From Boondoggle to Boon: 30 Years of CUB Success
Posted on November 17, 2014 by Samuel Pastrick
Tags, CUB Anniversary: 30 Years and Counting, History of CUB and General CUB News, Outreach and Events
In early 1984, when Oregonians for a Citizens’ Utility Board were collecting signatures to mandate the formation of CUB on the ballot, utility companies shrugged their corporate shoulders…they weren’t worried.
You see, in 1983 the utilities had managed to stop an Oregon House Bill that would mandate a Citizens’ Utility Board. This bill, it was said, had more bi-partisan co-sponsors than any bill that had come to the legislature to that point. Despite this strong support, says CUB’s Executive Director Bob Jenks, the utilities managed to successfully threaten even the sponsors of the bill, resulting in its failure. Though it was a bitter disappointment for the passionate campaigners from Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG), it became clear that there was a group of highly motivated, frustrated citizens who sincerely wanted a Citizens’ Utility Board. So, OSPIRG organized a huge volunteer effort across the state to gather signatures.
As Tom Novick, chief petitioner and former OSPIRG Executive Director said in a video created for CUB’s 20th anniversary, “The Utilities underestimated us…but a determined group of young idealistic staff with a broad coalition of seniors and consumer groups really worked hard and suddenly when it came time to file we had 97,000 signatures.”
At that time in Oregon, utilities were calling their own shots in regard to rates and infrastructure investments. Whenever a utility asked for a rate increase, according to Jenks, there was a single, appointed Utility Commissioner who immediately granted that increase on a nine month “interim” basis. Only after raising rates would the Commissioner consider whether the rate hike was justified. “Basically,” said Jenks, “the utilities got what they wanted.” Clearly it was a process the utilities wanted to protect.
It was no surprise to the organizers that once the CUB initiative was put on the ballot, the utilities (including phone, gas and electric) were no longer complacent about their efforts. Instead, Oregon’s utility providers formed and funded their own campaign committee and hired a Los Angeles advertising firm. They produced slick television ads that portray a seemingly inept CUB canvasser barraged with questions that he cannot answer. He looks and acts pretty clueless and at the end of each commercial, one of the “citizens” he is talking with says, “It’s a boondoggle, I’m voting NO”. Despite those efforts, however, citizens in Oregon said “Yes” and made CUB a reality.
“They had the money and we had the grass roots support,” Novick said, “We hand-painted lawn signs, we distributed literature door-to-door, we couldn’t afford advertising but yet, we were able to win.”
Today, CUB has earned the respect of utilities and ratepayers alike. We’ve kept unwise utility infrastructure investments off the financial backs of ratepayers, helped facilitate the widespread use of efficiency as the least-cost, least-risk way to save ratepayers money, and worked closely with PGE and Pacificorp to close a couple of coal plants. All the while saving residential ratepayers over Six Billion dollars.
Mark Dodson, former CEO of NW Natural, in an interview during his tenure, summed it up well when he spoke of CUB, “They really know how to make the very strong case for the residential ratepayer. And I believe we are better off having a strong voice at the table for the residential rate payers. They make us a better company for doing the hard work, understanding our business, and making sure we’re honest.”
Even the utilities admit we are making an important difference…from boondoggle to boon…now that’s success!
To celebrate all of that grassroots support, and everything CUB has accomplished in the past three decades, we are having a blow-out 80’s-themed party, “30 Years of CUB: Born in ‘84” on Thursday December 4th, and we want you to join us!
30 Years of CUB: Born in ‘84!
WHEN:
Thursday December 4th, 2014
5:30-8:30pm
WHERE:
Ecotrust Building
(Jean Vallum Natural Capitol Center)
721 NW 9th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
COST:
$50 per person
$80 per couple
$500 - table sponsorship (seats 10)
The evening will feature an 80’s inspired trivia game and tribute band, raffle prizes, local libations, and a catered reception featuring local hors d’oeuvres. Register today at oregoncub.org/cub30. We hope to see you there!
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09/05/22 | 0 Comments | From Boondoggle to Boon: 30 Years of CUB Success