Pacific Power Lacks A Clear Data Center Plan

Lifeline Assistance Program Under Threat

Oregon assistance programs are under threat again! The Trump administration is once again putting assistance programs that help Oregonians in its crosshairs. This time, they’re targeting the Lifeline program. Federal regulators are using the same old language of cutting down fraud and streamlining this program, but we know that this is just another attempt to cut government assistance programs that benefit real people.

On February 18, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission proposed new rulemaking for the federal Lifeline Program. Lifeline is a federal program focused on getting families in need access to voice and internet services.

This rule-making is reminiscent of the past year of budget cuts and attacks on federal assistance programs, just like what we saw happen to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) during the November government shutdown. CUB is sounding the alarm and getting involved federally to protect this program, keeping Oregonians connected to to vital phone and internet services!

What is Oregon Lifeline

The Oregon Lifeline program is a federally funded and state-funded government assistance program focused on helping low-income families get connected with voice and internet services. Additionally, the program also seeks to help Native American communities, which have historically lacked connectivity and digital equity.

While Oregon has its own funding source for the Oregon Lifeline, which is funded by small fees from internet and phone bills, the amount in our state fund is not enough to make up for the loss of federal assistance for Oregonians who rely on the program.

The big impact on Oregon would be the inability to keep our most in-need community members connected to the internet. The program currently helps provide $100 rebates for phones and internet devices, and this rulemaking could jeopardize that assistance.

FCC Proposes Rules That Limit Access to Lifeline

The FCC claims that changes are needed to ensure Americans are receiving funds for the program, as well as to strengthen the integrity of Lifeline. At its core, it’s the same argument used for cutting and scaling back other federal assistance programs.

The Trump administration’s FCC is specifically citing fraud from deceased people receiving the program’s benefits. Currently, Texas, California, and Oregon are the only states exempt from the death check required for enrollment into Lifeline. FCC Chair Brendan Carr claims that 80% of fraud is centered in California, and the commission has already taken steps to rectify this. The staff at the Oregon Public Utility Commission regularly reviews and addresses this issue as part of administering the state program.

So why add additional steps that could harm those in the program?

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez has said that the proposed rules take some actions to fight fraud. In reality, it would result in less access to the Lifeline program for low-income families who rely on it. This is just another excuse to roll back federal funding of assistance programs that working-class Oregonians desperately need.

The impact of changing the rules in the name of “fraud” would mean that it would be even harder for households to receive help. The changes could cut many off from phone and internet services. More burdensome verification processes and requirements could exclude immigrants, unhoused people, and more. It could also make it impossible to access assistance if you don’t already have phone or internet service—the exact reason why many people need these funds!

What is CUB doing about this?

CUB is joining other advocates in pushing back against this proposal. The FCC currently has a public comment period open through May 4, 2026. Here, communities can share their thoughts related to the proposed rule changes. This will be a critical place for CUB members and Oregonians to take action and ensure that Lifeline is preserved in Oregon.

Take Action: Contact Your Legislators

We’re also asking that Oregonians reach out to their federal lawmakers and urge them to support this issue.

Your U.S. legislators need to hear from you! You can call or email your legislators directly and ask them to support protecting the Lifeline program (find your elected officials here).

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

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NW Natural Breaks Promises on Winter Shutoff Pause

Last year, after pressure from legislators, Oregon’s three largest state-regulated utilities agreed to a voluntary pause on disconnections for many low-income and medically vulnerable customers through the rest of 2025. But NW Natural broke this promise and shut off nearly 200 of these protected households who were behind on their bills.

NW Natural shut off some families during the promised disconnection pause for owing as little as $50.

This is unacceptable. CUB is pushing regulators to direct NW Natural to make this right with the families who were impacted. We have also proposed punitive measures against the state’s largest gas utility for this fiasco.

Broken Promises

From mid-November through December, PGE, Pacific Power, and NW Natural agreed to pause disconnections for households with low incomes who receive monthly bill discounts or anyone who had a medical certificate.

These important, but limited, protections came on the heels of the longest government shutdown in US history. The shutdown delayed the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds. These public programs help keep low-income Oregonians fed and connected to power. Additionally, during this time, many changes to federal social safety nets and other negative federal actions worsened energy security.

Read More: Legislators Secure Utility Disconnection Moratoriums for Some Customers (CUB Blog)

But this entire period, NW Natural continued to disconnect protected customers as if they never made this promise. Between November and December 2025, the gas utility disconnected 1,098 total households. This includes 198 wrongful disconnections for households NW Natural knows have low incomes.

Nearly 20% of the families that NW Natural shut off in November and December were promised protection. This is unacceptable.

How Did NW Natural Allow Wrongful Shutoffs to Happen?

On February 12th, CUB was assessing 2025 disconnection data from NW Natural and noticed a big problem. There were bill discount program customers disconnected in November and December, even though there were supposed to be protections in place. We immediately jumped into action to figure out what happened and reached out to the utility. A week later, NW Natural’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Resource Planning contacted CUB’s Executive Director, Bob Jenks, to inform him of the Company’s error.

. In formal responses to CUB’s requests for information, NW Natural stated to regulators that it “discovered that we did not implement the voluntary temporary winter disconnect moratorium for bill discount programs as intended.” It further noted that “processes were in place to do so.” The mistake was made due to an “internal miscommunication.”

After over a month of investigation and back and forth, we are still not satisfied with this explanation. When a utility makes a commitment to Oregonians, legislators, and regulators, we expect them to hold their word. No one in Oregon can choose their utility company, making the impact of these broken promises even more difficult to swallow.

A Fiasco for Many Oregon Families

NW Natural has claimed that its mistake was made due to an “internal miscommunication.” But this is not a miscommunication; it is a fiasco.

According to NW Natural, a total of 198 households (603 people) with low incomes were wrongfully shut off. Of those families:

• 99 homes were reconnected the same day or the next day
• 40 households were disconnected for 2-13 days
• 16 families were disconnected for two weeks or more

One household spent 78 days without gas service in the middle of winter because of a $54 balance.

There are at most 35 households that NW Natural has not been able to make any contact with and remain without gas service. This includes 6 households for which the utility does not have up-to-date contact information.

Cascading Impacts of Losing Gas Service in the Winter

When a home’s gas gets shut off, it can very easily cause a devastating cascading effect for that family. We use utilities in so many ways in our home: physical safety and comfort, food preparation, healthcare, and more. Losing gas comes with many hidden costs, especially for low-income households that can least afford these expenses.

For those with medical conditions that are impacted by temperature, a shutoff can be life-threatening. Losing gas for heating can quickly turn into an unsafe situation for many Oregonians, especially if temperatures go below freezing during the winter. It can also mean losing a way to cook food on a stove or oven, forcing more expensive options for a hot meal. And going without hot water is more than just an inconvenience.

Shutoffs can also cause families to lose their housing entirely. Without heating, renters can be evicted. Oregon is facing a housing crisis. We should not be continuing shutoff policies that contribute to homelessness.

NW Natural Must Make Up for Their Mistake

CUB is heavily pressuring NW Natural to make up for this massive mistake to impacted families. While the utility has taken some steps, it is not enough.

So far, NW Natural has taken three actions:

• Refunded all impacted customer accounts for the fees associated with the disconnection
• Attempted contact or made contact with those customers who still remained disconnected in mid-February to reconnect them
• Credited $150 to all impacted customer accounts

But CUB does not agree that giving a family $150 for spending days, weeks, or months without gas during a disconnection pause is adequate.

In collaboration with other advocates, CUB is proposing going much further.

For impacted families, CUB is asking NW Natural to:

• Zero out past-due balances from the time of disconnection to now
• Pay each household $50 plus $25 per day for each day they were incorrectly shut off (e.g., disconnected 7 days = $225)
• Raise the disconnection “trigger” amount to at least $150 past due for customers on payment plans, instead of $50

These costs would come at the expense of the utility, not be passed off to other customers.

Second, CUB has proposed adding a $10,000 penalty for each of the 198 impacted households ($1,980,000). This would be in the form of a “disallowance,” or withholding what NW Natural can collect on customer bills. We also asked regulators to conduct an audit on the utility’s Customer Service and Customer Information Systems to ensure something like this cannot happen again.

Nothing will fully make up for a wrongful disconnection. But we need NW Natural to play a bigger role in fixing this fiasco.

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

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Pacific Power to Sell Some Oregon Service Areas

Big changes are in the works for one of Oregon’s largest electric utilities! On March 19th, Pacific Power, owned by parent company PacifiCorp, announced its plan to sell three small parts of its Oregon service territory.

Once finalized, residential and industrial customers in Wallowa County, Monroe, and Lakeview, Oregon, will be served by publicly-owned utilities. Pacific Power’s sale will impact around 10,000 customers, or about 1.5% of its Oregon customer base.

Regulators at the Public Utility Commission will have final authority over the sale, and approval could take up to 12 months to complete. This is a big change for some Pacific Power customers. CUB is keeping a close eye on this process to ensure what’s best for customers is front and center.

Pacific Power to Sell Parts of Oregon Territory to Publicly-Owned Utilities

Pacific Power has announced its intent to sell part of Oregon’s service area to several publicly-owned utilities. The Wallowa County service area will be sold to the Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative. The Monroe area will be sold to the Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative. And the Lakeview area will be sold to the Surprise Valley Electrification Corporation.

Who will be impacted by the sale:

• Service areas totalling just under 10,000 customers
• 5,514 customers in Wallowa County
• 1,162 customers in the Monroe area
• 2,228 customers in the Lakeview area

Regulators Must Sign Off

Before the change is finalized, it has to be approved by regulators at the Oregon Public Utility Commission.

The process is likely to take about a year for the Commission to make a decision on whether this sale can move forward. Pacific Power will continue providing customers with utility services until the deal is finalized by regulators.

How this Sale Will Impact Oregon Customers

The lengthy review process means that Oregon customers won’t see any changes immediately. If the sale is approved, customers in the affected service areas will see their utilities transition to publicly-owned utilities at the beginning of 2027, at the earliest.

Selling these territories to publicly-owned utilities will have a big impact on some Oregon customers. In 2024, Pacific Power charged around 14.74 cents per kilowatt to residential customers. The same year, the publicly-owned utilities Pacific Power is selling to charged the following rates to residential customers:

• The Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative charges 10.08 cents per kilowatt.
• The Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative charges 14.92 cents per kilowatt.
• The Surprise Valley Electrification Corporation charges 12.77 cents per kilowatt.

Big Takeaway: Customers in Wallowa County and the Lakeview area will likely see a decrease in monthly power bills! This could save households big money in the long run. Customers in the Monroe area, who will be served by Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative, could see their bills increase by a small percentage.

Why are rates lower for most publicly-owned utilities? Overall, consumer-owned utilities, like co-ops or municipal utilities, charge lower energy bills compared to for-profit utilities. This is because of contracts with the Bonneville Power Administration and the region’s abundant (and cheap) hydroelectric power. It is also because customers of non-profit utilities do not need to pay premiums for shareholders, like with for-profit utilities.

Many questions arise because of these changes. Pacific Power and the publicly-owned utilities will need to figure out how this impacts utility discounts and debt forgiveness programs going forward. Additionally, once the sale is finalized, regulators won’t have a final say on these issues because publicly-owned utilities are regulated locally, not at the state level.

CUB will keep pushing to ensure customers are prioritized at every stage of this sale. We’ll keep customers informed as we learn the next steps.

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

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Utilities 101: How Can Renters Be Charged for Their Utilities?

As a renter, there are a few options for how you’ll be charged for your utilities. Knowing your rights and responsibilities as a renter can help prevent surprise bills and utility disconnection, a crucial part of keeping Oregonians safely housed.

Understanding Utility Billing for Renters

In your rental agreement, your landlord must outline how you will be paying for utilities. There are two ways that you can be charged for utilities for your home:

• You pay for your home’s utility usage directly to the utility company
• Your landlord pays the utilities for the whole building and charges you based on your unit size and/or how many people live in your apartment.

Paying the Utility Provider Directly

In this form of billing, a tenant has an account directly with the utility company. Bills are charged by your actual usage each month. Here, the utility tracks how much your individual unit uses each month through a meter specific to your unit.

Upon signing the rental agreement, a tenant sets up their own utility bill directly with the utility company. If there is an outstanding bill from a previous tenant, you are not responsible for covering that amount.

Under Oregon law, if there is an outstanding bill, the new tenant can pay the outstanding amount and deduct the amount from the rent. Or, the new tenant can terminate the rental agreement by giving the landlord actual (documented) notice 72 hours prior to the date of termination, and the reason for the termination.

Even if you are paying the utility directly for your unit’s usage, you may also be responsible for common area utility fees for the building. The common area fee would be paid to your landlord, not the utility company.

Paying Your Landlord for Utilities

In this type of billing, the utility usage is only tracked for the entire building, not individual usage. The building owner is responsible for paying the utility company and charges each unit based on estimated usage. Your landlord cannot charge you more for your unit’s utilities than they are paying to the utility company.

Your landlord or property manager can calculate the utility charge for each unit based on a variety of criteria. This is usually calculated based on occupancy, square footage, or some combination of the two.

If your landlord is charging you for utilities, that needs to be included in your rental agreement. Landlords must also be able to provide a justification for how the charge is determined. If your landlord does not provide a copy of the utility provider’s bill, you are entitled to ask for that information.

For more information on how a landlord can break down utility costs, check out the CUB Blog - What’s the RUB?” Utility Billing and Renters’ Rights from May 2021.

Common Area Utility Fees

Regardless of whether you pay your unit’s utilities to your landlord or to the utility company, you may also be responsible for a common area utility fee. Here, the landlord or property manager charges tenants a fixed amount for utilities that are used in the common areas of the building, such as hallways, lobbies, and elevators.

Common area fees must be listed separately from any charges for your home’s utility usage. Any charges for utilities used outside of your unit must be clearly laid out in your rental agreement.

Can Landlords Change Utility Charges Mid-Lease?

Your rental agreement is a binding contract signed by you and your landlord. How your landlord outlines the utility charges in the rental agreement should be what you can expect for the length of your agreement. The only way the terms of a rental agreement can be changed is at the time of renewal or through an addendum that both you and your landlord sign. If your landlord attempts to change your rental agreement before your contract is up, you have the right to refuse to sign.

Changing the terms of your utility charges or common area fees could change the language of the rental agreement. If you are concerned that your landlord is violating the terms of your rental agreement by changing how utilities are charged, we recommend seeking legal advice from a qualified lawyer.

While we at CUB are always happy to discuss your utility bill and provide resources, your individual case may best be handled by an attorney. We recommend reaching out to the Oregon State Bar’s attorney referral service, which can put you in touch with an attorney who practices landlord/tenant law in your area. If you can’t afford an attorney, we also recommend reaching out to the Community Alliance of Tenants, the Legal Aid Services of Oregon, or Oregon Law Help.

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

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Next Steps for the FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179)

Last year, CUB did something we’ve never done before. We took the lead on four energy affordability bills during Oregon’s legislative session—and we passed all of them! Among those big victories, the FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179) was passed to rein in energy bill rate hikes, addressing one of the root causes of Oregon’s energy affordability crisis.

Now, regulators at the Public Utility Commission (PUC) have begun to implement the FAIR Energy Act. Over the next 18 months, regulators will develop new rules and processes for when and how utilities can request rate increases. Our staff is deeply involved in this process and is working hard to ensure the new law is rolled out fairly. Read on to learn about what’s next for the FAIR Energy Act.

FAIR Energy Act Implementation

HB 3179 requires energy rate increase requests to be spread out to at least every 3 years by 2027, with added customer protections before next year. It also prevents increases in home energy rates during peak winter months, when energy usage and bills are highest. And it increases transparency so consumers know what they are paying for and what to expect from any proposed changes to energy bills.

Together, we can expect these changes to slow the pace of energy bill hikes and help customers be more prepared for future increases.

Multiple Stages to Making FAIR Energy a Reality

Last Fall, regulators at the Public Utility Commission opened four dockets as part of its process to roll out the FAIR Energy Act over multiple stages. The five main components include:

• Building frameworks for required multi-year plans for rate increases
• Set a schedule for when utilities can request major bill increases
• Banning winter rate increases for home customers
• Customer impact analysis
• Utility reporting expectations (bill increases and what costs are causing rates to go up)

Regulators plan to accomplish the big goals set out in this process by mid-2027.

Setting Customer-Facing Reporting Details & Expectations (Docket UM 2405)

Big Goals: Set expectations for utilities on how public reporting for bill increases should look and what needs to be included.
Timeline: Expected end of March 2027

Regulators have opened a policy investigation, which has three phases. It will ensure that utilities, stakeholders, and the regulator are on the same page when it comes to how the reporting requirements utilities now have will look to customers and advocates. CUB and our partners will work hard to make sure that this reporting for you is easily accessible and understandable.

See the full docket! Docket UM 2405 is available on the Public Utility Commission website.

Writing the Rules for Utilities

Regulators will use three rulemaking processes to address some of the most pressing issues with implementing the FAIR Energy Act.

Multi-Year Rate Plan Framework (Docket AR 676)

Big Goal: Spacing out gas and electric rate increase requests to at least every three years.
Timeline:Mid 2027

Regulators opened a process to develop the specific rules for spreading out utility rate increase requests to at least every three years by 2027. The goal of developing this process is to lessen the frequency and number of times utilities raise customers’ energy bills. They will also stagger when gas and electric utilities can ask for more, so customers aren’t hit with two energy bill increases in one year.

In the past, it was uncommon for utilities to ask for big bill increases every year. But now, it’s become standard for utilities to make requests most years. These rules will help slow down the pace of requests, protecting your home energy bills. Utilities can also request approval for smaller rate increases as needed for one-off or specific programs. Before the FAIR Energy Act passed, utilities were asking for more one-off requests, more often, making it difficult to track how much energy bills increased year over year.

With these rules, regulators can better control when rate increases happen. Right now, utilities choose when they want to ask regulators to change billing rates, and regulators have to respond. The longer process not only protects customers from frequent increases but also allows regulators and advocates to dig deeper into what utilities are asking for in their requests.

The FAIR Energy Act allows utilities to ask for an exception, mainly for emergencies or other unforeseen catastrophic events. CUB expects that a set schedule will lessen the financial impacts on customers.

See the full docket! Docket AR 676 is available on the Public Utility Commission website.

2026-2027 Bill Increase Request Schedule & Exceptions (AR 677)

Big Goal: Create a process for bill increases before the multi-year rate plan rules go into effect in 2027.
Timeline: End of April 2026

Last year, regulators started work on setting an initial schedule for how and when utilities can request to increase rates between now and 2027. This is happening while regulators develop the permanent multiyear plan rules, which will go into effect in 2027.

This process will set a schedule for utilities to spread out bill increase requests. Regulators will prevent multiple utilities from asking for increases at the same time. Spreading it out benefits regulators, energy advocates, and customers. The rules established in this process will directly inform and enhance the rulemaking to establish a long-term ratemaking framework.

On December 17, 2025, the Commission held a workshop with advocates to get the ball rolling on developing the interim rate case schedule. Based on that conversation, regulators published a draft for setting this rate schedule and exception process. The Commission is set to decide that schedule by the end of March 2026.

See the full docket! Docket AR 677 is available on the Public Utility Commission website.

AR 678 – Winter Moratorium & Reporting Rules

Big Goals: Set simple rules banning utilities from raising energy bills in the winter. Develop rules for how utilities report upcoming rate increases to the public.
Timeline: Expected end of March 2026

Lastly, regulators opened a process to develop rules for the winter ban on rate increases from November 1 to March 31. This docket also covers annual reporting by utilities and studying costs associated with rate increases. Moving the bill increases out of winter, when energy usage is highest, helps customers stay connected to life-saving power during winter weather.

For reporting, CUB, along with other energy justice advocates, asked regulators to approve additional customer protections in the rules. Our suggestions included more disconnection data, trends in past-due bills, and expected utility profits. Unfortunately, regulators moved forward without adopting our recommendations.

CUB will keep pushing for affordable energy bills to be a top priority throughout these conversations. Regulators need to consider the whole picture, including the cost of living and rising disconnection rates, when considering utility requests.

See the full docket! Docket AR 678 is available on the Public Utility Commission website.

Next Steps

Over the next 18 months, the Oregon Public Utility Commission will transition the FAIR Energy Act from law into practice. This implementation phase is critical because it will impact how rate increases are handled for years to come.

CUB will continue working towards affordability and transparency throughout this process.

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

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PGE Moves on Data Center Accountability

This year, CUB has been working diligently to address a significant source of rising energy costs for many Oregonians: data centers. In June, we helped pass the POWER Act (HB 3546), a bill designed to hold data centers accountable for their own energy costs. PGE’s original proposal left CUB questioning whether PGE was ignoring this new law.

Now, PGE’s new proposal shows significant improvements, thanks to public pressure and CUB pushback. We still have a long way to go to ensure data centers are accountable for their own energy needs, though. With the public process wrapping up, it is now in the regulators’ hands to decide how PGE data centers will be responsible for energy costs.

PGE Has Made Significant Improvements

While CUB is not fully satisfied with the changes PGE has made to its proposal for how it will charge data centers, we have seen many positive changes.

These improvements came after CUB and other advocates pushed back hard on policies that would have let data centers off easy. More than 1,300 community members also submitted public comments on this proposal, one of the largest volumes in recorded history at the Oregon Public Utility Commission.

Even Higher Billing Rates for Data Centers

NEW: PGE is proposing to increase data center billing rates by 26%
The old proposal only increased billing rates by 18%

PGE’s new proposal shows that the first draft was going easy on data centers. With the utility’s new analysis, results show that data centers haven’t been covering their own costs. This is further proof that the POWER Act was not just necessary, but also will have an impact on power bills.

As more data centers come online, these new rates will have an even bigger impact on household and other business customers. This current process is shifting the accounting of who pays for past investments. As new data centers create more investments, we can prevent Oregonians from having to pay for data centers’ energy costs in the first place.

CUB and analysts at the Oregon Public Utility Commission agree that raising data center billing rates needs to go even further than a 26% increase.

Directly Assigning Big Investments to Data Centers

NEW: PGE is proposing assigning the costs for some big data-center-caused investments to data centers for 10 years
The old proposal only charged data centers for 3 years

When data centers come online and require big upgrades to provide service just to them, they should be responsible for these costs. We have seen a few examples of expensive substations in Hillsboro that are only connected to data centers, with no benefit to residential or other customers.

In the previous proposal, PGE planned to only assign costs for three years. While this is an improvement, it is not enough. Many utility investments are meant to last for 50 years. Customers slowly pay for those costs over those 50 years, along with paying for the profits utilities are allowed to make from investments. PGE is proposing that data centers only pay for the first 10 years of the 50-year costs, with all other customers, including households, picking up the next 40 years of investment costs.

CUB has continued to push regulators to charge data centers for the full cost of investments that only benefit data centers.

Many Issues Still Remain in the Path to Holding Data Centers Accountable

While we have seen improvements in the big issues CUB had concerns about from PGE’s initial proposal, there are still more issues remaining. This list for the Oregon Public Utility Commission to rule on is long: over 50 items remain.

Some of the big issues remaining include:

• Terms of the required 10-year contracts for different sizes of data centers
• Penalties for data centers using more energy than projected
• Deposits and protections for data centers closing before contract expiration
• And much, much more!

While much debate remains on the specifics of data centers’ contracts with utilities, CUB remains focused on how costs are assigned to these customers. These contracts set details for how much electricity and for how long data centers will be charged. But without setting the rates for how much to charge per unit of energy, we cannot truly hold data centers accountable for paying for their own energy use.

As of February 24, 2026, the record for this case has been closed. Now, it is up to the Oregon Public Utility Commission to decide how data centers will be charged by PGE. A final decision is expected by April 30, 2026.

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

Regulators to Hold Public Hearing on Large Increase for Cascade Home Gas Bills

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 26, 2026

Regulators to Hold Public Hearing on Large Increase for Home Gas Bills
Customers and advocates are expected to testify against Cascade’s 17.4 percent increase

Cascade Natural Gas customers can submit comments on the gas utility’s proposal to raise rates by 17.4 percent on March 3, 2026. Regulators at the Oregon Public Utility Commission are hosting a virtual public comment hearing at 6:00 pm. Cascade is asking regulators to approve an increase in home billing rates that would go into effect on October 31, 2026.

Customers could see average home gas bills rise to $75 per month (up $11 per month). The impact would be even greater in the winter months when usage is higher. An average customer paying $119 in January 2026 would pay $135 in January 2027 if Cascade’s request is approved.

Cascade’s initial request includes infrastructure projects, higher profits for shareholders, and new ways to charge for investments in renewable natural gas (captured methane). Energy advocates are also investigating the gas utility’s policy that requires customers to subsidize new hookups for homes and businesses, expanding the gas system.

Consumer and climate advocates are calling into question Cascade’s continued use of an expansion subsidy called the “line extension allowance.” Cascade is the last remaining Oregon gas utility charging customers an expansion subsidy. Over the past few years, regulators at the Oregon Public Utility Commission have ended similar policies for NW Natural and Avista. Regulators agreed with CUB that these policies are not in the best interest of customers. Advocates and many Oregonians are calling on regulators to eliminate these subsidies.

“Cascade shouldn’t be getting special treatment to charge customers for expanding its customer base,” said Bob Jenks, Executive Director of Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board. “Oregon gas utilities need to reduce emissions to comply with state rules, but have no realistic plan for how to do that. The more they add to the gas system, the more current customers will pay down the line to dig them out of this hole.”

Advocates also question Cascade’s high-cost renewable natural gas projects. Many studies have shown that the cheapest way to do this is to electrify buildings. Swapping gas stoves and furnaces for highly efficient induction burners and heat pumps is a one-time cost. This saves the utility money on reducing emissions and saves customers money on their monthly bills.

Advocates also question whether Cascade is projecting more growth in its gas system than makes sense for Oregon. Cascade’s largest service area is in Bend, a city with strong climate policies. Bend is currently considering a policy that would make adding new gas hookups less appealing to builders and homeowners. This is part of a larger trend in Oregon with many cities and counties across the state pushing for all-electric buildings.

“Cascade’s forecasts assume continued system expansion and customer additions that are increasingly uncertain as efficiency improvements and electrification trends accelerate,” said Alex Houston, Staff Attorney for the Green Energy Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School. “Structuring rates around overly optimistic growth projections shifts the financial risk from shareholders to customers, who could be left paying for underused infrastructure for decades to come.”

Oregon is in an energy affordability crisis. Between 2020 and 2024, Cascade raised home gas billing rates by approximately 32 percent. In 2024, all of Oregon’s for-profit utilities disconnected households a record 70,000 times, the most we’ve seen since reporting started in 2018.

Cascade will likely file for another rate change later this year related to the cost of gas. This filing happens every year as the market continues to change and impact fuel costs. While this is a normal adjustment, it is uncertain if the change will have a significant impact on customers in combination with the already requested 17.4 percent increase.

Advocates involved in this case include the Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board and the Green Energy Institute, representing a coalition of intervening organizations, including Sierra Club, Oregon Just Transition Alliance, 350 Deschutes, Energize Bend, Oregon Environmental Council, The Environmental Center, and Climate Solutions.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Charlotte Shuff
Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board
503.719.8744 | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Two Sales Announced for Pacific Northwest Utilities

Utilities in the Pacific Northwest are ending February with a bang! In an unprecedented week, two different for-profit electric utilities announced they are selling their service area.

At the start of last week, Pacific Power announced a sale of its Washington branch to Portland General Electric (PGE). And later that week, Idaho Power announced a sale of its Oregon branch to the nonprofit Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative.

While these sales have to be approved by regulators in Oregon and the related states, these are two massive changes.

Pacific Power to Sell Washington Territory to PGE

Portland General Electric, along with an additional investor, Manulife IM, has announced its purchase of Pacific Power’s Washington service area, owned by parent company PacifiCorp.

What is Included in the Sale

• 140,000 Washington customers
• Local power grids in Washington
• 800 MW of power generation (one gas plant and two wind farms)

Regulators Must Sign Off

Before the sale is finalized, it has to be approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission and the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. Likely, the regulators will need to weigh in from PacifiCorp’s other states: Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and California.

In Oregon, the process is likely to take about a year for the Commission to make a decision on whether this sale can move forward. Regulators in other states will be looking at this sale simultaneously, though timelines may vary.

This Sale Will Impact Customers Across the Pacific Northwest

Because of the long review process, no Pacific Power or PGE customers will see any impact immediately. Any changes from the sale, if approved, are unlikely to take effect until 2027 at the earliest.

However, PGE’s purchase of PacifiCorp’s Washington service territory is a huge deal that will impact customers across the Pacific Northwest. CUB is going to look closely at this deal and Manulife IM as a partner of PGE.

We also need to take a close look at how this will impact Pacific Power customers in Oregon because this change will impact PacifiCorp’s whole system. As a multistate utility, PacifiCorp selling generation in Washington could have a ripple effect in not just Oregon, but also Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and California.

CUB will be involved at every stage of this sale. A change this big will need to be planned with customers’ impacts at the top of mind.

Idaho Power to Sell Oregon Territory to Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) has announced its purchase of Idaho Power’s Oregon service area. Idaho Power currently serves a small area around Ontario, Oregon. To CUB’s knowledge, this is the first voluntary sale of a for-profit utility to a consumer-owned utility in Oregon.

What is Included in the Sale

• 20,000 Oregon customers
• Local power grids in Oregon

Regulators Must Sign Off

Before the sale is finalized, it has to be approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, and FERC. In Oregon, the process is likely to take about a year for the Commission to make a decision on whether this sale can move forward. Other regulators will be looking at this sale simultaneously, though timelines may vary.

If the sale is approved, Idaho Power customers in Oregon will no longer be overseen by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. Municipal utilities, like co-ops, are not regulated by the state agency. Instead, local governing boards oversee these utilities.

This Sale Could be a Win for Oregon’s Idaho Power Customers

Because of the long review process, no Idaho Power customers will see any impact immediately. Any changes from the sale, if approved, are unlikely to take effect until 2027 at the earliest.

Idaho Power customers in Oregon would likely see a decrease in billing rates with a move to Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative. Overall, consumer-owned utilities, like co-ops or municipal utilities, charge lower energy bills compared to for-profit utilities. This is because of special contracts with the Bonneville Power Administration and Oregon’s abundant (and cheap) hydroelectric power. It is also because customers of non-profit utilities do not need to pay premiums for shareholders, like with for-profit utilities.

There are still questions about the impact of this sale on the consumer protections Idaho Power is required to offer. There could be big changes to existing bill discount programs and upcoming debt forgiveness programs that Idaho Power must roll out this fall. Because Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative is locally overseen, these protections cannot be mandated by the Oregon Public Utility Commission.

CUB will be involved at every stage of this sale. A change this big will need to be planned with customers’ impacts at the top of mind.

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

What to Expect at Cascade Gas’s Public Hearing

Editor’s Note: The next Public Comment Hearing will address the Cascade Natural Gas proposed billing rate increase on Tuesday, March 3rd, at 6 pm. CUB needs your help to speak out against the proposed $10.3 million (17.4%) increase for Oregon households. Sign up with CUB to get all the info you need to speak at the public hearing!

Are you interested in speaking up about utility issues that impact you? Many customers are struggling with increasing bills, but don’t know what to do about them. This year, Cascade Natural Gas is asking for a 17.4% increase for home gas bills.

One way to make your voice heard is to share your comments with regulators at Public Comment Hearings. These hearings are hosted by the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC), Oregon’s utility regulators. There will be an upcoming hearing for the Cascade Rate Case on March 3, 2026, at 6:00 pm via Zoom.

Learn more about what to expect in this hearing and make your voice heard!

Cascade Natural Gas Public Hearing Details

• Public Hearing: March 3, 2026, virtually over Zoom (meeting info)
• Quick Info: CUB’s one-pager on Cascade’s proposal
• Plan Your Testimony: CUB’s toolkit (talking points and example testimony)
• Sign Up: Receive all of the tools you need to speak up from CUB

Speaking Up at the Public Utility Commission

The Public Utility Commission (PUC) is the state agency in charge of regulating customer rates and services in Oregon. It is made up of three governor-appointed Commissioners. The PUC also includes staff who support the Commissioners. This agency regulates Oregon’s largest utilities: Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, Idaho Power, NW Natural, Avista, and Cascade Natural Gas.

Part of the Commission’s role is making decisions around increasing customer rates. (Rates are how your utility bills are calculated.) Public Comment Hearings are special hearings around specific topics. These special hearings allow the public to give their opinions on issues directly affecting customers.

What are Public Comment Hearings?

Public Comment Hearings are opportunities for regulators to hear the opinions of community members. The public can comment on matters that may impact utility customers, including utility requests for a rate increase. These hearings are open for anyone to join and share comments.

Public opinion is increasingly important as higher rates are proposed. It is crucial for Commissioners to hear from those most impacted by rising bills.

How Do You Join a Public Comment Hearing?

All Public Comment Hearings are held virtually via Zoom. The Commission will have a Zoom link available for the hearing and information to call in by phone. Once you have the login information, joining the hearing is as easy as calling in.

Public hearings are listed on the PUC Website. Unfortunately, this calendar is always user-friendly for someone outside of the utility industry. For hearings on bill increases, look out for events that include “Request for a General Rate Revision Hearing.”

For ease, we’ve got the direct link to the Cascade public comment hearing here!

What can you expect to happen at the hearing?

When entering the meeting, you will be on mute and have your video turned off. Once in the meeting, the Commissioners will introduce themselves. A PUC staff person, called an Administrative Law Judge, will go through the proceedings. There will be a short presentation that goes over some of the basics of the rate case or issue. Then, the PUC will open public comment.

During comments, the Commissioners will not engage in discussion or answer questions. They will be there to listen to what everyone has to say.

How Do You Make a Comment During the Hearing?

The Commissioners will ask anyone interested in commenting to “raise their hand.” This is done on a computer or tablet by clicking on the “Reactions” button on the bar at the bottom of your Zoom screen. Next, select the “Raise your hand button.” This will add you to the queue to speak. Staff will call your name and unmute you to speak.

If calling in by phone, you will be asked to press *6 to raise your hand. When they call your name, you can press *9 to unmute.

How Can You Request Accommodations?

You can request accommodation for these meetings at least 48 hours before the meeting time. To request accommodation, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 503-378-6611.

If you or others need an interpreter, make sure to request this accommodation as early as possible. Please note that this request may not be honored by the PUC if they cannot find an interpreter. Unfortunately, at this time, accommodations for languages other than English and Spanish are not guaranteed.

How can you get involved?

To get all of the latest news on public hearings, sign up with CUB! We will send you dates, talking points, and some of the major items that CUB will be working on during each rate case.

Can’t join a public hearing but still want to give the Commission your thoughts? You can submit your comments to the PUC. Make sure to include the docket number “UG 525” in the subject line to comment on Cascade’s 17.4% increase request. (Want to comment on another issue, but you’re unsure of the docket number? Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)and we can help.)

• By email – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• By Mail - Oregon Public Utility Commission, Attn: Public Comment, PO Box 1088, Salem OR 97308-1088
• By Phone - 503-378-6600 or 800-522-2404 or TTY 800-648-3458 weekdays from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Your Voice Matters

While these more formal settings can feel intimidating, your voice matters. The PUC’s mission is “to ensure Oregon utility customers have access to safe, reliable, and high-quality utility services at just and reasonable rates.” Regulators need to hear directly from customers like you that their decisions impact.

When sharing comments, be sure to be brief (about two minutes) and respectful. Make your comments personal. Let the Commissioners know how the decision will impact you and your community. Keep to the facts. Before these Public Comment Hearings, CUB will share key facts and talking points with our email list.

CUB is committed to ensuring utility policies protect your wallet and the environment. We always work to make sure utilities serve their customers’ interests. Stay tuned to the CUB Blog for updates on upcoming Public Comment Hearings.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved or for help preparing to join a Public Comment Hearing, email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

NW Natural Seeks Risky Investment in Coos County

This year, NW Natural is asking Oregon regulators to approve adding $15.5 million per year to customer bills starting October 31. This 1.4% increase would add about $1.40 a month for an average residential customer, with more in winter months as gas usage is higher.

CUB has serious concerns with some of the investments NW Natural is asking customers to pay for, including taking on an expensive pipeline from Coos County.

While this ask alone is fairly small, we must also consider the near-constant rate increases NW Natural has imposed on customers over the past five years. Regulators approved a 5.5% increase just a few months ago in October 2025. Between 2021 and 2025, NW Natural raised rates by nearly 50% for household customers.

Want to learn even more about this issue? Visit the docket on the Oregon Public Utility Commission Website!

What is NW Natural Asking For?

NW Natural is asking Oregon regulators to approve a 1.4% increase to customer bills starting October 31.

The $15.5 million ask includes:

• Replacing infrastructure (meters, storage facility equipment)
• Building a new resource center in the Dalles
• Updating IT
• Acquiring and fixing the Coos County pipeline

CUB is looking into the infrastructure, resource center, and IT investments to make sure they are necessary costs for customers. Our biggest concern is with the high costs of the Coos County pipeline and its local gas system.

Coos County Problem

This February, regulators signaled NW Natural could move forward with the purchase of a pipeline in Coos County. The county plans to sell NW Natural the pipeline for $1 after nearly two decades of issues. While this is a low upfront cost for the company, CUB is not so sure it’s a good deal for customers. Despite the low cost for a big pipe, the longstanding issues are racking up a major bill that NW Natural is trying to pass off to customers across Oregon.

The Coos County Pipeline

After nearly 20 years of issues, the controversial Coos County Pipeline is back. Since it was built in the early 2000s, the pipeline has faced increasing need for repair as 13 landslide sites threaten safety. The county can no longer afford to pay for repairs and is asking NW Natural to take over. As of this case, NW Natural is asking for approval for $12 million spread over decades for the three most urgent repair sites. At an estimated $4 million per site, landslide repair alone could skyrocket to $52 million or more as all projects are added.

While the cost of repairing the pipeline continues to grow, retiring the pipe could have very real consequences for both industry and residents in Coos County. Without repairs, the region would no longer have access to natural gas.

The Coos County Local Gas System

In addition to the pipeline carrying gas to Coos County, NW Natural built the local gas system (also called the distribution system) to bring the gas to homes and businesses. NW Natural invested about $12 million. Coos County residents agreed to pick up $1.6 million of those costs through a small fee on their gas bills to pay for these costs. This agreement was set to last 20 years with a fee adjustment for remaining amounts, if needed.

Now, NW Natural is proposing to tear up that agreement and instead have all Oregon household customers, not just those in Coos County, pay for the bulk of the remaining costs of the Coos County distribution system. Last year, residential customers of Coos County were 15% of the local gas load, but under NW Natural’s proposal, residential customers would pay more than 66% of the cost of the distribution system. 

History: Gas Comes to Coos County

1990s
In the 1990s, Coos County came up with a plan to generate jobs: bring in natural gas to attract new industry. And this idea made sense! While our homes have many options for heating and cooking, many industries rely on burning fuels for their products and processes. The problem was that there was no pipeline to bring gas into Coos County.

2000s
After nearly a decade of work, Coos County gathered enough funding from the state, bonds, and other public sources to get serious about building a pipeline to bring methane into the community. The county owned the pipeline, while NW Natural was to provide the fuel, customer service, and an additional $12 million to build out the local gas system in Coos County. But NW Natural wanted all of its customers in Oregon to pay for these local costs.

After a lot of negotiations with the County, NW Natural, utility regulators, and CUB, an agreement was reached to protect other gas customers and build the pipeline and the local gas system in Coos County. NW Natural would add a $0.02 per therm (unit of gas) for Coos County customers for 20 years for the project.

2010s
Despite best efforts, the Coos County pipeline did not attract as many industrial or new household customers as the county and NW Natural had hoped. The small charge for Coos County customers wasn’t keeping up with the cost of the project. Nearly $1.6 million remains unpaid to NW Natural.

2020s
In the present day, the Coos County pipeline continues to face challenges, this time from the land. Landslides have increasingly damaged or threatened the pipeline, requiring expensive repairs. There are currently 13 identified landslide sites. The three most urgent have an average of $4 million of repairs needed. Coos County can no longer afford to keep this pipeline that once promised economic development.

Now, Coos County is attempting to unload this 77-mile pipe and the pipeline’s problems onto NW Natural for just $1. The gas utility will take on all of the costs of repairs and remediation to keep the pipeline safe to use. But the question remains the same after all of these decades: who will pay for the Coos County pipeline and the local gas system?

CUB Advocates for Reducing Costs for Coos County Households

What NW Natural is proposing puts the majority of the costs of the Coos County issues onto household customers. CUB is advocating for lowering overall costs by shrinking the local gas system, shifting more responsibility onto business customers, and holding NW Natural accountable for more of the expenses.

Reducing Costs, Reducing the Local Gas System

While CUB recognizes the challenges with moving some industry away from gas, our homes have more — and often cheaper — electric alternatives. To limit the added expense of maintaining some high-cost sections of the local gas system in Coos County, moving targeted streets and neighborhoods to all-electric could save everyone money.

In 2025, Oregon’s second-largest gas utility, Avista, agreed to pilot an electrification program because of similar cost issues in Southern and Eastern Oregon. The largest investment Avista is making in its system is a system-wide pipe replacement project due to safety issues. CUB proposed using solutions that would not require a pipe at all. Since this replacement is extremely expensive, our analysis showed switching customers to all-electric as a more cost-effective option.

Avista will pilot a program to offer incentives to switch homes to all-electric appliances. In this voluntary program, pipe replacements will be avoided by giving customers an option to leave the gas system. Avista will also ensure that low-income customers are included in this pilot, which may help many receive necessary home upgrades and benefits. This program will help avoid driving up bills for remaining customers, reduce the cost of highly energy-efficient appliances for those who leave, and help Avista meet its emission reduction requirements—a win-win-win! 

CUB is advocating for a similar electrification program for Coos County to lower overall costs while maintaining the safety of the local gas system.

Industrial Customers Should Pick Up the Tab

While trimming the gas system for many households could save a lot of money, the main issue is the big pipeline. Without needed repairs, the pipeline would shut down, and many industrial customers in Coos County would not be able to operate. Many of these businesses rely on burning gas for the products they make and have few electric alternatives. Since these are the customers who rely most on continuing gas service, they should be the ones to cover most of the costs.

In NW Natural’s current proposal, household customers are on the hook for the majority of the pipeline costs. CUB is proposing that regulators move these costs to the ones who benefit most: commercial and industrial customers.

NW Natural Needs to be Financially Accountable Beyond Just the $1 Sale

Because of all of the repairs needed, NW Natural getting the Coos County pipeline for just $1 is not enough financial commitment from the company. For just $1, the utility is getting 77 miles of pipeline with tens of thousands of dollars in infrastructure. With all of these savings, NW Natural can afford to be on the hook for more of the costs coming down the pipeline.

NW Natural has been involved in this project since the beginning. And from the beginning, all of NW Natural’s predictions have been wrong. Fewer customers, less money collected, and higher costs. But one thing has been consistent: NW Natural keeps proposing that its residential and small commercial customers across the state should subsidize it.

And CUB has been sounding the alarm since the beginning:

Each time, NW Natural’s forecast of Coos County demand has been wrong, and someone has paid the price. Coos County residents have paid for the bonds to build the pipeline. Coos County has paid high costs of repairs. Statewide customers have paid when the county residents couldn’t pay back NW Natural. While 20-years ago NW Natural paid $400,000 of the initial cost of the distribution system, customers have paid the cost of its poor forecasts.

CUB is advocating for cost-sharing between customers and NW Natural shareholders. Customers cannot be the only ones paying the price for questionable business decisions.

Customers Deserve a Better Process

Back in the early 2000s, the decision of who would pay for the Coos County pipeline was a big one. There were years of negotiations between the county, NW Natural, regulators, and CUB about who would pay. But more than 20 years later, NW Natural wants to rush this process and stick households across the state with the cost for decades to come.

CUB is demanding that the PUC reject NW Natural’s proposal to stick the cost of its system primarily on household customers whose bills have already dramatically increased.

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

CUB’s 2026 Priorities

A new year means new opportunities for CUB to advocate for Oregon’s utility customers. Across the state, Oregonians are feeling the pinch from the rising cost of living. High energy costs continue to hurt many households, making it even more essential that we rein in out-of-control energy bills.

This year, we’re working to address the energy affordability crisis by pushing back on utility attempts to raise your bills. We’re advocating for moving away from expensive fossil fuels, saving customers money in the long run. And we’re holding corporations accountable, ensuring regulators prioritize people over profits.

Read on to learn more about CUB’s top priorities in 2026.

CUB’s Top Priorities

Energy affordability is CUB’s top priority in 2026. The cost of living is on the rise in Oregon, and energy costs make up a significant portion of household bills. In 2024 alone, Oregon utilities disconnected households a record 70,000 times, more than we’ve seen since reporting started in 2018.

No one should have their power turned off because of unaffordable energy bills. Our staff is working hard to advocate for long-term solutions to the energy affordability crisis that too many in Oregon are facing.

Pushing Back on Utility Attempts to Raise Your Bills

While we made significant progress in reining in out-of-control energy costs last year, we need to go even further to help struggling households. Our staff will focus our efforts on pushing back against utility attempts to raise customers’ bills this year.

Slowing Billing Rate Increases

CUB will focus on customer affordability by pushing back on big bill increases that grow shareholder profits.

Some utilities have already proposed massive bill increases. Cascade Gas is asking regulators for a 17.4% increase in residential customer bills, with more increases potentially on the way later in the year. The gas utility plans to invest millions of dollars in adding new customers, utilizing expensive renewable natural gas, and expanding the gas system, which could mean higher bills with no tangible benefits for customers.

Rolling Out the FAIR Energy Act

CUB is pushing back on utilities’ attempts to weaken new affordability laws, ensuring that the economic impact on customers is always front and center.

We’ll also be working hard to ensure that new energy laws are implemented fairly, which will reduce the frequency and amount of bill increases. In 2025, CUB passed the Fair Energy Act (HB 3179) - a huge step towards reining in utilities. Now, the regulators will need to overhaul the utility regulation process, requiring careful implementation and input from community leaders.

Stronger Consumer Protections on Disconnections

CUB will continue advocating for expanding customer protections and programs that keep more households connected to life-saving power.

A record number of utility disconnections and rising energy costs show a concerning problem: unaffordable energy bills are leaving Oregon families without access to power. We need to prevent more households from being disconnected and ensure all Oregonians have access to energy assistance programs.

Thankfully, CUB and many other advocates pushed regulators to take decisive action last year. Oregonians now have stronger disconnection protections in place, keeping more households connected during the winter and beyond. This year, we will go further to expand debt management and relief programs to help more people avoid disconnection altogether, plus more protections!

Moving Away from Expensive Fossil Fuels

When it comes to climate change, one thing is abundantly clear: inaction is the most expensive option. Oregon has an opportunity to lead the way in transitioning to clean energy, but we need strong, coordinated action on energy efficiency and electrification to make that happen.

This year, CUB is committed to advocating for moving away from expensive fossil fuels, saving customers money in the long run.

Removing Subsidies for Growing Gas

CUB is committed to advocating for opportunities to move customers away from reliance on fossil fuels, including electrification and switching to heat pumps.

One of the ways we’re doing this is by pushing back on gas utilities’ attempts to grow the gas system. In UG 525, Cascade Natural Gas is holding on to Line Extension Allowances (LEAs), subsidies that help install natural gas hookups into new developments. Cascade will soon be the last remaining Oregon gas utility charging customers an expansion subsidy.

In 2024, CUB successfully eliminated NW Natural’s LEA, saving customers millions. NW Natural is still challenging this win for customers in the courts. As more households all over the state choose to go electric, it’s time we put these subsidies behind us.

A Managed Clean Energy Transition

CUB will keep holding utilities accountable for meeting climate mandates, supporting an affordable shift away from fossil fuels.

Our for-profit energy utilities are required to reduce emissions by the Oregon state government. Passed in 2021, HB 2021 requires Oregon’s regulated electric utilities to reduce emissions by 80% by 2030, 90% by 2035, and 100% by 2040. The Climate Protection Program requires major gas utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas, liquid fuels, and propane by 90% by 2050.

Utilities must submit plans to regulators to meet these requirements. So far, no major utility has shown that they have an actionable plan to meet our state’s climate objectives. Without clear, smart plans, utilities are putting customers at risk for high costs down the line. CUB is pushing for affordable plans this year that set us up for success over the next two decades.

Tackling Corporate Greed: They Pay, Not Us

To address Oregon’s energy affordability crisis, we need to identify one major source of rising energy costs: corporate greed. Data centers and other big energy users are driving up energy costs for everyday people. Prioritizing shareholder profits adds more to our energy bills with little benefits Oregonians. And utilities continue to attempt to pass on wildfire liability costs while adding unchecked costs (and profits) on investments to avoid future fires.

Enough is enough. It’s time we hold corporations accountable instead of passing on costs to us.

Taking Data Centers Off Our Home Energy Bills

CUB is committed to reining in data centers and ensuring Big Tech is paying its fair share.

Data centers have heavily contributed to the sharp rise in energy rates for Oregonians. Last year, CUB passed the POWER Act (HB 3546) to hold big energy users accountable for increasing energy costs—and make them pay their share. Now, CUB is working with regulators to implement the POWER Act and remove data center costs from customers’ bills.

In UM 2377, CUB is leading an investigation into PGE and how they’re planning on complying with the POWER Act. While PGE’s initial plans received heavy criticism, public pressure has pushed them into a more favorable position for customers. CUB is in the process of analyzing PGE’s newest proposal to ensure that it is fair for residential utility customers.

Only Necessary Investments in Wildfire Plans

CUB will push back on utility cash grabs when making wildfire mitigation plans, ensuring customers aren’t being charged for unnecessary investments.

We’re also working with regulators to hold utility companies accountable for affordable, efficient wildfire mitigation. Currently, utilities are switching to a 3-year process for wildfire planning. These plans are incredibly important to ensuring we do not see a repeat of the 2020 utility-caused wildfires.

Utility programs and infrastructure need to be updated to make the grid more resistant to wildfires. But those investments cannot be used as a blank check for projects to earn shareholders big profits. CUB will advocate for utility plans that focus on the greatest bang-for-our-buck, while protecting Oregonians and our land from harm.

Protecting Reliable, Life-Saving Landline Services

CUB will hold Lumen accountable for their promise to improve life-saving landline service, or they won’t receive the increases they’re looking for.

Lastly, we’re working on holding corporations like Lumen, also known as CenturyLink, accountable for providing quality service to customers. Lumen has a long track record of failing to provide quality services to Oregon customers, especially rural communities. Despite that, they want to charge customers more money without delivering on promises to upgrade their infrastructure and improve service for many customers.

While this case continues to drag out, CUB will continue to fight for reliable access to landlines. For many in rural areas, this service is the only way to stay connected to the community, vital support services, and emergency services from home.

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

CUB Endorses the Power to the People Act

On January 15, 2026, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland introduced the Power to the People Act. This bill aims to control the impacts of data centers across the country on households and other businesses. As data centers have exploded, most utility customers have seen higher bills, and many states are starting to face energy shortages in the coming years.

The Power to the People Act promotes the creation of data center customer classes and incentivizes data centers to come online with their own energy resources. Both of these goals will help manage the huge amount of electricity data centers are now demanding, while protecting other customers — including families —from rising power bills.

This bill has been endorsed by CUB, as well as Maryland People’s Counsel, Consumer Federation of America, National Consumer Law Center, Public Citizen, NRDC, and Union of Concerned Scientists.

Data Centers Put Our Energy Systems at Risk

Data centers are putting a strain on our energy system and driving up costs on our power bills. These giant campuses, mainly filled with computers, use a massive amount of electricity — an entire city’s worth! A single 30 MW data center uses more electricity than the City of Ashland. Larger, 250 MW data centers, associated with AI, require a similar amount of energy to the City of Eugene.

And these city-sized energy users are coming to Oregon in droves. In just the last five years, data centers’ growth for just Portland General Electric has been the equivalent of adding 162,400 families to PGE’s system.

Data centers are a huge problem across the country, too. Virginia has been the leader in the country for this new industry and has seen catastrophic impacts on energy bills. Texas, California, and Ohio have also seen an explosion in recent years. While many states have either proposed or passed protections to slow skyrocketing energy bills, the Power to the People Act is the first national solution proposed.

What Does the Power to the People Act Do?

At its core, the Power to the People Act seeks to control the impacts of data centers on our energy systems and energy costs. According to Senator Van Hollen:

“The Power for the People Act seeks to hold data centers accountable for the increased energy prices they are causing through needed reforms that would prevent consumers from subsidizing data center development through their energy bills. It also would ensure that data centers interconnecting to the grid do not overwhelm the system, causing grid reliability issues that result in power outages.”

A New Type of Customer: Data Centers vs. The Rest of Us

The way this bill would accomplish holding data centers accountable is by singling out data centers and cryptocurrency operations from the rest of the electric utility customers.

Normal Utility Customers: Organic Load Growth
The Power to the People Act separates “normal” utility customers, who behave the way that we traditionally expect in adding energy use. New homes, small businesses, and even industry, like manufacturing, add small amounts of load (new energy demand) to utilities every year. This growth happens at about the same pace between residential, commercial, and industrial customers, making it easy for utilities to plan to provide enough electricity for everyone.

Outside the Normal: Data Centers
Data centers are a different animal. We have never seen a single type of energy customer grow at a rate that outpaces all others. Not only are these new data centers requiring more energy than almost anyone else, but they are growing well beyond what our utilities could have expected a decade ago. Adding a city’s worth of electricity to the system takes an enormous amount of planning and investment from utilities, making data centers very expensive for the energy grid to take on.

States Must Consider New Customer Category for Data Centers

The Power to the People Act would require states to consider creating a new customer class for data centers. Creating this separation makes it much easier for utilities to charge data centers for the costs that they are adding to the energy system.

Sound familiar? That’s because in 2025, Oregon passed the POWER Act to do this! Thanks to CUB’s efforts, along with huge community support, Oregon utilities are currently going through the process of separating data center costs. While the impacts on our energy bills has not yet been finalized, CUB expects data centers will be paying significantly more.

The Power to the People Act also identifies local transmission costs as something to be charged directly to data centers. These costs can be extremely high and are too often spread between all customers despite only serving data centers. In Oregon, we have seen PGE invest at least $210 million in Hillsboro for local transmission just for data center use.

While the federal government cannot actually direct states to implement this big change, it is an important step toward creating consumer protections. Just the act of considering this new customer category could be enough for many states to take action.

Incentivizing Data Centers That Bring Their Own Energy Sources

In addition to rising costs, data centers’ demand for huge amounts of electricity is putting a massive strain on utilities and regional energy grids. Too often, data centers request to be connected to the energy grid at the expense of utilities’ ability to add new homes or small businesses. If too many data centers come online at once, utilities could face energy shortages that may cause rolling blackouts — or worse.

The Power to the People Act creates a queue (a waiting line) for new data centers that prioritizes facilities that have smaller impacts on the energy grid. In this queue, data centers that have their own generation would get to be higher in the queue to get on the grid. Those with battery storage or the technology to lower energy consumption during days when utilities need more power for other customers will also get preferential treatment.

Any data center that would cause an issue for the reliability of the energy grid would be delayed in getting service from utilities. The bill also stop data centers using diesel generators from being added to the queue.

Take Action: Contact Your Legislators

Your U.S. legislators need to hear from you! You can call or email your legislators directly and ask them to support the Power to the People Act (find your elected officials here!)

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

Cascade Gas Requests 17.4% Increase for Residential Customers

This year, Cascade Natural Gas is asking regulators to approve a 17.4% increase in home billing rates. This is the first time Cascade has asked for a big increase since 2020. There is also a possibility that the increased amount could grow as the utility assesses fuel costs.

Cascade’s initial request includes infrastructure projects, higher profits for shareholders, and new ways to charge for investments in renewable natural gas (captured methane). CUB is also investigating the gas utility’s policy that requires customers to subsidize new hookups for homes and businesses, expanding the gas system.

Want even more information on this case? Check out the full docket on the Oregon Public Utility Commission website!

Customer Impacts

Customers could see average home gas bills rise to $75 per month (an $11 per month increase). Cascade is also asking to double the fixed charge from $6 to $12 per month for household bills. The impact would be even greater in the winter months when usage is higher. For an average customer paying $119 in January 2025, Cascade’s request would raise that to about $135 in January 2027. If approved, this increase would go into effect on October 31, 2026.

We also anticipate Cascade filing for another rate change later this year related to the cost of gas. This filing happens every year as the market continues to change and impact fuel costs. While this is a normal adjustment, it is uncertain if the change will have a significant impact on customers in combination with the already requested 17.4% increase.

What Cascade is Asking For

Overall, Cascade is requesting $16.4 million from all customers. $10.3 million of the request would apply to residential customers.

Cascade is asking for:

• Increased shareholder profits
• Operations costs up from inflation
• Big infrastructure projects (pipes and other equipment)
• Renewable natural gas projects and purchases

CUB is reviewing all of the costs to ensure they are reasonable for customers to pay. We are particularly concerned with the request to increase profit margins. This 1% increase would cost customers millions of dollars each year.

CUB Opposes Expanding Subsidies for Growing the Gas System

The gas utility is also asking for a change to its customer-funded subsidy to grow the gas system. Existing customers pay for expanding Cascade’s business through a subsidy called a “line extension allowance.” This subsidy benefits building developers, encouraging new homes to be built with gas.

Cascade is the last remaining Oregon gas utility charging customers an expansion subsidy. Over the past few years, regulators at the Oregon Public Utility Commission have ended similar policies for NW Natural and Avista. Regulators agreed with CUB that these policies are not in the best interest of customers.

Cascade is not just holding on to the subsidy, but also trying to punish new customers who decide to move away from using gas. The utility is proposing that customers will continue to subsidize new hookups. But now, if a new customer doesn’t use a baseline amount of gas each year, that new customer will have to pay Cascade back up to thousands of dollars. This means if someone buys a new home built with gas and decides to go electric, they could be penalized.

CUB will continue to push back on these customer-funded subsidies and encourage regulators to eliminate them.

Big Questions Remain on Renewable Natural Gas Investments

Under the Climate Protection Program, gas utilities are now required to reduce emissions by 90% by 2050. While there are many ways for utilities to achieve this mandate, renewable natural gas is a favorite option because of its profitability. Cascade has multiple big investments it wants to charge customers for, as well as a new proposal to make these charges automatic going forward.

Big Investments with Questionable Customer Costs

Cascade is investing in two big renewable natural gas plants: Knott Landfill and Pine Creek. The first may raise some questions for Deschutes County residents, who were recently informed that Knott Landfill is set to close.

Overall, CUB is questioning whether residential customers could be overcharged for these projects. While gas utilities must reduce emissions, many studies have shown that the cheapest way to do this is to electrify homes and businesses. Swapping gas stoves and furnaces for highly efficient induction burners and heat pumps is a one-time cost. This saves the utility money on reducing emissions and saves customers money on their monthly bills.

Big renewable natural gas projects mainly benefit business and industrial customers. Many industries do not have electric alternatives and need to stay on a combustion fuel, like methane. But Oregon families should not have to pay for projects that do not benefit them.

It is also unclear how this methane would be delivered to customers. While blending this gas into the overall supply would go to homes and businesses, utilities can also provide this renewable natural gas directly to consumers. It’s unclear if residential customers will see this captured methane in homes at all.

CUB is pushing back to ensure household gas customers are not being overcharged for expensive renewable natural gas projects.

Cascade Wants to Automatically Charge Customer for Renewable Natural Gas

While CUB still has lingering questions about how reasonable Cascade’s investments are, the gas utility wants to automatically charge customers for renewable natural gas. Cascade is asking regulators to allow it to invest in these projects and add costs to customer bills with very little oversight.

This is not the first time we’ve seen this request for automatic charges for expensive investments. Cascade is taking a page from NW Natural’s request just a few years ago. In that case, CUB was able to secure strong customer protections and limit what gas customers would be on the hook for.

CUB will continue to push back against removing oversight on customer charges and ensure we are only paying for the lowest cost and most reasonable investments in our utility systems.

Cascade May Be Overinvesting in Growing Its System

Cascade seems to be projecting more growth in its gas system than makes sense for Oregon. Utilities make money by investing in infrastructure and then charging customers for the cost plus additional profit. When a gas utility forecasts growth on its system, it can justify spending a lot of money — and earning a lot of profits — on new projects.

The problem is that Cascade’s largest service area is in Bend, a city with strong climate policies. Bend is currently considering new laws that would make adding new gas hookups less appealing to builders and homeowners. This is part of a larger trend in Oregon with many cities and counties across the state pushing for all-electric buildings.

CUB is digging deeper to see if the projected growth is reasonable or just a pipe dream.

Customers Can Speak Out Against Rising Cascade Gas Bills

Regulators at the Oregon Public Utility Commission are currently planning for two hybrid public comment hearings. One will be held in Bend in February, and the other will be held in Umatilla County in March. Stay tuned for more information on how to join these hearings!

Throughout much of this year, customers can submit written comments to the Oregon Public Utility Commission on this case. Submit your comments on the Commission’s website!

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

Portlanders Show Up To Resist Data Centers!

On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Portlanders gathered at the NW Portland Havurah Shalom synagogue for a community forum on data centers. Rumble on the River is a Portland-based community forum focused on uplifting issues and topics impacting Oregonians. Rumble 28 focused on data centers and the threats they pose to our water, land, and energy affordability.

CUB helped organize this forum along with 350PDX and the Rumble on the River planning team. The Panel included speakers from CUB, Columbia Riverkeeper, Oregon Rural Action, Oregon Agricultural Trust, and Data & Society. Each one shared information relevant to tangible organizing opportunities happening in Oregon.

CUB’s Equity Analyst & Advocate, Sarah Wochele, talks about energy affordability.

CUB, Energy Affordability and the POWER Act

CUB’s Equity Analyst & Advocate, Sarah Wochele, talks about energy affordability.

If you were following CUB’s work in 2025, you’ve probably seen the POWER Act (HB 3546) referenced a ton! This new law seeks to hold large energy users accountable for paying for their own energy needs. This bill requires state regulators to:

• Create new policies to help protect Oregon households from paying for the energy needs of data centers, cryptocurrency, and other big tech.
• Make for-profit utilities identify the costs that these large energy users are adding to the system—and make them pay their share, by creating a new data center and large energy user category.

Sarah shared how data centers have heavily contributed to the sharp rise in energy rates for Oregonians. We have seen our power bills go up due to the large construction of electrical infrastructure to get these behemoths online. Because of an outdated way of dividing grid costs between customer types, residential customers are paying for more than what is fair!

PGE’s Data Center Investigation: UM 2377

Sarah shared how CUB is leading an investigation into PGE and how they’re planning on complying with the POWER Act. While at the start of this investigation, PGE seemed intent on skirting around the bill, public pressure on this case seems to have pushed PGE towards a more favorable proposal for residential customers.

Nearly 2,000 community members shared public comments pushing regulators to ensure fairness and protect Oregonians’ energy affordability in the face of PGE’s lackluster proposal. CUB is in the process of analyzing PGE’s newest proposal to ensure that it is fair for residential utility customers. We’ll provide an update once we have more information.

Panel Of Experts Fighting To Protect Oregon

Left to Right: Dr. Ana Carolina de Assis Nunes-Data & Society, Nellie McAdams-Oregon Agricultural Trust, Kaleb Lay-Oregon Rural Action, Kelly Campbell-Columbia River Keeper, State Senator Khanh Pham, Sarah Wochele-CUB.

Dr. Ana Carolina De Assis Nunes, Data & Society

Dr. Ana Carolina, in red, is speaking on the history of the Columbia River and how data centers are a continuation of the exploitative industry in the Pacific Northwest.

Ana Carolina de Assis Nunes is a postdoctoral fellow with Data & Society. She has worked as a researcher for nonprofits, including Campaign Zero and TechSoup. Ana earned her PhD in anthropology from Oregon State University, where her research focused on industrial transformations promoted by the data center industry in the US Pacific Northwest.
Ana shared her expertise on the history of the Columbia River and how data centers are a continuation of the region’s exploitative industry. Her context helps tie together why this industry is drawn to Oregon. Learn more about their work here!

Nellie McAdams, Oregon Agricultural Trust

Nellie is an attorney and Executive Director of Oregon Agricultural Trust—a statewide agricultural land trust that partners with Oregon farmers and ranchers to protect and pass on their land to the next generation. Nellie Shared about the land use issues involving data centers and their accumulation of arable land in the Willamette Valley. Learn more about Oregon Agricultural Trust’s work here!

Kaleb Lay, Oregon Rural Action

Kaleb Lay is the Research and Policy Director with Oregon Rural Action, an Eastern Oregon non-profit focusing on protecting immigrant communities and the health of rural Oregonians. Recently, much of their work has focused on the massive data center campuses going up in Hermiston, Umittila and Boardman. Which poses land use and water issues for the local population. Learn more about Oregon Rural Action’s work here!

Kelly Campbell, Columbia Riverkeeper

Kelly is the Policy Director with Columbia Riverkeeper, an organization focused on the protection of the Columbia River and all things related to it, including:

• Ensuring clean water free of contamination
• Cleaning up the Hanford nuclear site
• Salmon recovery on the river
• Climate & energy work

Columbia Riverkeeper has been monitoring how data centers are clustering around the Columbia for access to water and cheap energy, and how these massive industries are impacting Northern Oregon and the communities around the Columbia. Learn more about Columbia Riverkeepers’ work here!

How to get involved!

It’s clear that there’s a hunger for education and knowledge on how to curb the negative effects that data centers are creating for Oregonians. There was a ton of engagement and amazing questions from community members, but the core message coming out of the night was connect with those in your community, get involved, and organize!

CUB will continue to protect Oregonians’ energy affordability from data center costs, so make sure to keep up with what we’re doing on the POWER Act implementation at the PUC and other involvement to hold data centers accountable!

CUB is looking for more ways to bring the voices of our communities into the regulatory space. Write to us and let us know how you would like to get involved, share your stories with us, and keep an eye out for training we’ll be doing soon. We want to make sure that Oregonians are best equipped to understand and advocate along with CUB for fair and affordable rates!

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

Utility Disconnection Pause Extended for Many Customers

Last fall, Oregon’s for-profit energy utilities agreed to a temporary pause on disconnecting some customers who were behind on their bills. Now, going into 2026, state utility regulators have told utilities they need to keep this narrow moratorium until March 1, but now there are important caveats for gas customers.

In the wake of the longest government shutdown and other federal policy changes, many in Oregon are struggling to make ends meet without vital programs like SNAP and energy assistance. While the federal government has reopened, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been delayed in delivering funds to states. This extension of pausing gas and electric shutoffs for some customers is a big win for those who are still recovering from the impacts of last fall.

The following temporary policies apply to Oregon’s six for-profit energy utilities: NW Natural, Cascade, Avista, Portland General Electric (PGE), Pacific Power, and Idaho Power.

Relief for Customers of All For-Profit Utilities

Temporary relief is now available for some customers of both gas and electric utilities in Oregon.

30-Day Pause for Hardship
Any residential customer can call their utility and self-attest to experiencing hardship to receive a 30-day pause on disconnection. Customers can call to ask for this pause through March 1, 2026. This means if you receive a disconnection notice, you can call and get an extra 30 days to manage past due bills to avoid disconnection. Customers would have to call their utilities to request this.

Longer Repayment Options
Utilities must now provide an option for a 24-month payment plan, called a Time Payment Arrangement (TPA), to all residential customers. Customers must request this additional repayment time by May 1, 2026. When you are behind on your bills, but before a disconnection happens, utilities must allow you to break up the past due amount over a longer period of time. Before, most options only went up to 12 months.

More Reporting from Utilities
All utilities are required to file reports with state regulators for January, February, and March, up from quarterly reports. This increased reporting on energy burden will help regulators and advocates understand the needs of customers to plan for the next steps in March.

Added Relief for Electric Customers

No Disconnections for Many Low-Income and Medically Vulnerable Customers
Electric utilities must pause disconnections for bill discount program customers and medical certificate customers through March 1, 2026. A four-person household making under $73,816 qualifies for bill discount programs. Think you may qualify for discounts or a medical certificate? Contact your utility!

One-Time Relief Grants for Very Low-Income Customers
For customers with very low incomes, electric utilities must provide a minimum one-time grant of $500 to pay off past due bills. This grant will be automatically applied once the disconnection pause ends in March. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a bill discount program and make 0-15% State Median Income (SMI) ($18,454 and below for a family of four).

More Protections for Medical Certificate Customers

Customers with medical certificates have added protections across the board. But now through March 1, 2026, utilities cannot charge late fees for anyone with a medical certificate.

This protection is permanent for anyone enrolled in a bill discount program, even beyond March 1.

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

New Energy Utility Consumer Protections Start in 2026

In 2024, Oregon’s for-profit utilities disconnected households a record number of times — nearly 70,000 shutoffs — because of unaffordable energy bills. CUB and many other advocates pushed regulators to take quick and decisive action to support these struggling households. After securing improved temporary rules over the last year, Oregonians now have stronger permanent rules in place for consumer protections around disconnection.

Regulators have also approved new customer protection rules for accessibility in starting utility service and communications from utilities. After advocacy from CUB and other advocates, regulators also extended and enhanced the temporary winter disconnection moratorium for some customers.

New Disconnection and Reconnection Policies
Extreme Weather: Disconnection Limits & Added Protections
Additional Improvements

All of the rules outlined in this blog apply to Oregon’s for-profit utilities: PGE, Pacific Power, Idaho Power, NW Natural, Cascade, and Avista.

Want even more information? Check out the full docket at the Oregon Public Utility Commission!

New Disconnection and Reconnection Policies

When a utility disconnects a customer for past-due balances, there are specific rules they must follow. While there is still room for improvement, these new protections can help make this process clearer and less expensive up front.

Improved Noticing and Outreach Before Disconnection

Between a past due bill and a disconnection, utilities are required to notify customers that a shutoff is possible. Utilities are required to give a disconnection notice at least 20 days and then 5 days before shutting off your power.

NEW: Utilities must notify customers of disconnection protections in more places and more often:

• Disclose disconnection protections and reconnection fee waivers on their website
• Notify customers of protections in all disconnection notifications
• Notify customers of protections in monthly bills regularly (Electric Utilities: at least in May and October, Gas Utilities: at least in October)
• Notify energy assistance partners of protections annually
• Train customer service representatives on all protections and reconnection fee waivers

Limits on Reconnection Fees

In the past, it has been common practice for a utility to charge customers a fee on top of their past due balances to restart service after a shutoff for past due bills. This practice adds an unnecessary financial burden for people who are already struggling to pay their bills.

NEW: Utilities have strict limits on when they can charge a reconnection fee:

• No reconnection fees for bill discount program participants (does not apply to after-hours reconnections)
• No reconnection fees for medical certificate holders (does not apply to after-hours reconnections)
• No reconnection fees for anyone who can be remotely turned back on (does not apply to after-hours reconnections)

The last rule for remote reconnection applies to most electric utility customers. Customers with standard modern meters can have their usage read, disconnected, and reconnected over the internet. But if a utility worker comes to your home to disconnect and reconnect you, like for gas utilities, this is not a remote reconnection. Unsure if this applies to you? Call your utility’s customer service!

Limits on Bill Repayment for Reconnection

In the past, utilities have required customers to pay at least half of their past due amounts up front and the other half across the following two months after a disconnection. When a past-due bill is too high, many customers cannot afford this big upfront payment. Now, utilities must lower the barrier for reconnection.

NEW: Utilities cannot charge more than $200 upfront for past due amounts before restarting service for bill discount program customers or medical certificate holders. This is separate from a reconnection fee and is applied to the total owed.

NEW: Utilities must allow customers to spread remaining past due amounts over at least six months, for all customers following a reconnection.

New Bill Relief & Forgiveness Programs

While gas utilities have programs to manage past due bills, often called arrearage management programs, electric utilities do not. Now, all of Oregon’s for-profit utilities are required to have a program that helps customers manage their past-due bills, including providing relief, like bill forgiveness.

Utilities have until August 1, 2026, to give regulators a final proposal for relief programs in time for next winter:

• NEW: At a minimum, utilities must have relief programs for very low income customers on the bill discount program (0-15% of the State Median Income).
• NEW: Relief programs must include a “no risk” relief grant to lower past due amounts for qualifying customers.
• NEW: For relief payment programs, utilities also must ensure that monthly payments for past due amounts don’t exceed the customer’s ability to pay.

These relief programs must accept customers enrolled in bill discount programs, making it easy for customers to sign up. Utilities must also work with energy assistance providers, like Community Action Agencies, and Energy Trust of Oregon to identify customers who may need relief and to verify eligibility.

Extreme Weather: Disconnection Limits & Added Protections

Losing access to heating, cooling, and more in extreme weather can be life-threatening. Over the last year, regulators adopted enhanced temporary rules to limit when utilities can shut off power for past due bills. Now, customers will see stronger permanent protections.

NEW: Disconnections for non-payment are limited during extreme heat, extreme cold, and very poor air quality. See the full details below!

You Need to Call Your Utility to Regain Service in Extreme Weather

Extreme weather protections are available for all customers. If you have been disconnected because of past due bills ahead of an extreme weather event, you must call your utility company to get gas or power restored during the protected times. Utilities will not reconnect you automatically. Income-qualified customers and medical certificate customers are not required to pay up-front costs to reconnect in these instances.

Cold Weather Protections

Cold-weather protections now go beyond just the winter months. These rules apply to both gas and electric utilities: PGE, Pacific Power, Idaho Power, NW Natural, Avista, and Cascade.

November 1 - April 30
Winter cold-weather protections apply when temperatures are forecasted to hit or go below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or there is a forecasted severe winter storm warning.

All Residential Customers:

• No disconnections 24 hours before a winter weather event, during the event, and 48 hours after the event ends

Bill Discount Program Participants & Medical Certificate Holders:

• No disconnections 24 hours before a winter weather event, during the event, and 48 hours after.
• No upfront costs for remote reconnection for anyone who has been disconnected up to seven days before the event. Past due balances and applicable reconnection fees will be applied later.

May 1 - October 31
Off-season cold-weather protections apply when there are forecasted low temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below and high temperatures are forecasted to be 60 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Protections also apply when forecasted weather conditions pose a threat to life or property.

All Residential Customers:

• No disconnections during the event and 48 hours after the event ends.

Bill Discount Program Participants & Medical Certificate Holders:

• No disconnections during the event and 48 hours after the event ends.
• No upfront costs for reconnection for anyone who has been disconnected up to seven days before the event. Past due balances and applicable reconnection fees will be applied later.

Hot Weather Protections

Year-Round Protections
Hot-weather protections apply when there is an extreme heat warning, extreme heat watch, or heat advisory issued, no matter the time of year. These protections only apply to electric utilities (PGE, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power).

All Electric Residential Customers:

• No disconnections 24 hours before a hot weather event, during the event, and 48 hours after.

Electric Bill Discount Program Participants & Medical Certificate Holders:

• No disconnections 24 hours before a winter weather event, during the event, and 48 hours after.
• No upfront costs for reconnection for anyone who has been disconnected up to seven days before the event. Past due balances and applicable reconnection fees will be applied later.

Air Quality Protections

Year-Round Protections
Air quality protections apply when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecasted to be at or above 100, no matter the time of year.

All Residential Customers:

• No disconnections during the air quality event and 48 hours after.

Bill Discount Program Participants & Medical Certificate Holders:

• No disconnections during the air quality event, and 48 hours after.
• No up-front costs for reconnection for anyone who has been disconnected up to seven days before the event. Past due balances and applicable reconnection fees will be applied later.

Wildfire Evacuation Protections

Wildfire protections apply during Level 2 and Level 3 evacuation notices issued in a customer’s area.

All Residential Customers:

• No disconnections for 48 hours after wildfire evacuation notices have been lifted.
• No up-front costs for reconnection for anyone who has been disconnected up to seven days before the event. Past due balances and applicable reconnection fees will be applied later.

Additional Improvements

Regulators have also approved new customer protection rules for accessibility in starting utility service and communications from utilities.

Improvements to Medical Certificates

Medical certificates are a way for households with medical needs to have more protections to keep vital gas and electricity. New rules have expanded access and extended certificate length.

NEW:Oral confirmation by a medical professional is now valid for 60 days (was 30).

NEW: Chronic illness medical certificates are now good for 24 months (was 12).

Customers are also able to self-certify that disconnection would significantly endanger the physical health of the customer or a member of the customer’s household.

Have a medical condition that requires electricity or gas? Learn more about how to get a medical certificate by contacting your utility!

New Identity Verification Options for Starting Service

Utilities require customers to provide identification for starting electric or gas services. Having certain identification requirements can be a challenge for many Oregonians. Cost, legal status, housing insecurity, and more can create barriers to maintaining IDs. Now, utilities must accept more options for identification when a household is setting up utility service.

A utility can require a new customer to provide:

• A valid Social Security Number and a current Oregon driver’s license

Instead of a Social Security Number and a current Oregon driver’s license, you can use any of the following:

• A valid state or federal ID containing name and picture
• NEW: An expired Oregon driver’s license
• NEW: A valid or expired U.S or foreign passport
• NEW: A valid or expired consular ID card

If a new customer doesn’t have these options, they can instead use a combination of:

• A birth certificate
• Photo ID from school or employer
• The name, address, and phone number of a person who can verify identity (e.g., a teacher, employer, or caseworker)
• Other information deemed sufficient by the utility

More Languages for Utility Communications

Utilities are required to translate communications into other languages to ensure more people can understand important information.

NEW: Utilities must translate materials into the five most used languages in the company’s service area, or the default list provided by regulators: Spanish, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, and Russian.

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

Give Today: Empower Your Community

As 2025 comes to a close, we have so much to be proud of this year. This year was one for the history books, and there’s one thing we know for sure: we couldn’t have accomplished so much without our members. On behalf of everyone at CUB, thank you for supporting us this year.

But our work is far from over. As we look to 2026, our staff are locked in on an issue that impacts all Oregonians: energy affordability. We still have a long road ahead of us to tackle rising energy costs, and we need your help to make energy affordable for all.

What We Accomplished in 2025

This year, your support helped us secure major victories for turning the tide on energy affordability. We led the charge at the legislature and passed historic legislation to rein in out-of-control energy bills (FAIR Energy Act, HB 3179), hold data centers accountable for their own energy needs (POWER Act, HB 3546), and double state energy assistance funds (HB 3792).

Now, more utilities have limits on how often they can raise customers’ bills, a crucial step towards affordable energy. Data centers are being held accountable for paying for their own energy costs, keeping those costs off your bills. And Oregon families can access funds to help pay energy bills, keeping homes heated.

“I have been a long-time donor to CUB. I appreciate the work done to keep utilities affordable and to rein in utility company excesses. Just read the email recapping CUB accomplishments in 2025 and am, once again, impressed and grateful by the work and commitment shown by CUB.”
– Erica, CUB Member

And that was just the beginning. We also slashed gas utilities’ requests to raise your energy bills. We fought for customers in the courts, pushing back on a Bonneville Power Administration decision that could cost customers billions of dollars. And we successfully advocated for new disconnection protections, keeping more Oregonians connected to power during extreme weather and beyond.

All of these wins paid off big time this year. Thanks to your support, we saved over $250 million for Oregon households in 2025. That’s real money we’ve kept in your pockets, not in the pockets of utility executives. Altogether, we’ve saved customers over $10.5 billion since our founding in 1984.

Ways to Give this Holiday Season

We hope you’ll consider donating to energy affordability this year. Whether you contribute $5, $50, or $500, every bit makes a big impact in making energy affordable for all Oregonians. Your contribution will directly support our work to:

• Fight for affordable and equitable utilities for all
• Champion equity, ensuring that every community, from urban centers to frontier communities, gets fair treatment
• Advance bold, innovative policies to address climate change and social inequities in utility systems

Contribute Today

You can easily contribute online or by calling us at 503-227-1984. You can also donate by mail, by sending a check made out to “Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board” to 610 SW Broadway, Suite 400, Portland, OR 97205. All contributions to Oregon CUB are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by Oregon state and federal law.

Interested in becoming a monthly donor? Join our Power of Community Program by updating your current donation or starting a new monthly donation. Your monthly support enables us to sustain the fight for energy affordability. Set it up once, and you never have to worry about renewing your membership!

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how your contributions are being used, feel free to reach out to us at any time at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Help us finish 2025 strong by making a final contribution before the end of the year!

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

Reader’s Choice: 2025 Blogs

This year, CUB staff worked hard to make energy and utilities more accessible in our blogs and communications, and readers had some clear favorites. Read on to learn more about CUB’s most-read blogs of 2025!

Most Read Blogs of 2025

Protect Yourself at the Door
Keeping our communities safe and informed is part of what we do here at CUB. Utility workers rarely show up at customers’ doors; that’s why it’s important to know the difference between a real utility worker and a scammer. These tactics are often employed against elders, non-English speakers, and working-class communities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also used these tactics to target people for deportation in some parts of the country.

Data Centers & Oregon’s Energy Future
What is a data center? While data centers may not look like much from the outside, inside these centers house vast networks of computing and storage resources. Oregon is becoming a top destination for data center growth in the country, but the scale of the energy demand and the speed of growth of these operations are causes for concern.

New Protections Against Summer Power Shut-Offs
This summer, new rules limited disconnections during extreme heat and air quality alerts, expanded support for those with medical certificates, and more. These rules were temporary, but permanent protections will start in 2026, keeping more Oregonians connected to power during extreme weather conditions.

Victory for Oregonians: We Passed the POWER Act!
In June 2025, the Oregon Legislature adopted the Protecting Oregonians With Energy Responsibility (POWER) Act (HB 3546) with bipartisan support. The legislation addresses one of Oregon’s most pressing energy challenges: rising utility costs driven in part by the explosive growth of energy-intensive data centers and cryptocurrency.

NW Natural Asks for Another Bill Increase Amid Skyrocketing Rates
This year, NW Natural asked for a 7% increase in billing rates for its household gas customers. If it had been approved, this increase would mean NW Natural bills have gone up nearly 50% for households since 2021. Thankfully, CUB helped slash this request by about two-thirds, cutting nearly $38 million.

Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues

CUB will continue to advocate for people in Oregon on major utility issues. Sign up for the CUB email list for the latest updates, action alerts, and news on policies that affect the utilities your home relies on.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

Beyond Policy: CUB’s 2025 Staff Picks

CUB staff worked hard to break down utility policy in blogs this year, making utilities more accessible to everyday people. Today, we’re excited to share our staff’s favorite blogs of 2025.

2025 Staff Picks

Regulators Grapple with PGE’s Lackluster Proposal to Address Data Centers
This year, CUB has been hard at work tackling a big source of rising energy costs for many Oregonians: data centers. We helped pass the POWER Act (HB 3546), a bill designed to hold data centers accountable for their own energy costs, but now the real work begins. This fall, Regulators are considering a new framework for how PGE divides up costs for all of its different customer groups — including the new data center customer category.

CUB Sues the Bonneville Power Administration
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), one of our region’s largest clean energy suppliers, has decided to reduce ties with the Pacific Northwest. This summer, CUB joined four other advocates across the region, represented by EarthJustice, in a lawsuit to try to reverse BPA’s decision to splinter Western energy markets, costing utility customers billions of dollars.

CUB Won Big for Customers this Legislative Session
Oregon’s 2025 legislative session ended in June, and customers won big this year. Our staff stepped up to a busy legislative session by taking the lead on several major energy affordability bills, a first in our 41-year history. We’re proud to say that all of our priority bills, and many that we supported, passed this session!

CenturyLink’s Broken Promises: The Fight for Reliable Service
For years, CenturyLink has failed customers, especially seniors and rural communities, by not delivering on its promise to provide quality telephone service. Despite orders to fix their faulty service, chronic issues remain, such as dropped calls and service outages, poor customer service, and unreliable landline service. CenturyLink must be held accountable for its poor service.

CUB Wins Big for Avista Customers
This year, Avista requested a 7% increase in rates for household customers. CUB advocates helped cut the requested amount by nearly 50% overall, securing major savings for households. Now, an average single-family customer will see an increase of 2% ($1.36/month) while multi-family customers will see a small decrease of -1% (-$0.30/month).

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