Counting our Blessings this Holiday Season
Posted on December 22, 2015 by Amelia Lamb
Tags, General Interest
Amid the mad rush of holiday shopping, travel, and epic rain storms, it can be easy to forget that at its core, the holiday season is really about coming together to give and receive generously, and to express love and gratitude for one another. In the spirit of those sentiments, we at CUB are looking at all we have as an organization and feeling immensely grateful. Here are some of the most wonderful things that are making our yuletide gay and bright:
1. Our Members
CUB’s members are our backbone and our rock. Your regular contributions allow us to stand up to utilities when they ask for unreasonable rate hikes or try to bend regulations in their favor, and insist that the right decisions be made for customers. Your generosity this past year in particular gave us our most successful #GivingTuesday to date, and ensured the continuing success of our Anniversary Club program (if you haven’t joined yet, you can do so here!) Your trust motivates us to keep working in your interest. And your values give us faith that we can keep utility rates affordable for all while leaving coal and other harmful pollutants in the past. Thank you!
2. CUB Policy Center Donors
The CUB Policy Center relies on individual tax-deductible contributions to supplement and support critical programs like CUB Connects, the educational opportunities CUB offers through seasonal internships, externships, and clerkships, and the Transition From Coal project. We are deeply grateful to everyone who donated this past year, particularly those who became Ursa Major Society members with contributions at or above $250. (If you are not already an Ursa Major donor, you can join the Society and make a big impact today!)
3. Our Board of Directors
The Boards of Directors for both CUB and the CUB Policy Center are the volunteer stewards, elected by CUB members, who keep us on a steady course. By generously giving their time, energy and resources, they ensure that CUB is always working for the public interest, efficiently managing its finances, and thinking ahead to the next era of challenges and opportunities. CUB’s board was particularly instrumental in 2015 to crafting a strategic plan that will serve as our guidepost through the next four years.
4. Portland City Council
CUB’s Portland water and wastewater customer advocate, Janice Thompson, worked diligently this year monitoring the City Council’s management of Portland’s public utilities. Her efforts produced many astute recommendations for improved oversight procedures and kept $2 million in the pockets of ratepayers. Janice has been a Rock Star in her own right, but CUB’s recommendations have been bolstered by the cooperation of Portland Water Bureau and Bureau of Environmental Services staff. We are grateful to Portland’s City Council, particularly Commissioner-in-Charge Nick Fish, for welcoming our oversight, as well as the newly established Public Utility Board as it joins CUB in diligent review of Portland water, stormwater, and sewer operations.
5. Oregon’s Public Utility Commissioners and PUC staff
The regulatory staff achieved many great results for ratepayers in 2015 (look for an end-of year blog next week highlighting some of their victories) and that is in no small part due to the staff and Commissioners at the Public Utility Commission (PUC). There is probably not a day that goes by when CUB staff does not, in some way, work with someone at the PUC. All year round, the Commissioners as well as their talented and dedicated staff work hard to keep utility services stable, reasonably priced, accessible, and safe. Oregon is blessed to have smart, capable, and far-sighted regulators making informed decisions about utility-related issues in our state.
6. Our Energy Allies and Partners
We are able to get a lot done with minimal resources, but CUB could not have as big an impact as we do without the support of our allies and partners. We made great strides this year in expanding outreach and community education through our CUB Connects program, thanks in part to a nascent partnership with Free Geek, Portland’s community technology center. We are also grateful to Oregon Environmental Council, Angus Duncan with the Oregon Global Warming Commission, NW Energy Coalition, Renewable Northwest, and Climate Solutions for their help in negotiating critical pieces of legislation in and around the 2015 session. Other important partners include the Industrial Customers of NW Utilities, Northwest Industrial Gas Users, Community Action Partnership of Oregon, and Sierra Club.
7. Oregon Utilities and the Folks Who Work for Them
Let’s face it: in the United States we have very stable, albeit monopolized, utility service. Truth is, if it weren’t for investor-owned utilities, many of us would be cold (or hot) and lack internet and cell phone service (Yikes!) And though we are often at odds, we are also sometimes able to work together to solve problems. And so, while we don’t always see eye-to-eye, over the years, the people who work for Oregon’s utilities have earned our respect.
These are just some of the things CUB is grateful for this holiday season. We are eagerly looking forward to all the things we are sure to accomplish together, in 2016 and beyond!
To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! You can also keep up to date with breaking news by joining our email list today!
12/27/16 | 0 Comments | Counting our Blessings this Holiday Season