Customers Speak Out Against Pacific Power Bill Increase
Posted on May 3, 2024 by Abbey Parnall
Tags, Energy, General Interest
The Public Utility Commission will be accepting public comments on the Pacific Power Case through June 13, 2024. If you would like to add your comments, you can do so using CUB’s Action Form or by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with the subject line “Public Comments on UE 433”.
This year, Pacific Power is trying to raise rates by 21.6% for Oregon households. This could mean customers pay over 63% more for gas bills than in 2022. A typical household could see an average increase of $29.47 each month.
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the Public Utility Commission held a public hearing on Pacific Power’s general rate case. Community members, including some CUB partners, spoke up against increasing bills. Many gave testimony of the lasting impacts of wildfires the utility was found responsible for, concerns about the grave impacts of higher bills, and more.
What’s in the Proposed Increase?
Pacific Power’s request to increase bills is mainly coming from wildfire-related costs. Of the $322 million request, $165 million is related to wildfire liability costs, insurance, and mitigation. They are asking for higher profits and investments in new projects (transmission, renewable energy, and transitioning a coal plant to methane).
Over half is for wildfire issues:
- Wildfire mitigation: $21.2 million
- Corporate liability insurance: $66 million
- Catastrophic Fire Fund (new): $77.7 million
CUB is working to ensure customers are not held responsible for the gross negligence of Pacific Power.
Read more: Pacific Power Asks for 21.6% Rate Increase for 2025 (CUB Blog)
Pacific Power Customers Speak Out
Throughout the public comment hearing, many Oregonians expressed concerns about rising utility bills. Many requested that the Public Utility Commission (PUC) deny Pacific Power’s 21.6% rate increase request.
Douglas Parsons from Roseburg, Oregon commented “Before we look at additional rate increases, I think we need to look at how PacifiCorp has spent the money so far.”
Blanca Gutierrez, Leadership Development and Cultural Director at Rogue Climate, commented “Our communities consist of many families and individuals who lost their homes or were affected in the 2020 Alameda fire. It’s been almost 4 years since then and people are still recovering. Customers already pay the company to fulfill safety measures. They should not be charged to pay for the company’s recklessness, neither now nor in the future.”
“Our communities consist of many families and individuals who lost their homes or were affected in the 2020 Alameda fire. It’s been almost 4 years since then and people are still recovering. Customers already pay the company to fulfill safety measures. They should not be charged to pay for the company’s recklessness, neither now nor in the future.” - Blanca Gutierrez, Rogue Climate
Carmen D. from Seaside, Oregon commented “I can afford it if I don’t go out to eat, don’t go to movies, maybe don’t buy some new clothes, just live with what I have. But I have many coworkers and friends who cannot afford it [...] it’s just too much.”
Cindy Flowers commented “There’s a lot of seniors that are homeless because they can’t pay their bills [...] I just feel that this raise, that it really affects seniors, especially the ones that are homeless because they can’t pay their bills.”
Jennifer Sawyer from Bend, Oregon commented “I am a residential homeowner and my family and I are sitting in the middle class and we are getting pinched to death out here. This proposal is another shot in the thigh if you will. Along with the cost of gas and the cost of living in general, we’re getting pinched to death out here and I am not entirely sure when it will stop.”
Sylvia Tanner, Senior Energy and Legal Analyst with the Multnomah Office of Sustainability, commented “We worry about where we see this filing as a shift of risk from the company and its shareholders to customers.”
Jenn Wiggins from Jefferson, Oregon commented “They’re passing their costs onto us when they can’t even update their infrastructure.”
CUB Will Continue to Fight Pacific Power’s Request
The Public Utility Commission will decide on this rate case by December 19, 2024. Any increase in rates will take effect for Pacific Power customers in January 2025.
CUB’s policy team will continue to advocate for Oregon households, fighting unfair rate increases. To read more about the details of this rate case, visit this recent post on the CUB Blog.
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08/22/24 | 6 Comments | Customers Speak Out Against Pacific Power Bill Increase