Action Alert: Regulators Consider Future of Natural Gas
Posted on June 24, 2022 by Charlotte Shuff
Tags, Energy
Editor’s Note: Join CUB on Tuesday, July 12 at 5:30pm to tell regulators to hold natural gas companies accountable. The Public Utility Commission will listen to public comments on the future of natural gas in Oregon - but we need to act now. For more information and how to join, visit CUB’s Events page.
Right now, Oregon’s utility regulators are looking at the future of natural gas (methane). The results of this investigation will impact Oregon households for the next 20 years.
As our state moves to reduce climate pollution, expanding the natural gas system is expensive and risky for customers. We need to push regulators to take bold steps to protect customers and prevent rapidly increasing energy bills.
Regulators Need to Protect Natural Gas Customers
Last year, after a request by CUB, the Oregon Public Utility Commission opened an investigation on the future of gas in Oregon. This fact-finding was meant to consider the risks associated with emissions and gas utilities. The investigation concluded with a draft report in April, but the report offers little clarity. It doesn’t answer the questions that are in dispute.
Rather than conducting analyses and offering conclusions, the report summarizes utilities’ proposed compliance scenarios. It briefly references community skepticism. It also suggests limited strategies for future action, including hiring a 3rd party to conduct another investigation.
CUB hoped this process would help answer questions about the future of gas in Oregon and the risks for customers of those utilities. Now, Oregonians have a chance to make their voices heard at the July 12 public comment hearing. With climate regulation quickly rolling out, gas utilities need to be held accountable to protect Oregon households and the environment.
Public Comment Period Allows Oregonians to Weigh in on the Future of Natural Gas
State utility regulators are hosting a virtual public hearing at 5:30pm on Tuesday, July 12 before they release their final report. This hearing will take place over Zoom - details for joining can be found here.
Gas utilities are already recruiting their allies to join. Industry groups will push for a future of higher gas bills and more emissions. CUB is urging Oregonians to show up, speak up, and tell regulators to protect Oregon households before it’s too late.
Want to learn more about what to expect at a public comment hearing? Check out this recent post on CUB’s Blog!
Regulators need to prioritize community needs, not corporate interests.
For the past year, community groups, advocates, and utilities have worked with regulators to look at the future of natural gas in Oregon. In the recent draft report, regulators only included feedback from utilities. Community needs must be represented, not just industry talking points. We are asking regulators to include and consider community feedback.
Community groups are asking regulators to:
- End subsidies for natural gas utilities
- Expand programs for weatherization, energy efficiency, and affordability
- Stop investments in risky, expensive new technologies
Customers shouldn’t pay millions in subsidies to benefit gas companies.
Gas utilities want to keep expanding their systems to grow their profits. Existing customers pay for adding new gas customers, usually between $2,400-2,875 per building. Oregonians shouldn’t be on the hook for millions of dollars in subsidies each year to the already wealthy oil and gas industry.
Growing the gas system is a risk for existing customers.
With the state’s new climate programs, gas companies need to reduce emissions, not add more. Natural gas is methane, a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and is subject to climate regulation. As more customers are added and the cost of reducing emissions goes up, so will bills.
Customers need gas utilities to realistically prepare for climate regulation.
Utility plans include everything from energy efficiency to alternative fuels. While this sounds good, their projections hinge on undertested and often unavailable technologies. High-efficiency gas heat pumps are not commonly on the market for purchase. Alternative (“renewable”) natural gas is not widely available and can be six times the cost of traditional natural gas.
Gas utilities should not keep expanding their systems when they don’t have realistic plans to meet Oregon emissions requirements. We need regulators to address the threat of rising bills and the utilities’ failure to meet climate regulations. We need regulators to protect customers, not the oil and gas industry.
CUB will keep fighting for utility policies that protect your wallet and the environment. Stay tuned for more information as this investigation continues.
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06/23/22 | 0 Comments | Action Alert: Regulators Consider Future of Natural Gas