Energy Affordability Community Workshop
Posted on February 4, 2025 by Cassie Allen
Tags, Energy, General Interest
A major issue for the 2025 Oregon legislature to address is energy affordability. The FAIR Energy Act is a bill that would better protect Oregon households from rising energy bills. We need your help to ensure this bill begins its journey to the Governor’s desk.
Help us win energy affordability legislation!
Join the Virtual Community Workshop
February 12, 2025
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Oregon families deserve stable energy bills! Join this community-facing virtual workshop where we will discuss this energy affordability bill with far-reaching impacts for Oregon households of for-profit energy utilities (PGE, Pacific Power, Idaho Power, NW Natural, Avista Utilities, and Cascade Natural Gas).
This virtual workshop is a way to learn about what the FAIR Energy Act would do and the different ways to support passing the bill. This will include training on writing testimony to submit to the Oregon legislature - a skill that can be applied to any other bills you want to pass this session. We will have Spanish-speaking breakout rooms, facilitated by Spanish speakers, as well!
I’m in! Sign me up to learn how to support the FAIR Energy Act
This workshop is hosted by the Community Energy Project, Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board, Oregon Just Transition Alliance (OJTA), and Verde. We look forward to seeing you there!
What is the Fairness & Affordability in Residential (FAIR) Energy Act?
The strategies we have to address energy affordability are not working. While some assistance programs are available, these programs alone are not enough to keep up with the needs of utility customers. We know state and federal assistance programs are overburdened and underfunded. While these, along with utility bill discount programs are crucial tools to help households, Oregon needs to fix the systems that make these programs necessary.
The FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179) empowers state regulators to set energy billing rates at the lowest possible level, so families can better avoid big increases in energy bills. The bill also will move any increases out of winter, when energy usage is highest. Utilities will also have more flexibility to use low-cost financing for important investments in the energy grid to keep customer impacts low. Additionally, the bill will increase transparency so that customers know what they are paying for and what to expect from any changes in energy bills.
Learn more about CUB’s other legislative priorities!
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03/14/25 | 0 Comments | Energy Affordability Community Workshop