Support Expanding Energy Assistance with HB 3792
Posted on March 18, 2025 by Charlotte Shuff
Tags, Energy
This year, the Oregon State Legislature is considering a bill that would increase state energy assistance funds. As we have seen energy bills continuing to skyrocket over the last few years, providing adequate funding for bill payment assistance is vital for many Oregonians. House Bill 3792 would double the funding for PGE and Pacific Power customers of the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP).
In 2021, legislators passed temporary increases for the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) to address mounting household utility debt in the wake of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This temporary funding has ended, but the need for assistance programs is still large—and growing.
CUB supports House Bill 3792 to help the thousands of Oregonians who continue to struggle to afford their energy bills.
HB 3792: Expanding Energy Assistance
As bills have gone up, bill payment assistance programs have largely stagnated, leading to rising power shutoffs. Since 2021, PGE and Pacific Power households’ energy bills have increased by nearly 50%. In 2024, these utilities together disconnected nearly 58,000 households—the most since reporting started in 2018. Of this, PGE and Pacific Power disconnected nearly 10,000 known low-income households who were already on a bill discount program.
Oregon needs to increase funding for the Oregon Energy Assistance Program to meet growing household needs.
HB 3792: $40 Million for Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP)
With a current annual budget of $20 million, the need drastically outweighs the available funds. This bill increases the annual amount for OEAP to be combined with other affordability programs, including federal assistance (LIHEAP) and utility bill discount programs.
House Bill 3792:
- Amending current law that establishes funds collected in rates for low-income electric bill payments and crisis assistance for customers of Portland General Electric and Pacific Power.
- Increases the amount collected for OEAP to $40 million and establishes this amount as a floor.
- PGE and Pacific Power households would pay less than $1.50 each month to OEAP, doubling the current amount collected.
- Directs the Oregon Public Utility Commission to re-evaluate the annual budget every two years, along with the existing business customer cap.
The Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP)
Energy assistance programs help customers who are in crisis to avoid disconnection when they are unable to pay off past-due bills. The Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) is a state-administered energy assistance program that provides funds for low-income households to help pay their electricity bills.
Since OEAP was first established almost twenty years ago, core funding for the program has not kept up. As a result, less than one in five Oregonians who need and qualify for energy assistance can access it.
By Customers, For Customers
The program is funded by a small charge on the bills of customers of the state’s two largest electric utilities, Portland General Electric (PGE) and Pacific Power. These funds are only available to PGE and Pacific Power households who meet eligibility requirements.
Customers receive these funds through community-based organizations, and payment goes directly to utility companies. To qualify, you must be at or below a certain income level and have documentation of energy costs. The Oregon Energy Assistance Program gives priority to customers who are at risk of being disconnected.
Helping Household Avoid Losing Electricity Service
A Pacific Power customer can be disconnected for as little as $50 of past-due energy bills. Portland General Electric customers can receive a notice for disconnection for as little as $100 past due. The Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) helps fill in these gaps and keep more people connected to power.
The Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) helps customers pay off their past-due bills, enabling them to stay connected to power. While newer bill discount programs, administered by utilities, can lower monthly bills, they do not help pay down debt to utilities.
Funding a Holistic Solution for Energy Utility Debt
State assistance funds, federal assistance funds, and utility discount programs can be braided together in order to more holistically address energy unaffordability for qualifying households. For this holistic approach to work, though, we need adequate funding for the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) to better meet current needs.
OEAP’s ability to pay down past-due bills is especially important for PGE and Pacific Power customers. Neither of these utilities currently has active programs for customers to manage their past-due bills through the utility. While some of Oregon’s gas utilities have grant forgiveness or matching and management programs, our state’s largest electric utilities do not.
The Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) is a vital source of energy assistance because it is more flexible than federal bill payment assistance (Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP). As we continue to face uncertainty about federal funding, this program will provide stable and consistent assistance for Oregonians.
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.
To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
03/27/25 | 4 Comments | Support Expanding Energy Assistance with HB 3792