Join CUB for the 2020 (short) Legislative Session

February 3 marked the beginning of the five-week 2020 Oregon legislative session, and CUB staff are already hard at work in Salem advocating for residential utility customers. This short blog update will:

1. Highlight our top legislative policy priorities for 2020.
2. Outline how CUB’s advocacy for these policies benefits residential utility customers and all Oregonians.
3. Introduce new opportunities for you to get involved in CUB’s advocacy.

CUB’s 2020 Legislative Priorities Include:

• Implement an economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions reduction program. The “Oregon Greenhouse Gas Initiative”, (SB 1530), represents an effective and fair-minded “cap-trade-and-invest” policy that sets Oregon on a clear path to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 while ensuring strong customer protections.
• Bring needed fairness to Oregonians’ voice and internet service options. The “Rural Telecommunications Investment Act” (HB 4079) restores fairness to the Oregon Universal Service Fund by ending a two-decade handout to out-of-state wireless companies, while raising new revenue for infrastructure and planning grants in rural communities with limited or no internet access.
• Make energy utility regulation more equitable and affordable. HB 4067 will increase participation among advocacy groups representing communities historically ignored in public processes, including rural and communities of color, and allow regulated utilities to offer new rate designs, such as discounts, to facilitate reduced energy burden for low-income customers.
• Allow utilities to invest in infrastructure that supports electric vehicle charging. HB 4066 and HB 4036 will allow regulated energy utilities to invest in the infrastructure necessary to manage the electric load growth associated with the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, and incorporate clean energy onto the modern electric grid to meet Oregon’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.
• Protect utility customers from harmful public policy. Each legislative session brings its own set of inappropriate policy proposals from special interest groups that would ultimately harm residential utility customers. 2020 is undoubtedly no exception, and CUB stands at the ready!

Three themes connect CUB’s 2020 priorities and advocacy work: Thorough, because Oregonians need an advocate for fair, reliable, affordable, and sustainable utility services (this includes energy, voice, and internet services). Responsible, because with global climate change representing perhaps the single greatest threat to the health, safety, and well-being of all Oregonians, CUB advocates for policies that both protect residential customers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Proactive, because the world is moving faster than ever before, requiring equally fast and effective policy action.

During this 2020 Oregon legislative session, with all that is at stake, CUB needs all the help and support we can get, from members and Oregonian alike. One way you can get involved is to visit our “Action Alerts” page and sign your support for one or more of the policy initiatives CUB is working on. And if you haven’t already, join CUB’s email list for frequent updates on our work throughout this legislative session and beyond.

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