Staff Spotlight: John Garrett, Utility Analyst

It’s time for another day in the life of a CUB staff member. Today, we’re proud to introduce you to John Garrett, CUB’s Utility Analyst.

Have you ever wondered what a typical day looks like for a Utility Analyst? For John, no two days are the same. On any given day, you can find John engrossed in multiple tasks related to a utility request to increase bills, long-term energy resource planning, or another issue of utility regulation.

Utility Analyst: Research Meets Advocacy

John’s work includes doing a lot of research. He is the person at CUB who identifies what’s being proposed by a utility in a given case. Typical research includes evaluating financial gains/losses to customers, meeting with other advocates, talking to regulators, and requesting information from utilities backing up their claims.

John uses his analysis to advocate for better agreements and policies for customers. As an advocate, John writes comments to the Public Utility Commission and testimony for litigation. His role is to push for changes on crucial matters that affect Oregon households’ utilities.

John is proud of the work he does and says that CUB “does the most we can for ratepayers with honesty and integrity.”

CUB’s Impact and Changes in the Energy Industry

“We’re a small organization but we have a huge impact. We save Oregonians a ton of money, increase access to services for those who struggle to afford them, and generally maximize what customers get out of their utility services. It’s hard to quantify it, but we’re active in the equity and long-term planning space and get a lot out of it,” says John. “I’m proud to be part of an organization that does great work and does it very effectively.”

“I’m proud to be part of an organization that does great work and does it very effectively.” - John Garret, CUB Utility Analyst

Over the next 2-3 decades, John foresees many upcoming changes in the energy industry. Some of those changes involve making the electrical grid wildfire-resistant and safe. Oregon also needs to produce enough electricity for electric vehicles and decarbonize our energy resources.

These changes offer necessary and diverse benefits to Oregonians but could also be expensive if not done well. John is concerned about how these rapid changes could impact customers’ bills. As a utility analyst, John helps CUB ensure that we have a safe and efficient energy system while still being affordable for customers.

Another change John is excited about is broadening the diversity of voices in the utility planning process, especially from the Environmental Justice community. John, and CUB, are excited to support these organizations.

Motivated by CUB’s Commitment to Oregon Communities

John started at CUB in January 2023. He stays motivated by the impact that CUB makes on communities throughout Oregon. He also feels that CUB’s mission aligns with his hopes for a more equal, fair, and community-based society. John is confident that CUB is an effective institution that positively impacts Oregonians.

While John’s ambition has always been to “make the world a healthier, happier place for people in the long-term,” his path to CUB was far from linear. He started as a researcher studying integrated human and environmental systems. However, when he was 25, he had a serious health crisis that required multiple orthopedic surgeries. His struggle with that experience changed him on a deep level. John came to realize that no career would give him the level of gratification he was searching for other than advocacy.

Since then, John has looked for a career where he could apply his analytical skills and be an advocate. John completed the Master of Public Policy degree at Oregon State University focusing on energy development and policy in Oregon. He then came to work for CUB.

The best advice John could give for someone striving to get into the advocacy field is that it’s hard work and you have to want it: “We face difficult challenges in a rapidly changing environment, so you have to stay vigilant. A small difference in a percentage point here, or the phrasing of a negotiation there, can make a world of difference for ratepayers. If you can enjoy the rush, there’s so much you can achieve! There’s a lot of room to make a difference and there will be a lot more in the coming decades.”

“If you want to make a difference, in the Social Justice or Environmental Justice realms, there’s a lot you can achieve in the utility regulation space.” -John Garrett, CUB Utility Analyst

In his spare time, John loves creative recycling,  skating, playing guitar, exploring the nature of the Pacific Northwest, and completing lots of DIY projects.

CUB is proud to have John as our capable, passionate Utility Analyst!

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