, CUB is also working to expand programs that help people manage expensive energy bills now:
- Deeper bill discount programs for all utilities
- Creating strong programs to forgive and address utility bill debt
- Expand energy efficiency programs to lower energy usage and bills
- Pass new laws in 2025 to address structural issues for energy affordability
Keeping Your Utilities Accessible
CUB Empowers Customers to Fight Bill Increases
This year saw more people than ever before engaged with fighting bill increases. Portland General Electric alone had more than 3,300 public comments to regulators. Pacific Power saw nearly 1,500 public comments. In a normal year, a case like this would only see around 100 public comments. Thank you to everyone who spoke out this year!
CUB Supporters Speak Out
“Please do not approve PGE’s request for a rate increase. They already got one, and it’s been devastating. Everyone I know was horrified by their increased energy bills this year. The average person’s wallet is already strained right now, between out-of-control grocery prices, rent increases, and employers refusing to give anyone enough hours to live on. My family is struggling financially. We can’t possibly “save energy” any more than we already are, and we can’t possibly “save money” on anything else. There are no frivolities left to cut.”
- Margaret, Salem
“My income does not rise each year as much as my power bill is rising. My bill has more than doubled compared to last year (without this proposed increase) [...] How much longer do you think our society can survive with uncurtailed greed? How many more homeless seniors do you want to see? We have to suck it up when life throws us curves; the corporations need to do the same without passing on expenses to their customers. Please deny this increase.”
- JJ, Independence, Pacific Power Customer
Our Voices Are Louder Together
This year was a record-breaking year for public engagement. Oregonians stood up, spoke up, and let our utility regulators know that enough is enough.
In a normal rate case, we usually expect 100-200 comments. This level of outcry is unprecedented.And regulators are listening.
Energy Policy for People & Planet
2024 CUB Energy Policy Conference
On October 4th, CUB’s 14th annual policy conference, Energy Policy for People & Planet, was held at the Left Bank Annex in Portland, Oregon. Over 250 attendees came from all over the Pacific Northwest to engage in a day of networking, discussions, and community building.
The conference brought vital perspectives from communities on the front lines of climate change in the Pacific Northwest. Together, we can build an energy transition that works for all of us!
2024 Consumer Champion: Michelle Scala
Michelle Scala is the Manager of Regulatory Strategy at the Oregon Public Utility Commission, where she collaborates with industry peers on advancing equitable systems, socially informed policy, energy justice, and ratemaking for the public interest public safety power shutoffs.
Read Michelle’s acceptance speech here!
“These issues are so much bigger than just paying bills. When we talk about energy affordability, we’re talking about keeping families safe during extreme weather, stabilizing households so children can have a conducive learning environment, and creating economic opportunities by ensuring that people can focus on their lives instead of worrying about losing essential services.
– Michelle Scala, 2024 Consumer Champion
Celebrating 40 Years of CUB
” We have been a member/donor to CUB from its inception. As a non-profit organization, serving as our citizen lawyer, researching, watchdoging, and testifying on our behalf, we appreciate you. You’ve saved us untold dollars in energy charges over the years. Every user of energy in Oregon would benefit themselves, and their neighbors, by being a member of CUB.
- Fran, CUB Member
Keeping Your Utilities Reliable
Wildfire Mitigation Plans
As we have seen over the past few years, wildfires are a huge threat to the safety and livelihood of Oregonians. This year, CUB focused on ensuring that our utilities plan to protect our communities without sacrificing reliability. And when they fail, CUB ensures the cost of their negligence is not added to customer bills.
After a summer marked with power outages in areas most affected by wildfires, CUB’s advocates stepped up. We joined forces with advocates from across the state and called on regulators to ensure wildfire plans are made to support community needs and solutions and to do so affordably.
Big Win: CUB Helps Pass 4 New State Laws
Right to Repair (SB 1596): Now, we have the ability to repair our electronics either ourselves or through a third party. Repairing personal electronics is less expensive and is better for the environment.
Climate Budget (SB1530): As part of SB 1530, several Climate Budget requests passed with overwhelming support. The Healthy Homes Program received $15 million to support whole-home energy upgrades. The bill also provides $4 million for the Residential Heat Pump Fund and funding for more!
Battery Storage Permitting (SB 1596): HB 4015 passed, making it easier to build battery storage by integrating battery storage system permits with existing renewable energy projects.
Family Financial Protection Act (SB 1595): This law helps give Oregonians more fairness in debt collections by updating rules to ensure folks can get back on their feet. The new law can protect customers sent to collections for outstanding utility bills, in addition to other debt collections.
Keeping Your Utilities Clean
Holding Utilities Accountable: Planning to Reduce Emissions Affordably
Oregon’s largest energy utilities must reduce their emissions to meet the state’s climate mandates. Unfortunately, Pacific Power and all of the gas utilities are missing the mark. CUB has pushed back hard this year to hold utilities accountable to meet climate regulations.
CUB successfully kept up the pressure on regulators to reject Pacific Power’s faulty clean energy plan. This year, the utility presented a plan that did not meet near-term clean energy targets—and may not ever meet 100% clean energy requirements. Thanks to our work, regulators have once again rejected Pacific Power’s plan to keep investing in fossil fuels and charge customers more instead of meeting climate regulations.
Big Win: NW Natural Rate Case
CUB Eliminates NW Natural Gas Expansion Subsidy
Existing customers will soon no longer pay to expand NW Natural’s business through a subsidy called a “line extension allowance.” This subsidy is often paid to building developers, encouraging new homes to be built with gas. The subsidy will be phased out by 2027.
Regulators had reduced the subsidy in 2022 thanks to CUB. This year, we found that NW Natural was still massively overspending. In 2022, the utility spent $86,553 to add a single home. Now, $13.7 million will be removed from rates.
“Regulators have made it clear – It’s time we stopped subsidizing the expansion of the fossil fuel network. Getting rid of these subsidies is a big win for customers and will have lasting impacts on our bills.
It’s good for the people. It’s good for the planet. And it’s the right thing to do.”
- Bob Jenks, Executive Director
New Faces at CUB
Meet the CUB Staff
Our team has grown this year! Here is who represented household utility customers at CUB in 2024.
CUB By the Numbers
Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues
CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.
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12/09/24 | 0 Comments | 2024 In Review: CUB Annual Report