CUB’s Top 2025 Priority: Energy Affordability
Posted on January 8, 2025 by Cassie Allen
Tags, Energy, General Interest
With 2024 behind us, CUB is leaning into the new year and focusing on what we do best: advocating for Oregon’s utility customers.
CUB’s Top 2025 Priorities: Energy Affordability
This year, energy affordability is our top priority. We’ll be working towards equitably managing energy bill costs. We’ll be making the clean energy transition work for all utility customers. And we’ll protect Oregonians’ access to quality internet and telephone services.
Managing Costs of Energy Bills
Last year, CUB heard from many households struggling to afford their energy bills. We listened to customers and pushed back against rate increases, but we know more needs to be done. This year, we’re working on passing new laws, limiting a new round of rate increases, and more.
Passing Statewide Legislation
We’re working on passing legislation as a statewide solution to the energy affordability crisis. In Oregon’s upcoming legislative session, CUB is working with Verde, the Oregon Just Transition Alliance, the Community Energy Project, and other energy advocates, on several bills to reduce the impact of rising energy bills and get energy costs under control.
We will prioritize limiting utility bill rates to slow down growing energy costs and push for more transparency so that customers know exactly what they’re paying for. CUB’s legislation will also limit the impact of big tech companies, primarily data centers, on customers’ bills, making energy more affordable and sustainable.
CUB will be involved throughout the Oregon State Legislative Session this spring advocating for new laws that protect customers’ interests and budgets.
Pushing Back Against Rate Hikes
CUB will keep pushing to limit proposed energy bill increases in 2025. Avista and NW Natural are asking to raise customers’ bills this year. Avista is seeking a 5.5% increase and NW Natural is asking for a nearly 7% increase for residential customers. Customers across Oregon are already struggling to keep up with their gas bills without adding these latest increases.
CUB will fight against these proposed increases and work to ensure that energy bills are affordable and utilities are accessible for all.
Making the Clean Energy Transition Work for Us
Avoiding the worst impacts of climate change requires moving towards a clean energy future quickly. We need to shift away from fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy resources, all while limiting the impact on our wallets.
Clean Energy Transition: Electricity
Electric utilities must show how they’ll make the switch as part of the Clean Energy Planning process. By 2040, Pacific Power and PGE will both be required to provide emission-free energy to Oregonians. Pacific Power, however, is not on track to meet its clean energy goals. In fact, Pacific Power is now suing regulators for rejecting its Clean Energy Plan.
Last year, regulators also found that PGE was not on track to meet its long-term clean energy goals, but still found that PGE was making progress toward those goals. This spring, both electric utilities must file updates to their clean energy plans that realistically show how they will affordably meet Oregon’s clean energy requirements.
CUB will be heavily engaged in clean energy planning and ensuring Oregon’s electric utilities are held accountable for meeting climate goals.
Clean Energy Transition: Natural Gas (Methane)
Oregon’s gas utilities have a serious problem. Our state’s gas utilities are required to significantly reduce emissions by 2050. However, these companies’ plans to meet reduction requirements are coming up lacking. Their goal to expand the gas business and reduce emissions is unrealistic. This could have major consequences for customers if the transition is not managed well.
Despite that, all of Oregon’s natural gas utilities sued regulators over their climate protection plans last year. But, after much work from advocates, the climate protection plan is back in effect. CUB is moving forward to ensure gas companies are on track to meet climate goals in the coming years.
In 2025, our staff will work to ensure customers’ needs, not business interests, are prioritized during the clean energy transition.
Smart Investments: Non-Pipe Solutions for Avista Customers
Avista has filed a request to raise customers’ energy bills by 5.5% this year. The gas utility is mainly looking to raise customers’ bills to replace outdated equipment and unsafe pipes from the 1970s. CUB is working on non-pipe solutions to ensure customers aren’t overcharged now for infrastructure that won’t be sustainable in the future.
CUB is pushing for alternatives to replacing or upgrading gas pipelines to save customers money this year and every year.
Smart Investments: No Customer Expansion Subsidy for NW Natural
Last year, CUB won a major years-long battle against NW Natural. Regulators sided with CUB to protect Oregonians from subsiding expansions to the gas system - a system that needs to reduce emissions to meet climate goals. That means that customers will no longer have to foot the bill for NW Natural to grow its business, saving customers money and helping discourage expansions to the gas system. NW Natural is now suing regulators over this historic win.
CUB is getting involved to ensure customers aren’t on the hook for NW Natural’s unrealistic financial expectations.
Protecting Access to Quality Internet & Phone Services
Affordable Broadband
Internet access is essential for households and communities to live their daily lives and stay connected. Last year, federal funding providing financial support for internet and phone bills, as well as devices like computers and smartphones, ended. The Affordable Connectivity Act (HB 3148) increases Oregon’s telephone and internet funding so that more Oregonians can access the internet regardless of income.
CUB is supporting this bill at the Oregon Legislature this year.
Protecting Ziply Phone Customers
Landline phones are an essential service for many Oregon households. Landlines can be lifesaving, especially for those living in rural areas without adequate cell phone coverage. This year, one of Oregon’s only remaining landline phone providers, Ziply, is attempting to sell to a larger company.
CUB will ensure that customers don’t get the short end of the deal and can keep their landline phone service reliable and affordable.
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.
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03/14/25 | 1 Comment | CUB’s Top 2025 Priority: Energy Affordability