Take Action on the FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179)
Posted on February 12, 2025 by Cassie Allen
Tags, Energy, General Interest
Too many Oregonians are struggling to pay their energy bills. Since 2021, Oregon’s largest utilities have increased billing rates by nearly 50%, leaving households on the hook for soaring energy bills. As of October 2024, over 150,000 Oregonians had their power disconnected due to unpaid bills– almost the population of Salem.
We need to address the energy affordability crisis and make bills affordable. The FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179) will do just that. This crucial bill aims to make energy bills more affordable and bring much-needed relief to Oregon families.
Read on for how you can take action for energy affordability!
What Will the FAIR Energy Act Do?
The FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179) empowers state regulators to set energy billing rates at the lowest possible level, helping households avoid big bill increases. The bill also ensures any increases will be moved out of winter when energy usage is highest, making it easier for households to manage their bills.
Utilities will also have more flexibility to access low-cost financing for investments in the energy grid, keeping customer impacts low. In addition to these protections, the FAIR Energy Act will increase transparency, giving customers a better understanding of what they’re paying for and what to expect from any changes in energy bills.
Take Action Today
Ready to make your voice heard? Here’s how you can support the bill:
Small But Mighty Tasks (1-5 minutes):
- Send a pre-written email to your legislator urging them to support the FAIR Energy Act. Bonus Points: Customize your email for an even bigger impact!
- Share on social media using the hashtags #orpol and #AffordableEnergy to get your community involved. Use these templates, and make sure to tag @OregonCUB!
- Print and share a one-pager to help spread the word in your community. Download the one-pager here.
Stronger Support (15 minutes - 1 hour):
- Call your legislator and ask them to support the bill. Use CUB’s talking points and search for your legislator’s “capitol phone number” on their website!
- Write a custom email to your legislator using CUB’s talking points and/or your personal story!
Community Activists (1+ hours):
- Testify in support of the FAIR Energy Act when it has its first public hearing! .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) The bill doesn’t currently have a hearing date but we will update supporters when the hearing is announced.
Why Should You Support the FAIR Energy Act?
This bill will affect customers of all Oregon utilities, including Portland General Electric (PGE), Pacific Power, Idaho Power, NW Natural Gas, Avista Gas, and Cascade Gas. If your energy bills are already unaffordable or you’re worried about future increases, this bill will help your household.
The FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179) aims to protect consumers by empowering regulators to get rate hikes under control, ensuring fewer increases, and moving increases to times of the year when energy use is the lowest.
Make your voice heard by taking action for energy affordability today!
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03/14/25 | 2 Comments | Take Action on the FAIR Energy Act (HB 3179)