Southern Oregon Speaks Out Against Higher Bills, Expanding the Gas System
Posted on June 12, 2023 by Charlie Krouse
Tags, Energy, General Interest
On June 7, the Public Utility Commission held a public hearing on Avista’s proposed 8% bill increase. Organizations and individuals across Southern Oregon spoke passionately against the proposed rate increase. Many customers spoke about their concerns surrounding cost and the impacts on climate change.
Southern Oregon Moves Toward Electrification
Many customers agree that companies like Avista should be focusing their efforts away from fossil fuels and now is not the time for a rate increase. Avista should be allowing customers of Southern Oregon to financially catch up after wildfires, COVID, and the impacts of inflation.
The night before the Avista rate increase hearing, the Ashland City Council voted on Tuesday to move forward with a new electrification ordinance. This would ban the use of fossil fuels in new home construction. This vote further highlights just how invested Southern Oregon is in investing in clean energy and moving away from fossil fuel reliance.
Testimony Opposes of Rate Increase, Gas Expansion
Customers delivered important testimony during the June 7th Avista hearing. Many customers spoke about their rising concerns about the impacts of investing in fossil fuels. Other customers spoke about just how much the increased cost of utility bills would impact their livelihoods.
In a strong testimony from Maytel Espino, an Avista customer from testimony she tearfully spoke about just how much these rate increases are impacting her financially.
“I am here to speak out strongly against this Avista proposal. I went from supporting myself to supporting my parents and my siblings. I am not only paying for my own utilities but also my families. I am just asking you to not go forward with the increases.” Maytel states, “This is hard and personal and I don’t like where these increases are going.”
“This is hard and personal and I don’t like where these increases are going.”
In an area of Oregon that has been heavily impacted by climate change already, it’s no surprise that this proposed increase struck a chord with Avista customers. One customer, Wendy, a Retiree with a PhD in Aquatic Ecology stated:
“A climate emergency is already costing too much. We cannot afford to continue investing in the main cause of the climate emergency. Instead of expanding it, we should be phasing out all fossil fuels as quickly as possible.”
Alessandra de la Torre from Rogue Climate spoke directly on the cost burden impacting Southern Oregonians:
“If rates continue to rise for every customer, how are we truly addressing energy burden and affordability? Avista serves rural communities that are already more energy burdened than most of Oregon. If this proposal passes Avista’s average monthly bill would have increased roughly $30 a month in the last three years.”
“Avista serves rural communities that are already more energy burdened than most of Oregon. If this proposal passes Avista’s average monthly bill would have increased roughly $30 a month in the last three years.”
Alessandra also took the time to also directly address the outreach efforts we do here at Oregon CUB by thanking us in her testimony:
“I want to give special a shout out to CUB for bringing this attention over to stakeholders. They created digestible materials and accessible actions to engage community members in this hearing and written testimony. Rogue Climate would not have been able to engage our community members in such a tight turnaround if it wasn’t for them.”
Comments Accepted Through June 30, 2023
Customers of Avista have until June 30 to weigh in on the proposal through comments. Use this form or email regulators at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (include “Comments on UE 416 in the subject!) to submit written comments.
You can also provide comments over the phone by calling 503-378-6678 or mail comments to Oregon Public Utility Commission, Attn: AHD – UE 416, PO Box 1088, Salem, OR 97308-1088.
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06/16/23 | 0 Comments | Southern Oregon Speaks Out Against Higher Bills, Expanding the Gas System