Recalling CUB Wins As 2018 Ticks Down

As the clock ticks away the final hours of 2018, we thought we would take the opportunity to look back on what we have accomplished. We’ve had some great wins and created positive change in the energy and telecom sectors. You’ll find a brief list of those accomplishments below and if you want more information about an issue, we’ve also included links to relevant CUB blogs.

In February, as part of their Integrated Resource Plan, Idaho Power agreed to shut down the North Valmy Power Plant by 2025 and the two units they own at the Jim Bridger Plant by 2032. CUB advocated for these plant closures for a number of years and believes that a switch to other energy generating sources are in the best long-term interest of consumers. CUB Economist, Will Gehrke, provides more details.

After strong encouragement from CUB to look to hydro capacity contracts as an alternative to building new natural gas plants, PGE and BPA entered into such a contract in early March. CUB celebrates this important step because it provides a solution to the needs of both PGE and BPA, while simultaneously helping the region move forward in developing a modern, low carbon electric system. See why Executive Director, Bob Jenks, thinks this is so important.

CUB worked closely with ACLU Oregon in the 2018 short legislative session to lead the process of passing HB 4155, which uses governmental procurement powers to ensure net neutrality for customers across the state. In April, when Governor Brown signed this legislation, Oregon became 2nd in the nation (behind Washington) to pass landmark net neutrality protections after the FCC eliminated Title II rules in 2017. Outreach Manager, Sam Pastrick, provides all the details to this important legislation.

Also, this legislative session, CUB’s advocacy was critical in helping achieve passage of HB 4023, which leverages Oregon’s state-owned fiber network to expand service to certain entities such as schools, federally recognized tribes, and nonprofits, in unserved and underserved rural communities. CUB was an invited participant on the rulemaking advisory committee that resulted from this legislation.

The 9th annual CUB Policy Conference, Destination: Decarbonization, brought together industry leaders, including CEO’s from six of Oregon’s utilities, to discuss decarbonization efforts; not simply for the energy sector but, more ambitiously, for our economy as a whole. Communications Manager, Amelia Lamb, shares highlights of these important conversations.

After numerous settlement discussions over nine long months, CUB’s arguments successfully brought NW Natural’s proposed rate hike down from 8.3 to 3.2 percent. When the declining cost of natural gas is added in, Oregon residential customers will see a 2.1 percent rate decrease. Staff Attorney, Mike Goetz, explains the details.

Thanks largely to CUB’s two-year advocacy campaign, the City made a long-overdue update to its governance structure by moving the Office of Community Technology its own bureau within Mayor Wheeler’s portfolio. Sam Pastrick, Outreach Manager, offers his take on why this is a win for City of Portland consumers.

On November 6, voters passed Measure 26-201, the Portland Clean Energy Initiative, by well over 60 percent. CUB endorsed and advocated for this measure, which is an innovative vehicle to support new community-based energy programs linked to public health, affordable housing, and other co-benefits. Advocacy Director, Janice Thompson, talks about CUB’s perspective on this initiative.

CUB, along with other stakeholders, successfully argued that the Public Utility Commission does not possess the requisite authority to grant deferred accounting applications for utility capital cost, leaving deferred accounting applications in general rate cases where CUB argued that they belong. CUB was pleased to see the PUC act in the best interest of consumers, protecting them from the utilities’ ongoing attempts to shift unreasonable cost and risk onto customers. Staff Attorney, Mike Goetz, presents the arguments that succeeded in this interesting case.

In early December, PacifiCorp released a PUC mandated study on the economic feasibility of its remaining coal plants. CUB supported the request for this study and finds the results to show that it is important to do this kind of analysis. The study shows that 60 percent of the plants are not economic. In fact, this study found that PacifiCorp could save customers as much as $300 million by eliminating five coal units. That being said, the company still has some work to do looking at the reliability impacts of shutting down multiple coal plants. Executive Director, Bob Jenks, provides insight into this study.

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