Announcing the Official CUB Conference Agenda

We’re only two weeks away from the 2025 CUB Energy Policy Conference—will we see you there? Don’t miss your chance to attend the premier energy policy conference in the Pacific Northwest!

RSVP to Changing for a Changing Climate today!

Today, we’re excited to announce that we’ve released our official conference agenda! Keep reading to explore our engaging panels and opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders.

Register today to attend CUB’s 2025 Energy Policy Conference!

Register Today

2025 Conference: Changing for a Changing Climate

The 2020s have brought a lot of change to Oregon’s energy landscape. From customer affordability to growing energy demands, the challenges we faced at the start of the decade are much different than today. Oregon is now five years out from meeting its 2030 climate goals for both electric and gas utilities. As we work toward a cleaner energy system, we must reflect on the progress we’ve already made and face the mounting challenges of the next half-decade.

Conference Agenda

8:30 am - Check In & Light Breakfast
9:00 am - Opening Speech
9:15 am - Featured Panel
2021: Back to the Future
10:45 am - Morning Breakout Sessions
Panel 1A: Hungry Hungry Hyperscalers
Panel 1B: Unplugged from Washington D.C.
1:00 pm - Keynote
Fireside Chat with Janine Benner & Letha Tawney
12:00 pm - Lunch with Vegan and Gluten-Free Options
2:00 pm - Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Panel 2A: Disconnected: Our Fourth Largest City
Panel 2B: Powering Careers: Workforce Development for a Clean Energy Transition
3:30 pm - Consumer Champion Award Ceremony
4:00 pm - Networking Happy Hour

Learn more and check out the conference agenda at the 2025 conference website!

About the Conference

The CUB Energy Policy Conference is designed as a day of discussion, networking, and sharing diverse perspectives. This conference is ideal for community groups, regulators, advocates, utility representatives, attorneys, or those interested in our region’s energy industry.

15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference

Friday, October 3, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sentinel Hotel
614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Conference Website

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

Utilities 101: Lowering Bills for Avista Customers in Multi-Family Housing

Are you an Avista gas customer living in an apartment or other multi-family unit? Learn how to save money on your gas bill with the multi-family billing rate.

This year, CUB staff found that many households living in multi-family units, such as duplexes, apartments, condos, and more, were not signed up for Avista’s multi-family rates. These lower rates can save you money on your gas bills.

Lower Gas Bills for Multi-family Customers

Make sure you’re paying the right amount for your gas bills! Avista customers who live in multi-family housing have access to a slightly lower billing rate than those in single-family homes.

Multi-family homes include:

• Apartments
• Duplex/Triplex
• Condominiums (Condos)
• And more!

Check Your Avista Bill

First, locate your Avista gas bill either online through your Avista account or by using a physical copy of your bill. Go to page 2, on the back of your bill, and find your “rate schedule” under “Natural Gas Detail.”  Here’s an example of that section:

Make sure you’re on Rate Schedule 411: Multi-family homes are listed as “Rate Schedule 411.” If you see “Rate Schedule 410” (single-family houses), you should contact Avista about switching to the lower multi-family billing rate.

Want more information about reading your Avista gas bill? Check out CUB’s Utilities 101: How to Read Your Avista Gas Bill blog.

Contacting Avista to Update Your Billing Rate

Avista gas customers have two options for requesting to update their billing rate. You can either call or email Avista’s customer service department.

Tip: Have Your Account Number Ready
You can find your account number under your name in the top left corner of your bill.

Calling Customer Service: Customers can call Avista’s customer phone line at 1 (800) 227-9187 from 7:00 am - 7:00 pm Monday through Friday or 9:00 am - 5:00 pm on Saturdays. Skip the menu options by pressing zero or asking to speak to an agent. You will be asked to provide your first name, last name, account number, and address to the customer service representative.

Emailing Customer Service: You can also email Customer Service Agent Glenn Crugan at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Make sure to include your first name, last name, account number, and address in the email.

Sample Email

Hello,

I live in a multi-family home, but am paying single-family rates. Please help update my billing rate to multi-family (Schedule 411).  My account number is 123456, and I live at 100 Main Street, Ashland, OR 97520.

Thank you,

Jane Smith

Verifying Your Multi-family Housing Status

Once you’ve made your request to change your billing rate, you’re work is done! The next step is for Avista to verify that the address you provided is a multi-family unit.

Avista employees will use county maps to verify that your home is a multi-family unit. If, for some reason, Avista staff cannot digitally verify your address, they will send someone to visually confirm. The service person will not knock on your door or ask to enter your home.

Double-Check Your New Billing Rate

Once your request to update your bill rate has been approved, you’ll see the change on your bill the following month. Double-check that your “rate schedule” is now listed as 411 on your bill after this change has been made, and you’re all set!

Enjoy saving money on your monthly Avista gas bill.

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

CUB Welcomes New Staff, Lizzie & Olivia

CUB is excited to welcome two new staff members to our team this year, Lizzie Lesch-Abhaya (she/her) and Olivia Awbrey (she/they). Lizzie will be supporting the Program Team’s legal work as our Paralegal. Olivia joins CUB as our Utility Analyst, where she will utilize her substantial environmental background.

Join us in welcoming our newest additions to the CUB team!

Lizzie Lesch-Abhaya,  Paralegal

As a Paralegal, Lizzie supports the CUB Program Team’s formidable legal work. She brings a significant background in civil litigation, administrative law, and non-profit program administration to CUB.

I am excited to join the highly collaborative environment at CUB. Work is fulfilling to me when it ultimately benefits the greater community. That is why I am overjoyed to be a part of CUB. I hope to be a part of continuing CUB’s history of protecting the interests of utility customers and the environment. It is an honor to work alongside the bright and dedicated CUB team.
- Lizzie Lesch-Abhaya, CUB’s Paralegal

Lizzie graduated from Smith College with a B.A. in Anthropology and Art History. She holds a J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law.

In her free time, Lizzie is happiest trying new recipes, exploring with her husband and dog, and spending time with her niece and nephew.

Welcome to the team, Lizzie!

Olivia Awbrey, Utility Analyst

Trained as an environmental scientist, Olivia uses her background in wildfire resiliency, climate change adaptation, policy, and GIS analysis to ensure Oregonians have equitable and resilient utility services as the energy sector adapts to the changing climate.

Before joining CUB, Olivia worked as a research assistant with Portland State University and the U.S. Forest Service, understanding long-term community wildfire adaptation across the Western U.S. Her master’s thesis explored climate-wildfire and wildfire-social relationships, including mapping historical fire regimes, modeling long-term fire weather trends, and conducting case studies of federal wildfire policy implementation across government networks.

She holds an M.S. in Environmental Science and Management, a Graduate Certificate in Collaborative Governance from Portland State University, and a B.A. in Public History from the University of Oregon.

Olivia is an Oregonian who has lived and worked in all four corners of the state. Outside of work, Olivia is a musician, a crafter, a dog parent, and an outdoors person.

Welcome to the team, Olivia!

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

CUB’s Consumer Champion Award: Representative Nathan Sosa

Today, we’re extra excited to announce the winner of CUB’s prestigious Consumer Champion Award: Representative Nathan Sosa! CUB’s Consumer Champion Award honors community leaders who have substantially improved the lives and well-being of Oregon’s utility customers. Through their leadership, advocacy, and public service, these champions are leading the way to a more equitable energy future.

Register today for the 2025 CUB Energy Policy Conference to hear the Consumer Champion acceptance speech!

Register Today

2025 Conference: Changing for a Changing Climate

The 2020s have brought a lot of change to Oregon’s energy landscape. From customer affordability to growing energy demands, the challenges we faced at the start of the decade are much different than today. Oregon is now five years out from meeting its 2030 climate goals for both electric and gas utilities. As we work toward a cleaner energy system, we must reflect on the progress we’ve already made and face the mounting challenges of the next half-decade.

Consumer Champion Award: Representative Nathan Sosa

Nathan Sosa is the state representative for District 30, which includes Hillsboro, Helvetia, and Rock Creek. He is chair of the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection. He has been a legislator since 2022.

He also works as an attorney in private practice. Over the past 16 years, he’s devoted his legal career to protecting the rights of those who have been harmed.

Before becoming a legislator, he served as chair of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, president of the Hillsboro Schools Foundation, member of the Hillsboro 2035 Community Plan Oversight Committee, ambassador with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and a youth mentor with Portland State University, as well as Lewis and Clark Law School. Rep. Sosa continues to serve on the board of the Hillsboro Schools Foundation, which raises money to fund innovative programs in public schools in Hillsboro.

About the Conference

The CUB Energy Policy Conference is designed as a day of discussion, networking, and sharing diverse perspectives. This conference is ideal for community groups, regulators, advocates, utility representatives, attorneys, or those interested in our region’s energy industry.

15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference

Friday, October 3, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sentinel Hotel
614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Conference Website

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

Announcing CUB’s Keynote: Fireside Chat with Janine Benner & Letha Tawney

Today, we’re extra excited to announce the keynote address of CUB’s 25th Annual Policy Conference: A Fireside Chat with Oregon Department of Energy Director Janine Benner and Oregon Public Utility Commission Chair Letha Tawney. Moderated by CUB’s Executive Director, Bob Jenks, this thoughtful lunchtime panel will offer a bold and hopeful vision for Oregon’s clean energy future. You don’t want to miss this conversation!

Tickets are going fast. Register today for the 2025 CUB Energy Policy Conference!

Register Today

2025 Conference: Changing for a Changing Climate

The 2020s have brought a lot of change to Oregon’s energy landscape. From customer affordability to growing energy demands, the challenges we faced at the start of the decade are much different than today. Oregon is now five years out from meeting its 2030 climate goals for both electric and gas utilities. As we work toward a cleaner energy system, we must reflect on the progress we’ve already made and face the mounting challenges of the next half-decade.

Keynote: Fireside Chat with Janine Benner & Letha Tawney

As we explore the challenges of meeting Oregon’s climate mandates, we also must take care to envision a hopeful future. In lieu of a traditional keynote speaker, Bob Jenks will sit down with two industry leaders: ODOE Director Janine Benner and Oregon Public Utility Commission Chair Letha Tawney.

This fireside chat will feature what gives these speakers optimism and what they hope for Oregon’s clean energy future. Enjoy this thoughtful lunchtime talk and learn what’s on the mind of these leaders.

Moderator
Bob Jenks, Executive Director, Oregon CUB

Speakers
Janine Benner, Director, Oregon Department of Energy
Letha Tawney, Commission Chair, Oregon Public Utility Commission

About the Conference

The CUB Energy Policy Conference is designed as a day of discussion, networking, and sharing diverse perspectives. This conference is ideal for community groups, regulators, advocates, utility representatives, attorneys, or those interested in our region’s energy industry.

15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference

Friday, October 3, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sentinel Hotel
614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Conference Website

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

CenturyLink’s Broken Promises: The Fight for Reliable Service

CenturyLink, also known as Lumen, has a problem. For years, CenturyLink has failed customers, especially seniors and rural communities, by not delivering on its promise to provide quality telephone service.

This is especially true in Jacksonville, Oregon, where last year regulators at the Public Utility Commission investigated reliability issues with CenturyLink’s landline phone service. Despite orders to fix their faulty service, chronic issues remain, such as dropped calls and service outages, poor customer service, and unreliable landline service.

CUB knows that providing quality telephone service is crucial for health, safety, and connecting the community. In a medical emergency or during a fire, reliable phone service can mean the difference between life and death. CenturyLink must be held accountable for its poor service.

What You Can Do: Use Your Voice

Public pressure is a vital tool in creating change. Regulators at the Public Utility Commission need to hear directly from you about your experience with CenturyLink’s telephone service, and why strong protections matter to you. Take these actions today to support our work and hold CenturyLink accountable:

Action 1: Submit a comment to regulators to make your voice heard today! Submitting public comments shows regulators that you’re concerned about CenturyLink’s service. Share your experience with CenturyLink’s poor service, and why strong protections matter to you, to help hold CenturyLink accountable!

Submit Public Comments

Action 2: Share your service outage stories! Share your story with CUB about the problems you’ve been having with your landline service, and if you feel like companies like CenturyLink have not been doing enough to honor their responsibilities to Oregon customers.

Share Your Landline Service Story

CenturyLink’s Broken Promises

CenturyLink provides telecommunications services to many residential customers across Oregon. Most Oregonians probably know CenturyLink as their former name, CenturyLink, or one of their subsidiaries: Qwest, United, or CenturyTel. CenturyLink rebranded as Lumen in 2020, though the name change didn’t deliver on improvements to service quality.

CenturyLink Continues to Fail its Oregon customers

CUB has long heard complaints from fed-up customers across Oregon about CenturyLink’s poor service. The company has ongoing service quality and safety issues, including:

• Chronic dropped calls and phone outages
• Not reliably responding to service requests
• Violating safety standards for telephone poles

One town in Oregon has experienced more issues with CenturyLink than most others: Jacksonville, Oregon.

“The rural Jacksonville area cannot receive the safe and reliable landline service to which we are entitled by law unless Lumen is both aware of a new outage and initiates prioritized repair.”
- Priscilla Weaver, Jacksonville Sheep Farmer

Landline Service Issues Plague Jacksonville Residents

In 2024, regulators received complaints about CenturyLink’s landline telephone service in Southern Oregon. After months of investigating, regulators found that Jacksonville residents were experiencing multiple outages a year that threatened their health and safety. Access to reliable landline telephone service is crucial in areas of Oregon that don’t have access to cell service, especially during wildfire season or a medical emergency.

Regulators ordered CenturyLink to make big changes to fully support customers in and around its Jacksonville service area. Instead of fixing the problems, the phone provider challenged the order last year. CUB successfully fought that challenge and organized customers to submit comments to regulators, urging them to keep the protections in place.

This year, CUB heard from customers in the Jacksonville area that CenturyLink is not following through on its commitments. We asked regulators to hold them accountable, including issuing penalties. While this case is ongoing, CUB will work to ensure that all CenturyLink customers in Oregon have reliable access to telephone service.

Regulators Step In to Fix Service Issues

Because of the outcry from customers and CUB’s advocacy, regulators have taken some steps to fix service issues. However, the fight is not over, as too many customers still do not have reliable access to their landline service.

Protection Order for Jacksonville

The Public Utility Commission’s order adding protections for Jacksonville residents is still in place. Regulators are holding CenturyLink accountable for fixing all outage issues in the Jacksonville area within 48 hours, but chronic outages are still being reported in this wildfire-prone area.

Three years ago, regulators threatened to fine the company up to $50,000 per violation, per day if CenturyLink is not in compliance with the customer protections in its Orders. So far, that threat has not been put into action. CUB is closely watching this issue and working hard to ensure that CenturyLink is being held accountable for its actions.

Expanded Protections for Oregonians, but Delays for Jacksonville

Regulators approved a settlement agreement that expanded Jacksonville customer protections statewide to include households where landlines are the only communication service available.

Regulators also made a tangible commitment to improving service quality by tying any approved billing rate increase for CenturyLink to performance. This forces the company to improve its service if it wants to increase profits.

CenturyLink is committed to bringing fiber optic internet to Jacksonville as a solution to chronic service outages. Regulators approved this decision, but so far, CenturyLink has not delivered on this promise. The company told regulators that it had secured funding to bring fiber optic internet service across Oregon and to Jacksonville within a year. Yet CenturyLink chose to default on its Rural Development Opportunity grants statewide, including the one that would have paid for part of the Jacksonville-area infrastructure.

Recently, the company promised, yet again, that they will use federal funds to pay for expanded broadband service, but, with the current political landscape remaining uncertain, Jacksonville residents are still left in the lurch without a long-term solution to chronic outages. These outages have plagued Jacksonville customers for over three years, at least, including during an active wildfire.

Where Things Stand Now: Holding CenturyLink Accountable

Despite public outcry and regulator intervention, CenturyLink is still failing to meet service quality and safety rules, and residential customers are left without alternative options.

No one should have to go without reliable telephone service when cell service isn’t available and an emergency can strike. But that’s what communities in Oregon are being forced to do. CenturyLink must be held accountable for failing to protect customers and comply with the Commission’s Order.

CenturyLink has filed a 6-month performance plan to get in compliance with the rules. Regulators are meeting on September 16th to vote on whether to approve CenturyLink’s plan.

Many customers are rightly outraged at CenturyLink’s plan to bring in fiber optic cables to provide internet access. Obvious delays aside, fiber optic internet can’t be used without power. If rural customers lost power due to a wildfire, they still may not be able to contact emergency services without an expensive satellite phone. Rural areas are most prone to wildfires in Oregon, making the risk even greater. CenturyLink’s plan doesn’t address the needs of rural communities like Jacksonville.

CenturyLink’s poor service quality is part of a larger pattern. In Washington state, regulators recommended CenturyLink be fined $15.5 million, one of the largest penalties ever recommended by state regulators, for violating state law. These fines were levied after a substantial uptick in complaints by CenturyLink customers. CenturyLink was separately fined $1.3 million in Washington state for violating the 911 rule, which is in place to ensure customers can always contact emergency services. CenturyLink appealed Washington’s regulators’ decision to impose that fine, but the company lost on appeal.

More needs to be done to ensure that Oregon households can access landline telephone service. CUB staff are working hard to hold CenturyLink accountable for providing reliable service to the Oregon communities.

Use Your Voice to Hold CenturyLink Accountable

Action 1: Submit a comment to regulators to make your voice heard today! Submitting public comments shows regulators that you’re concerned about CenturyLink’s service. Share your experience with CenturyLink’s poor service, and why strong protections matter to you, to help hold CenturyLink accountable!

Submit Public Comments

Action 2: Share your service outage stories! Share your story with CUB about the problems you’ve been having with your landline service, and if you feel like companies like CenturyLink have not been doing enough to honor their responsibilities to Oregon customers.

Share Your Landline Service Story

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

What to Do If You Miss a Utility Bill Payment

Dealing with a utility disconnection is a stressful and miserable experience. I personally went through it when I was between jobs last year. And over the past few months, I’ve been hearing a ton from community members who are having to navigate the process.

What I’ve learned from my own experience and those from folks I’ve talked to is that disconnection is not an easy hardship to deal with.

Read on, and I’ll share what I’ve learned so that you can manage to deal with a disconnection warning or a utility disconnection for non-payment. Note that the protections and programs in this blog only apply to Oregon’s for-profit utilities (PGE, Pacific Power, Idaho Power, NW Natural, Avista, and Cascade).

You Missed a Bill… Now What?

Missing a payment to your utility happens, but it does not have to lead to a disconnection.

In the days after a missed bill was due:

• If possible, pay the full amount from your missed bill as soon as possible
• Ask for an extension on your bill due date (you’ll still have to pay for the amount you use going forward, but this can buy you a little more time)
• Make a partial payment to keep the amount you owe as low as you can*
• If you need to spread out the amount you owe, contact your utility’s customer service to set up a payment plan

*Each utility has a different amount in its policies for how much a customer owes before it will move forward with a disconnection. These amounts can range from $50 - $200 in past due bills.

Two weeks after a missed bill:

• If you can pay your full bill, this is always the best option
• Contact your utility to set up a payment plan, spreading out the past-due amount for as long as possible**
• Seek out energy bill assistance from a local provider (funds are limited and may be difficult to find outside of the winter)

**Utilities may offer a payment plan that lasts two months or more. The most common length is 12 months. Remember that these payments are added to your monthly bills going forward, increasing your balance each month. A longer timeline will add less money to each bill. You can ask your utility for a longer timeline, though the utility may not agree to more than 12 months.

One Month Could Be Nearing Disconnection.
At this point, you may have already received a 20-day disconnection notice from your utility warning of a disconnection if payment is not received. A utility must give you a formal Notice of Disconnection at least 20 days before they shut off your power or gas. If you have received this notice, you need to pay the bills (either yourself or through emergency bill payment assistance funds) or set up a payment plan, or you will be disconnected.

Utilities must also send a 5-day Notice of Disconnection. It is best to seek emergency bill payment assistance at the 20-day notice to better ensure your chances of obtaining assistance to avoid disconnection.

Disconnected Happens
If you are disconnected, the only payment options available in order to have power reconnected are:

1. Pay off the past due balance in full
2. Pay off half of the past due balance and put the other half on a 2-month payment plan

You can seek emergency disconnection support from local energy assistance providers through 211, though these funds are very limited.

Once you’re disconnected, your options are extremely limited. This is why it is important to ask for a payment plan as soon as you realize you are unable to make the payment in full!

Seek Help At The Start Of Your Hardship Period

I see a pattern with most of the community members calling in about their disconnections, which I experienced. Folks are being laid off, struggling to find new jobs in this market. Others can’t work at the same capacity for medical or family reasons. All the while, bills continue to stack up. So when I say seek help before you actually need it, I mean seek help before things get out of hand.

A disconnection can add costs and make it harder to find help. Late fees and reconnection fees make the total amount you owe continue to grow. To get reconnected, utilities may request more money from the past due amount upfront, and emergency funds are limited, especially outside of the winter. 

You really need to get started on all these steps as soon as you’ve stopped collecting income or have a hardship that would cause you to miss payments on your bills.

Start With Your Utility’s Bill Discount Programs

The easiest step is signing up for all of your energy utility income-based discount programs. :

Electric Utilities:

• Portland General Electric (PGE) Discount Program
• Pacific Power Discount Program
• Idaho Power Discount Program

Gas Utilities:

• NW Natural Discount Program
• Avista Gas Discount Program
• Cascade Gas Discount Program

Don’t see your utility listed? Check out your utility’s website and see if they have an economic assistance page; their bill discount program applications will usually be housed there.

Ask for a Payment Plan on Your Past Due Balance

If you’ve already started building up a past-due balance, the next step you’ll want to take is calling your utility and requesting a payment plan. This will split what you owe and break it up over a couple of months to a year. The payment plan makes it a little easier to manage your balance, better protects you from disconnection, and protects you from having to make a large payment to get your utility back on.

The reason this is important is that you can only set up a payment plan before your utility disconnects you. Once your utility shuts off your power or gas, you won’t have the option available. You will need to pay half of your past due balance upfront, and commit to a 2-month payment plan for the other half, to get reconnected.

If you get on a payment plan, you need to keep up with it. Missing these payment plan payments will re-issue the disconnection process to begin again.

Reach Out To Community Organizations Early

If you’re not able to afford a payment plan or your past due balance continues to climb, there are still options. You’ll want to reach out to energy assistance providers in your local area to seek help.

To be frank, this process can be a slog, but we encourage you to power through! 211 will provide you with a list of agencies that serve your local area, as well as their website and contact information. You will have to call each one and inquire about the resources they’re offering and if they have energy assistance available, and if your household qualifies to receive it. The process is time-consuming, so you’ll require some patience and persistence.

Get Help with Bill Payment Assistance

• 211 Info
• Oregon Housing and Community Services

The goal is to get you signed up for energy assistance programs like OEAP (for qualifying PGE and Pacific Power customers), OLGA and GAP (for qualifying NW Natural customers), Project Share (for qualifying Idaho Power and Avista customers) or LIHEAP (for qualifying customers of any energy utility who is a US citizen), or any other assistance program for another utility you have, like water.

Added Disconnection Protections

For all customers, disconnections are limited to certain times and days. Utilities are not allowed to shut off service for past-due bills Friday-Sunday or the day before or day of any Oregon or utility-designated holidays. You also cannot be disconnected from energy before, during, and even after certain qualifying extreme weather events.

Extreme weather events include:

• A winter storm warning, issued from November to March
• Forecasted temperatures of 32 degrees and below from November to March
• Poor air quality (air quality index above 100)
• Wildfire evacuation level 2 and 3 notices
• Heat advisories, extreme heat warnings, and extreme heat watches.

Importantly, if you were disconnected ahead of one of the extreme weather events, you should call your utility to be turned back on—with no upfront cost allowed!

Read More: New Protections Against Summer Power Shut-Offs (2025)

For low-income customers, there are additional protections during extreme weather and year-round. You qualify as a “low-income customer” if you have received energy bill assistance (LIHEAP or OEAP), are enrolled in a bill discount program, or have an income at or below 60% of the State Median Income.

Stronger Protections for Low-Income Households:

• No Deposits for Low-Income Households
• No Late Fees for Low-Income Customers
• Limited Reconnection Fees for Low-Income Customers

Think Holistically To Ease The Burden

The fact of the matter is that if you’re behind on your utility bill, you’re probably behind on all your other bills. No one just chooses to fall behind. These are symptoms of a challenging economy and underfunded safety nets. So you must think of holistic solutions because you’re likely taking hits in other areas of your life. For me, that looked like:

• Utilizing the food bank from the community garden that I helped maintain
• Allow my community, friends, and family to help me financially and with day-to-day tasks
• Utilizing free resources in my community to help me in the process of being disconnected

What they may look like for you:

• Finding a friend to stay with you or help split larger costs in your household
• Getting food from a food bank, community garden, or neighbors
• Reaching out to mutual aid projects to cover necessities and free up money for your bills or reconnection
• Connect with a church or community center for other resources or aid that might reduce your financial burden
• Utilize your local library for access to the internet, phones, and printers (some libraries even have crisis social workers!)

Don’t Turn Away! Don’t Feel Ashamed! Lean Into Community!

The biggest lesson I learned from my own disconnection was not to hide from the problem. The financial stress and fear of continuously falling behind can make you freeze up. We know we’re behind on our bills, that growing balance can feel scary, and then you stop opening the bills altogether.

I missed my disconnection notice because I was afraid of all the past due notices I kept getting for my mortgage, gas, electric, phone, and car bills. Everything I owed caused me to close my eyes, and then one day, the power was cut.

What was worse than all the fear I felt through this process was the shame. The shame prevented me from asking for help sooner. Lean into your community and reach out for a helping hand. Intervention before your problem is dire pays off.  There is never any shame in asking for help.

Advocate, Get Involved And Share Your Story

A hardship period is time-consuming and stressful. But once you’re stable and back on track, the final step is shifting from advocating for yourself to advocating for others, using your experience to fight for fair protections for all Oregonians.

It’s through the stories and advocacy of community members just like you that we’ve been able to fight for affordable energy and disconnection protections. This year, we passed the FAIR Energy Act, which will focus on making utility rates more affordable. We also secured more funding for Oregon’s Energy Assistance Program (OEAP). Community members who have felt the sting of disconnections and passed-due payments made their voices heard and helped create policies that address the rising trend of disconnections in Oregon.

We need you, too! If you want to help in shaping policy for the better, share your own energy and disconnection story.

Share Your Past Due Bills Story

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

Small Rate Increase for Some Avista Customers Starts September 1

Avista gas customers in Southern and Eastern Oregon will see a small change in their billing rates starting September 1, 2025. Average single-family customers will see an increase of 2% ($1.36/month) while multi-family customers will see a small decrease of -1% (-$0.30/month).

Avista originally requested a 7% increase in rates for household customers. CUB advocates helped reach an agreement to cut the requested amount by nearly 50% overall, with more savings for households. The agreement saves customers money, introduces stronger consumer protections, and moves the gas utility toward reducing emissions with fewer pipeline investments. Regulators approved this reduction in late August.

This outcome includes a landmark agreement for Avista to pilot a program for moving homes to all-electric. This is the first time in Oregon that a gas utility has committed to not only allowing customers to receive incentives for switching away from gas, but also the first time a gas utility has agreed to fund that transition to electricity.

Want even more information on this case? Access the full docket through the Public Utility Commission!

Avista’s Rate Increase Request Approved by Regulators

After months of investigation and negotiation, Avista, CUB, regulators, and other parties came to an agreement. The Oregon Public Utility Commission approved this agreement in late August, with new billing rates going into effect September 1, 2025.

Expected Customer Impacts

The impact on household bills will be different for the type of home and region. These regional differences are based on different weather conditions across the state. For example, the colder weather in Klamath Falls will create a larger impact on winter bills than in Ashland.


For customers living in multi-family homes:
CUB’s investigation found that many households living in multi-family units are not signed up for multi-family rates. Multi-family homes include duplexes, apartments, condos, assisted living housing, etc. Check your bill and identify which “rate schedule” is listed on your bill (page 2 under “Natural Gas Detail”). Multi-family homes are Rate Schedule 411. If you live in a multi-family unit and see schedule 410, contact Avista customer service at 1 (800) 227-9187.

Learn more about how to check if you are on Multi-Family Rates!

Avista’s Request vs. The Final Agreement

Avista’s request to increase customers’ billing rates by 7% came from three main categories in 2025:

• Investments: replacing old pipes, new customer connections, general system maintenance
• Higher Profits: increasing how much the company can earn for investors
• Inflation: higher material and labor costs

CUB was particularly concerned with the request to increase profits and investments that would expand the gas system. Both of these requests could have had long-lasting consequences for Oregonians for many years to come.
Through the negotiations with advocates, regulators, and Avista, this initial request was significantly cut:

• No profit margin increases: Avista’s investors will not see higher profit margins, saving customers millions of dollars ($2.4 million saved)
• No anti-climate litigation costs: Avista will not pass on costs to customers for the company’s lawsuit to stop Oregon’s Climate Protection Program ($83,000 saved)
• No gas association dues: Avista will not pass on costs to customers for membership dues to the American Gas Association or the NW Gas Association ($89,000 saved)
• General costs cut: Customers avoided an additional $400,000 in general costs of service

Overall, the rate increase was reduced by $3.6 million, nearly a 50% reduction, adding a total of $4.2 million to customers’ bills.

Additional Wins for Avista Customers

In addition to significantly reducing the increase in billing rates, Avista customers will see additional wins through CUB’s advocacy on this case.

Customer wins include:

• Improving programs for low-income energy efficiency and debt management programs
• Expanding consideration for alternatives to investing in new pipelines
• A pilot program for providing an incentive to move homes to all-electric

Improving Programs for Low-Income Customers

Avista’s customers in Oregon will see improvements in programs supporting low-income households. This includes improvements in the company’s program to help manage past-due bills, energy efficiency programs, and further study of the needs of low-income customers.

Currently, Avista offers a program that helps customers spread out payments of past due bills over a period of time. This program offers payment arrangements when customers get behind and need more time to catch up. Under the new agreement, Avista will improve notification policies for customers who miss a payment to help people stay connected. Avista also provides hardship grants to forgive utility bill debt for qualified customers.

Avista has agreed to contract an independent 3rd party to conduct a Low-Income Needs Assessment and Energy Burden Assessment. These two studies will help inform continued improvements in programs to support customers who have limited incomes in accessing energy services. This will also help improve energy efficiency programs, such as home weatherization. These programs largely impact seniors, people with disabilities, and many more.

More Consideration of Non-Pipe Investments

Under the new agreement, Avista will consider alternatives to expanding or replacing pipes more often. In past years, the utility agreed to consider non-pipe options for projects over $1 million. Now, Avista will consider non-pipe options for projects over $500,000—a 50% reduction from the status quo. This change will help lower project costs, reduce emissions, and save customers money.

The future of gas is uncertain and potentially harmful to customers. As Oregon moves forward with addressing climate change, the future of fossil gas, like the methane that heats our homes, is uncertain. Electric appliances are getting more efficient and cheaper. Renewable energy may make electricity prices more favorable than gas. Many people may leave the gas system by choice in favor of cleaner and cheaper energy. We need to make sure that those who do not have the choice to leave gas—renters and those with limited financial resources—are not left footing the bill for unwise investments made today.

Pilot All-Electric Incentive Program

The largest investment Avista is making in its system is a pipe replacement project. One particular type of pipe, called Aldyl-A, that was used in the 1970s, is now considered a safety concern. Replacing these pipes requires tearing up roads and other infrastructure, which really adds up across all of Avista’s customers. Since this type of pipe was widely used, getting it off the system is a massive (and expensive) but necessary undertaking.

CUB proposed using solutions that would not require a pipe at all. Since this replacement is extremely expensive, our analysis showed switching customers to all-electric as a more cost-effective option.

Now, Avista will pilot a program to offer incentives to switch homes to all-electric appliances. In this voluntary program, pipe replacements will be avoided by giving customers an option to leave the gas system. Avista will also ensure that low-income customers are included in this pilot, which may help many receive necessary home upgrades and benefits. This program will help avoid driving up bills for remaining customers, reduce the cost of highly energy-efficient appliances for those who leave, and help Avista meet its emission reduction requirements—a win-win-win!

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

2025 Conference Featured Panel - 2021: Back to the Future

Today, we’re excited to announce the featured panel of CUB’s 15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference, 2021: Back to the Future! Bob Jenks, CUB’s Executive Director, will lead this thrilling panel and tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the energy sector today. Read on to learn more!

Register today for the 2025 CUB Energy Policy Conference and save! Early Bird registration closes at 5:00 pm on September 1st.

Register Today

2025 Conference: Changing for a Changing Climate

The 2020s have brought a lot of change to Oregon’s energy landscape. From customer affordability to growing energy demands, the challenges we faced at the start of the decade are much different than today. Oregon is now five years out from meeting its 2030 climate goals for both electric and gas utilities. As we work toward a cleaner energy system, we must reflect on the progress we’ve already made and face the mounting challenges of the next half-decade.

Featured Panel - 2021: Back to the Future

Four years ago, Oregon passed HB 2021: 100% Clean Electricity. As we near the first benchmarks for electric utilities to reduce emissions, it’s time to revisit this landmark legislation to recenter the vision behind the law. Oregon’s energy landscape looks much different than in 2021, bringing new challenges and context to how we approach rolling out clean energy.

By reuniting those who created Oregon’s premier clean energy law, we will explore how we got here, dive into what’s changed since its passing, and what we’re facing as we move to emission-free electricity.

Moderator: Bob Jenks, Executive Director

About the Conference

The CUB Energy Policy Conference is designed as a day of discussion, networking, and sharing diverse perspectives. This conference is ideal for community groups, regulators, advocates, utility representatives, attorneys, or those interested in our region’s energy industry.

15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference

Friday, October 3, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sentinel Hotel
614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Conference Website

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn!

Oregonians Protected from Electricity Disconnection During Heatwave

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2025

Oregonians Protected from Electricity Disconnection During Heatwave

New rules for utilities allow many to stay connected to electricity as temperatures rise in the Willamette Valley this weekend, increasing safety

PORTLAND, OR — During this weekend’s extreme heat watch, new temporary rules passed by the Oregon Public Utility Commission prevent for-profit electric utilities from disconnecting Oregon utility customers. Households that have been disconnected by Portland General Electric and Pacific Power as recently as Tuesday, August 19, can call their utility to request that their power be turned back on with no upfront costs. Additional protections are available to some customers with medical conditions and very low incomes.

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for parts of the Willamette Valley from Friday morning through late Sunday night. Temperatures are projected to reach up to 100°F. In July 2024, triple-digit temperatures led to at least 16 heat-related deaths in Oregon. In 2021, Oregon saw at least 100 heat-related deaths. This summer’s disconnection rules aim to keep more Oregonians safe from extreme heat by maintaining crucial access to electricity.

“Preventing these power-shutoffs saves lives. This summer’s expanded disconnection protections will keep more Oregon households safely connected to power during a heat wave or when a wildfire makes the air dangerous to breathe,” said Sarah Wochele, Equity Analyst & Advocate, Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board. “Customers need to know that they should call their utility and ask to be reconnected during this weekend’s extreme heat.”

Through the end of October, Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power customers are protected from utility disconnection on days during an extreme heat watch or warning, during a local heat advisory, or when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is 100 or above. These electric utilities cannot disconnect a customer for nonpayment for 48 hours following a qualifying heat event and 24 hours after an air quality event is in effect.
Oregon customers are also protected if they were disconnected before a qualifying heat or air event and remain disconnected once the extreme weather arrives.

Customers disconnected up to 72 hours before an event can call their utility and request to be reconnected. Additionally, utilities cannot charge customers any upfront costs to be reconnected during an event, helping to remove financial barriers to staying connected during dangerous weather.

“Extreme heat is the deadliest type of weather,” said Multnomah County Sustainability Director John Wasiutynski. “The climate crisis requires us to put more protective measures in place, and in this kind of heat people need a place to cool off to stay safe, ideally that’s at home, but if anyone needs help finding a place to stay cool they should call 211.”

Customers on electricity bill discount programs and medical certificate holders have greater protections now, too. These groups of customers who were disconnected from power up to seven days before a qualifying heat or air event, and remain disconnected during the event, can request that their power be restored, with no up-front costs.

“In times when the climate is unpredictable and everyday stressors stack up, these measures remind us that our greatest strength lies in supporting one another,” says Anahi Segovia Rodriguez, Energy Justice Coordinator at Verde. “With these protections, we’re ensuring families can weather challenges with dignity and resilience.”

Energy advocates, including the Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board, Multnomah County Office of Sustainability, NW Energy Coalition, Community Action Partnership of Oregon, Coalition of Communities of Color, Community Energy Project, and Verde, advocated for these protections. The Public Utility Commission adopted the temporary rules in May. Stronger permanent year-round disconnection protections are expected to be in place by the end of 2025.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Charlotte Shuff
Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board
503.719.8744 | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Take Action to Combat Extreme Summer Weather

Climate change is making Oregon’s summers hotter, drier, and longer. Sadly, our new reality in the Pacific Northwest is higher temperatures, frequent heat waves, and wildfire-driven bad air quality events. We need to do more to protect our communities from the impacts of extreme summer weather and advocate for long-term solutions to climate change. Will you take action by sharing your extreme summer weather story?

Share Your Extreme Summer Weather Story

Electricity is Necessary as Oregonians Endure Extreme Heat

Our summers are getting hotter. Just a few decades ago, it was rare for Oregon temperatures to break 90 degrees for more than a few days a year. With new record highs come new challenges for Oregonians. Having air conditioning is becoming a necessity for many people. We also see higher electricity usage each summer, while energy rates continue to increase.

Heat Waves in Oregon

This month, the National Weather Service issued multiple extreme heat watches for parts of Oregon. Temperatures reached up to 100°F, threatening the health and safety of thousands of Oregonians. Unfortunately, heat waves have become an expected part of our summers.

In 2021, Oregon saw at least 100 heat-related deaths from a heat dome that grew over the Pacific Northwest. This tragic heat event reached an all-time record-breaking temperature of 116 degrees on June 28, 2021. No one should be dying because of heat-related illness in Oregon, yet Oregonians continue to be at risk due to climate change-fueled high temperatures and unequal access to cooling devices.

As our climate changes, Oregonians need more robust and equitable protections from rising temperatures, especially households with limited access to cooling equipment. Prolonged heat exposure has deadly consequences. Keeping people connected to cool devices saves lives.

Preventing Disconnections During Extreme Summer Weather

It’s crucial to the health and safety of all Oregonians that people’s power isn’t shut off during heat waves or other extreme summer weather events. Thankfully, this year, the Oregon Public Utility Commission expanded disconnection protections that limit and reduce shut-offs, protecting customers during extreme summer weather events. In the words of Sarah Wochele, CIB’s Equity Analyst & Advocate, “Preventing these power-shutoffs saves lives.”

Starting June 1, 2025, through the end of October, new rules limit disconnections during extreme heat and air quality events, expand support for those with medical certificates, and more. These rules offer stronger protections for households by making it easier to stay safe and cool this summer. The new rules protect you on days with an extreme heat watch or warning, local heat advisory, or when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is above 100.

Customers also cannot be disconnected for nonpayment for 48 hours following a qualifying heat event and 24 hours after an air quality event is in effect. CUB and our partners successfully advocated for the new protections, keeping more Oregonians connected to life-saving cooling equipment.

Learn More: New Protections Against Summer Power Shut-Offs

Share Your Heat Wave Story

During heat waves, people are at risk of heat exhaustion, stroke, or even death. Our staff cares deeply about how Oregonians across the state are being impacted by extreme heat. That’s why we’re asking Oregonians to share their extreme heat story with us. Have you or someone you care about been affected by a heat wave or poor air quality event? CUB wants to hear from you!

Take action today by sharing your extreme summer weather story so that we can better understand and advocate for your utility needs during these events. We will share these stories with the public and with decision-makers in upcoming cases to ensure that the human impacts of extreme heat are made a priority.

Share Your Extreme Summer Weather Story

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky!

2025 Conference - Powering Careers: Workforce Development for a Clean Energy Transition

We’ve built a stacked roster of panels for the 15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference! Our staff recruited insightful experts and community leaders to speak on some of the most pressing issues facing the energy sector. Today, we’re excited to announce our second afternoon breakout panel, Powering Careers: Workforce Development for a Clean Energy Transition.

Register today for the 2025 CUB Energy Policy Conference and save! Early Bird registration closes at 5:00 pm on September 1st.

Register Today

2025 Conference: Changing for a Changing Climate

The 2020s have brought a lot of change to Oregon’s energy landscape. From customer affordability to growing energy demands, the challenges we faced at the start of the decade are much different than today. Oregon is now five years out from meeting its 2030 climate goals for both electric and gas utilities. As we work toward a cleaner energy system, we must reflect on the progress we’ve already made and face the mounting challenges of the next half-decade.

Afternoon Breakout Panel - Powering Careers: Workforce Development for a Clean Energy Transition

Oregon has set ambitious goals for creating and sustaining meaningful living wage jobs and promoting workforce equity. For Oregon to develop our clean energy sector, we must also have a robust and diverse workforce. We can meet and exceed our energy goals by building opportunities for new jobs that support renewable energy, energy efficiency, and whole-home repairs. These employment opportunities support not just our emission reduction goals, but also how our communities can thrive in a just transition.

This conversation will connect to the real-world, tangible examples of the opportunities to expand our green economy. And we will discuss challenges that arise when there is not a robust workforce available. By looking across the energy industry, we will explore what an equitable green workforce is capable of.

Moderator: Ryan Tran, Economist

About the Conference

The CUB Energy Policy Conference is designed as a day of discussion, networking, and sharing diverse perspectives. This conference is ideal for community groups, regulators, advocates, utility representatives, attorneys, or those interested in our region’s energy industry.

15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference

Friday, October 3, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sentinel Hotel
614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Conference Website

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky!

2025 Conference - Disconnected: Our Fourth Largest City Panel

The 15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference is jam-packed this year! We’ve recruited insightful experts and community leaders to speak on some of the most pressing issues facing the energy sector. Today, we’re excited to announce our first afternoon breakout panel, Disconnected: Our Fourth Largest City.

Register today for the 2025 CUB Energy Policy Conference and save! Early Bird registration closes at 5:00 pm on September 1st.

Register Today

2025 Conference: Changing for a Changing Climate

The 2020s have brought a lot of change to Oregon’s energy landscape. From customer affordability to growing energy demands, the challenges we faced at the start of the decade are much different than today. Oregon is now five years out from meeting its 2030 climate goals for both electric and gas utilities. As we work toward a cleaner energy system, we must reflect on the progress we’ve already made and face the mounting challenges of the next half-decade.

Afternoon Breakout Panel - Disconnected: Our Fourth Largest City

In 2024, Oregon’s for-profit utilities disconnected about 175,000 people. This population combined would be our state’s fourth-largest city. While compounding factors have gotten us to this point, help is on the way. Through the implementation of the Energy Affordability Act (2021) and a new suite of energy affordability measures, we have a lot of opportunities to change the tide. Oregonians, decision-makers, and advocates have made it clear that energy affordability must continue to be our top priority.

As we review the major energy affordability efforts of the last five years, we will discuss the challenges, outcomes, and the way forward. From the Energy Affordability Act and beyond, we will explore how to use all of the tools in our toolbelt to prevent rising disconnections.

Moderator: Sarah Wochele, Equity Analyst & Advocate

About the Conference

The CUB Energy Policy Conference is designed as a day of discussion, networking, and sharing diverse perspectives. This conference is ideal for community groups, regulators, advocates, utility representatives, attorneys, or those interested in our region’s energy industry.

15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference

Friday, October 3, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sentinel Hotel
614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Conference Website

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Filing a Complaint at the Oregon Public Utility Commission

About two weeks ago, I met with the head of the Consumer Services Department at the Oregon Public Utility Commission, also known as simply “the Commission” or the PUC. I reached out to them in order to better understand what path a customer complaint goes through and what steps towards resolution are taken.

As the Community Organizer, I’m usually urging community members and utility customers to reach out to the complaints line. It felt like good due diligence to better understand what the complaint line is, and how it’s serving people.

The Public Utility Commission is the state government’s regulating body that sets rates and creates the rules that the for-profit utilities in Oregon have to operate by.

• For-Profit Electric in Oregon: Portland General Electric, Pacific Power and Idaho Power
• For-Profit Natural Gas Utilities in Oregon: NW Natural, Avista Utilities and Cascade Natural Gas

What Does This Department Do?

The Oregon Public Utility Commission’s Consumer Service Department handles the following:

• Consumer complaint investigations
• Manage public-facing services
• Public comments on utility matters

This department handles thousands of complaints and sifts through all this information to better understand what problems Oregonians are facing with their utilities. Whether it’s safety concerns with your utility, disconnection issues, or customer service complaints, if you have an issue with your for-profit utility, CUB strongly recommends you reach out to the complaints line. 

How to File A Complaint with the Commission

If you’re having trouble, the first thing you need to do is know where to look. Oftentimes, when working with community members, they’re surprised to hear there is an institution regulating their utilities. So knowing is half the battle.

Follow this link to reach the Consumer Information Center. It has a variety of useful information to help customers with simpler issues. Below you’ll find the PUC Consumer Services email address and phone numbers:

• .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Online Form
• (503) 378-6600
• (800) 522-2404

The process for submitting a complaint is pretty straightforward. Pick one of the contact options available above. Make sure to have all the details and information about your complaint organized beforehand, so that you can easily cite and share with the Commission. I recommend using the .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) email, so that you can share as much information with the Public Utility Commission to help with an investigation. This also allows you to keep a record of what is going on.

In my meeting with the head of the PUC Consumer Service Department, she explained what a consumer can expect when reaching out. The staff take great pride in the fact that all complaints are acknowledged within 24 hours, and they do their best to find a resolution for all complaints received. If there is no resolution to be had, they will reply so the customer knows the outcome of their complaint. 

Unfortunately, not all complaints can be escalated into an investigation. Reasons for this could include:

• Complaint dealing with a non-regulated utility
• Complaint may be an issue outside of what the department can address (e.g., an issue with a landlord)

A non-regulated utility refers to any not-for-profit utility. This includes municipal-owned utilities, electric co-ops, non-profit utilities, and public utility districts. For example: City of Ashland Electric Department, Emerald People’s Utility District, Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), Portland Water Bureau, and Umatilla Electric Cooperative are all non-regulated utilities. These utilities are overseen by local governments, not the state’s Public Utility Commission.

Your complaints as community members and customers are taken seriously and help uncover larger issues common across a for-profit utility. As customers, we should also use this as another opportunity to have our voices heard on issues affecting us!

Rapid Response On Certain Complaints

Throughout the conversation, it was clear that the PUC Consumer Services Department cares deeply about all complaints it comes across. However, disconnections, reconnections, and safety-related complaints initiate a rapid response and quick investigation times.

Disconnections & Reconnections

The PUC will address disconnections from investor-owned utilities the fastest. I personally experienced this with a community member in the eastern Willamette Valley who was disconnected due to a tough financial period. This was during the early June heat wave, where temperatures reached as high as 105 degrees. This community member was left with no ability to cool their home, and was without running water because the electric water pump on the property was inoperable during the disconnection period.

Luckily, the temporary summer protections that CUB and other community partners fought for recently allowed us to get this community member reconnected, keeping them safe and cool during that extreme heat event.

The community member and I both called the Commission to get her power reconnected, and within a couple of hours, her utility got her power back on. When it comes to disconnections, the staff will move with urgency!

Read more about the new Temporary Summer Protections here.

Safety Concerns Complaints

The other category that gets investigated and dealt with rapidly is complaints dealing with safety concerns. This can include any concerns that the infrastructure is not being properly maintained or is at risk of causing larger issues. This is definitely helpful if you notice any issues that could cause an outage in your area.

Non-regulated customers are welcome to contact the PUC Consumer Services Department when it regards safety concerns. Make sure to also contact your local utility, as well. If staff determines that there are chronic safety concerns or the issue is dangerous to customers, they could recommend that the Commission conduct a formal investigation into the matter.

Reliability of Utility Service Complaints

On the call, the head of the Consumer Services department also mentioned that it’s important to report any reliability issues and concerns you may be experiencing with your utility. This could include issues such as frequent or long-lasting power outages, frequent brownouts, or other interruptions in service. As with problematic safety concerns, reliability issues could result in an investigation, as well.

A final note, when investigating urgent issues, the Commission requires a utility to respond within 24 hours of contact. So if you are dealing with a serious issue, please report it as soon as possible.

Unsure? Submit a Complaint Anyway!

So far, we’ve covered a couple of issues that the Public Utility Commission will get involved with and investigate. As well as some reasons why they may not be able to help out. Unsure if your complaint can be addressed? Submit a complaint anyway!

Even if you are in unregulated territory or have an issue the Commission can’t resolve, reach out. PUC staff have a ton of knowledge and experience; they might be able to get you pointed in the right direction towards the solution you need. We want to make sure our regulators are getting a clear image of the issues facing the people of Oregon, so make sure to use this resource if you have a problem!

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

2025 Conference: Unplugged from Washington D.C. Panel

We have a jam-packed Energy Policy Conference this year! We’ve recruited insightful experts and community leaders to speak on some of the most pressing issues facing the energy sector. Today, we’re excited to announce our 2nd morning breakout panel, Unplugged from Washington D.C.

Register today for the 2025 CUB Energy Policy Conference and save! Early Bird registration closes at 5:00 pm on September 1st.

Register Today

2025 Conference: Changing for a Changing Climate

The 2020s have brought a lot of change to Oregon’s energy landscape. From customer affordability to growing energy demands, the challenges we faced at the start of the decade are much different than today. Oregon is now five years out from meeting its 2030 climate goals for both electric and gas utilities. As we work toward a cleaner energy system, we must reflect on the progress we’ve already made and face the mounting challenges of the next half-decade.

Unplugged from Washington D.C.

After nearly a year of uncertainty from Washington, D.C., it’s time Oregon’s energy stakeholders rethink things at home. Despite a major shift in priorities from the federal government, Oregon is staying strong in our commitment to clean energy, electric transportation, home energy efficiency, and affordable energy. But this commitment is not easy, as severed federal ties limit resources. Massive cuts to vital programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and clean energy programs are forcing states to respond. How can we keep our commitments to communities as we unplug from D.C.?

This discussion will explore Oregon’s new challenges, strategies for filling the gaps, and a look at the path forward. While there is a lot to mourn, this panel reminds us of the strength we can have together in building our own energy future.

Moderator: Jennifer Hill-Hart, CUB’s Policy & Program Director

About the Conference

The CUB Energy Policy Conference is designed as a day of discussion, networking, and sharing diverse perspectives. This conference is ideal for community groups, regulators, advocates, utility representatives, attorneys, or those interested in our region’s energy industry.

15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference

Friday, October 3, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sentinel Hotel
614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Conference Website

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Regulators Miss the Mark on Wildfire Mitigation Plans… Again

On June 26, Oregon’s utility regulators approved wildfire mitigation plans for the state’s for-profit electric utilities. CUB is disappointed to see that once again, regulators have not held utilities responsible for meeting the bare minimum in these plans.

Wildfire mitigation plans are meant to show how electric utilities plan to handle wildfire danger in their service areas. These plans must identify high-risk areas for wildfires. They need to show utilities’ policies and investment plans for reducing the risk of wildfires. And utilities are required to collaborate with local communities in the planning process.

Want even more information? See the dockets for Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power’s wildfire mitigation plans.

Wildfire Mitigation Planning Still Missing the Mark

In 2021, the Oregon State Legislature passed a law that requires utilities to create comprehensive plans for lowering the risk of wildfires in Oregon. This law applies to the state’s three for-profit electric utilities: Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power.  Regulators at the Public Utility Commission are tasked with ensuring that utilities create holistic, cost-effective plans each year.

Since then, independent evaluators have consistently found that these utilities are not meeting the requirements set out by the Commission and state law.

Intended Wildfire Mitigation Plan Requirements

Utilities’ wildfire mitigation plans include identifying wildfire risks where they deliver electricity. Utilities also must identify risks around where they are moving electricity across distances (e.g., power lines). Through their analyses, utilities must include a description of what they are doing to reduce wildfire risk.

Required analysis includes:

• Vegetation management (tree trimming, removal, etc.)
• System hardening (insulating wires, sensors for downed lines, etc.)
• Investment decisions (new line locations, power plant locations, etc.)
• Operational decisions (when to shut off power based on weather, etc.)

In theory, there are many other requirements. Utilities must also show that their plans include best practices for lowering the risk of starting wildfires. They must analyze the cost-effectiveness, risk reduction effectiveness, and overall plan strategy. They must show how they will collaborate with community leaders and first responders. And they must give updates on lessons learned from previous years.

In practice, the wildfire mitigation plans have continued to miss the mark.

Regulators Are Not Addressing Advocate and Expert Concerns

Advocates, community members, and legislators have been raising flags since the start of wildfire mitigation plans that utilities have not been meeting the baseline of requirements. Regulators hired an outside expert, though their evaluation was largely not implemented in approving the utilities’ plans.

“We’re disappointed that regulators again approved the utilities’ wildfire mitigation plans, in spite of the concerns raised by advocates and the Independent Evaluator hired by the Commission.” - Jennifer Hill-Hart, CUB Program & Policy Director

Not Enough Community Engagement: For years, advocates have raised concerns about needing meaningful community engagement for its wildfire power shutoff protocol, and that keeps getting kicked down the road.

“Community voices aren’t even in the room. These plans and investments come with significant costs to customers, and that demands a higher standard of rigor, transparency, and equity. If we’re not seriously evaluating the public health impacts of fast trip shutoffs, we’re not truly protecting the communities these plans are meant to serve.” - Alessandra de la Torre, NW Energy Coalition

Failing at the Bare Minimum: The Commission, CUB, and other advocates also heard from legislators and community members that utilities are trimming trees and leaving the vegetation on the ground where it dries out, leaving homeowners concerned that this exacerbates wildfire risk.

“This work is critical, but it must be conducted in collaboration with those who are impacted.  I do not believe the PUC currently has the ability to track performance; we need a third-party auditor or some other mechanism to make sure work is performed and completed to the appropriate standard.” - Oregon State Representative. Pam Marsh, in an email to the Public Utility Commission

Rushing Through the Process: The timeline for review of these plans is proving to be too short for thorough review and public comment opportunities. In many cases during this year’s planning, CUB and other advocates only received 2-3 business days to review materials and provide comments. The standard for legal reviews is a minimum of 5 business days.

The Commission is moving toward multiyear wildfire mitigation plan review, which could help address these problems if done correctly. We hope this process will provide more accessibility to the process by allowing more time for review and analysis, and an opportunity for public comment. This may, however, end up requiring a more formal process to fix.

Unchecked Wildfire Mitigation Plans Are Expensive for Customers

While wildfire mitigation costs are necessary, they are a major cost driver in electric utility rates.  We continue to see a lack of cost-effectiveness of risk reduction investments and strategies, which is incredibly concerning. CUB will continue to scrutinize very, very closely in cost recovery proceedings.

In Pacific Power’s last request to increase customer bills in 2024, the majority of costs were wildfire-related. Of the $322 million request, $165 million was related to wildfire liability costs, insurance, and mitigation. While much of these costs never made it onto customer bills, regulators still approved about $25 million for wildfire restoration over the next three years.

CUB Joins Advocates in Calling for Change

This year, CUB again joined the NW Energy Coalition and Community Energy Project in responding to wildfire mitigation plans. Together, we called for changes in the process, analysis, and outcomes for this planning process.

Longer Timelines for Review
The timeline for reviewing the Independent Evaluator draft reports (12 business days) and Commission Staff’s summary reports (3 business days) was notably short. Wherever possible, we requested that more meaningful timelines be provided to allow for thorough engagement in these dockets and comment periods. We believe 30 days is a more reasonable timeframe, at a minimum, particularly as we move into multiyear planning.

Standardizing Utility Planning and Reporting
Each utility follows a unique format when submitting its mitigation plans, creating limitations. We support ongoing efforts to streamline the format and requirements of utility plans to enhance consistency, clarity, and efficiency in the planning, evaluation, and reporting processes as soon as possible.

Addressing Community Impacts
While there is a requirement for utilities to work with communities, this has not happened in a meaningful way. We strongly advocate for regulators to direct utilities to work collaboratively with communities to address how their wildfire mitigation strategies affect community services, like hospitals, communications, emergency shelters, and water systems. Regulators should also examine how wildfire planning ties into other utility activities, like meeting clean energy targets and community preparedness, to reduce costs to customers.

Holistic Risk Assessment
The analysis of “risk reduction” should be broadened to include both the risk of utility-started fires and cumulative community risk. Expanded risk includes wildfire smoke, displacement, outages, and economic disruption. Utilities should address whether the overall strategies reduce harm to people, not just the utility infrastructure and its chance of igniting a fire.

Community Partnerships
We would really like to see how the utilities are working with state and local governments and other organizations to share resources where available. This could include wildfire watch cameras, emergency outreach methods and strategies, and more. Collaboration is a means to reduce costs to customers—particularly given that wildfire mitigation strategies are and will continue to be a significant cost driver of rising utility rates.

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

How to Prepare for Oregon’s Wildfire Season (2025)

As summer months continue to grow longer and hotter each year, the risk of large-scale wildfires in Oregon continues to increase. Many people in Oregon live in high wildfire-risk areas. It’s essential to prepare ahead of time for wildfires to ensure you and your family can stay safe.

In this blog, we lay out how to stay informed of utility shut-offs, how to prepare ahead of time, and what you can do to prepare your home in case of a wildfire.

Stay Informed of Utility Shut-Offs

Oregon electric utilities will be using public safety shutoffs as a last resort. Shutting off power during fire season is itself a public hazard. Shutoffs can interrupt cell phone service, delay emergency response, and endanger the health of residents. Many people need home cooling and electricity access to manage medical conditions. Shutoffs are particularly hazardous when they coincide with extreme heat waves.

Not all areas are subject to these preventative outages. Only customers in certain high-risk zones will see public safety shutoffs.

During periods of high wildfire risk, utilities may shut off power to mitigate the risk of a fire. In order to stay informed on utility shut-offs in your area, each utility company has a different way of receiving alerts.

Portland General Electric:
Sign up for text alerts through your account. Download the PGE app for up-to-date alerts.

Pacific Power:
Sign up for text alerts through your account. Download the Pacific Power app for up-to-date alerts.

Idaho Power:
Sign up for text alerts through your account. Download the Idaho Power app to receive real-time alerts.

For more in-depth information on wildfire emergencies and alerts, download the FEMA mobile app to receive details on large-scale wildfires. During an emergency declaration, FEMA updates its app to ensure people have access to up-to-date evacuation information.

Prepare Ahead of Time

It’s critical to have a clearly laid out emergency plan that everyone in your household is familiar with. There are many ways to develop an emergency plan with your household, and each household is different. The Department of Homeland Security has created a helpful, interactive outline for disaster planning.

Here’s what you can do to prepare for a wildfire:

• Emergency Kits: Prepare kits with essential items like food, water, medications, and important documents. Have enough supplies for at least two weeks.
• Communication Plan: Make a plan to stay in touch with your family and know different evacuation routes.
• Alerts and Notifications: Sign up for local emergency alerts to stay updated on wildfire news. The FEMA mobile app and local county notifications can give real-time alerts.

Make sure that once you have your plan in place, everyone in your household understands the plan and reviews it every few months.

It’s Time to Evacuate, What’s in Your Go-Bag?

It’s essential to have a go-bag ready in your house in case of an emergency. Each person’s go-bag contents may vary, but there are some essentials that every go-bag should have:

• An N95 Respirator for every household member
• 1 gallon of water for every person, per day, for several days
• A five-day supply of nonperishable food for every person in your household
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight
• First Aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Whistle
• Hand sanitizer, moist towelettes, and toilet paper
• Can opener
• Solar cellphone charger or a fully charged battery-powered cellphone charger
• A five-day supply of any important medications

These items should be placed in an easily accessible space in your home. If you are able to, it is recommended you grab any important personal documents, like your passport, along with your go-bag.

Prepare Your Home

One of the best ways to protect your home is by creating a defensible space around it. This means:

• Clearing Vegetation: Remove dead plants, dry leaves, and other flammable materials from your yard.
• Plant Selection: Choose plants that are less likely to catch fire. Oregon State University has resources to help you pick the right ones.
• Maintaining Property: Regularly mow the lawn, trim trees, and clean out gutters.

Home Hardening

Making changes to your home can help it resist catching fire from embers and heat. Here are some tips:

• Roof and Gutters: Use fire-resistant materials for your roof and keep gutters clean.
• Vents and Openings: Cover vents with mesh to keep embers out.
• Windows and Doors: Install double-paned windows and make sure doors are fire-resistant.

By taking these steps, you can help keep your home and family safe during wildfire season. Preparedness is key. Always remember, the safety of you and your family comes first.

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

2025 Conference: Hungry Hungry Hyperscalers Panel

The 15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference is jam-packed this year! We’ve recruited insightful experts and community leaders to speak on some of the most pressing issues facing the energy sector. Today, we’re excited to announce our morning breakout panel, Hungry Hungry Hyperscalers.

Register today for the 2025 CUB Energy Policy Conference and save! Early Bird registration closes at 5:00 pm on September 1st.

Register Today

2025 Conference: Changing for a Changing Climate

The 2020s have brought a lot of change to Oregon’s energy landscape. From customer affordability to growing energy demands, the challenges we faced at the start of the decade are much different than today. Oregon is now five years out from meeting its 2030 climate goals for both electric and gas utilities. As we work toward a cleaner energy system, we must reflect on the progress we’ve already made and face the mounting challenges of the next half-decade.

Morning Breakout: Hungry Hungry Hyperscalers

While most of Oregon’s energy demand has stayed constant over the past decade, one sector has seen exponential growth: data centers. One data center can use the same amount of electricity as the City of Ashland and come online within two years. The need and speed of data centers are presenting significant impacts on both utility growth and customer affordability. As we face historic demand for energy and clean energy requirements, the challenge of satisfying the needs of competing demands looms large.

This panel weaves together expertise on data centers, resource planning, and consumer advocates to answer top questions about the newest, largest energy users in town. We will dig into what resources Oregon utilities need to serve the hyperscaled load of data centers while maintaining emission reduction targets.

Moderator: Claire Valentine-Fossum, CUB General Counsel

About the Conference

The CUB Energy Policy Conference is designed as a day of discussion, networking, and sharing diverse perspectives. This conference is ideal for community groups, regulators, advocates, utility representatives, attorneys, or those interested in our region’s energy industry.

15th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference

Friday, October 3, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sentinel Hotel
614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Conference Website

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Protect Yourself at the Door

Protect Yourself at the Door One-Pager: Download and use CUB’s handout to keep your household and community safe from utility scams or if ICE agents portray themselves as utility workers at your door.

What to Do If Someone Shows Up at Your Door Claiming to Be a Utility Worker

Keeping our communities safe and informed is part of what we do here at CUB. Because it is uncommon for a utility worker to show up at your door, you need the tools to know if this is real or a scam, or other deception. These tactics are often employed against our elders, non-English speakers, and working-class communities. We have also seen examples of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pretending to be utility workers in other states, though this is not yet a trend in Oregon.

While there are reasons utility workers will come to your door, it’s important to be prepared in the face of deception. Read on to learn more about how to protect yourself and your community!

What to Expect From a Real Utility Worker at Your Door

While there are reasons why a utility worker might be doing service in your area, it is uncommon to have someone come to your door. At your door, a utility worker should provide badging upon request when interacting with a customer. Look for a utility-branded vehicle outside, as well.

Situations where a field tech would be at your door include:

• At your request, the customer
• The utility has given you prior notice through your preferred form of contact, including a disconnection notice
• There is a gas leak called in by a neighbor

Oftentimes, a utility worker will show up at a site, or check a meter, and leave door hangers informing a resident that they have done service or accessed a meter on the property. In the case of a gas leak, a field technician could show up without much notice, but the utility will always try to communicate with the residents of the property first. 

In case of a disconnection notice, your utility may come to your door with a 5-day notice. In these cases, keep the following information in mind:

• A utility worker will not solicit payment through payment platforms like Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or through gift cards.
• By Oregon law, a utility worker dealing with an on-site disconnection for non-payment could accept partial payment provided by the resident, at the resident’s request.

If you see any deviation from this, call your utility.

What to Do If Someone Claims to Be With Your Utility

Because utilities are so important to our lives and homes, bad actors pretending to be utility employees can create confusion and stress. That is, unfortunately, what makes these types of scams and deceptions so successful.

Earlier this year, a Tucson Electric Power customer in Arizona had two men show up at their home looking for someone at the residence and claiming to be with the utility. The men turned out to be ICE agents, deceiving the homeowner into finding a Tucson community member. In Detroit, Michigan, we’ve seen a string of scams and crimes committed by people claiming to be utility workers. Here in Portland, CUB’s Executive Director had someone from a rooftop solar company claiming they were from his electric utility. While crimes and ICE deception with false utility workers are not currently a major threat in Oregon, it’s important to be prepared.

Remember Normal Utility Policies

Oftentimes, an individual up to no good will approach, asking to speak with a targeted person at the home. They may apply pressure by claiming that refusal to open the door and talk will result in a disconnection. It’s important to stay calm and remember a couple of key things:

• A disconnection notice will always be communicated long before an actual disconnection occurs, minimum 15 days before, and again 5 days before.
• Most electric disconnections and reconnections happen remotely.

It’s important to remember that you are never obligated to answer the door or open the door. If you are worried about ICE in your community or scammers at the door, your first line of defense is refusing to interact.

• Check for Utility Logos on Clothing: Utility employees will have the company’s logo displayed clearly on their clothing. This includes high visibility (yellow, green, or orange) vests, shirts, and jackets. If you do not see your utility’s logo, this is likely not someone from your utility. Look for a utility-branded vehicle outside, as well.
• Check Communications: Check and see if you have any communications from your utility. Have they reached out about a field tech coming to your door? Have they reached out to warn you that you are at risk of a disconnection? If you don’t have any communication from your utility, that is a sign that this might be a fake interaction at the door.

You Do Not Have to Open the Door

If you suspect that the individuals at your door are not who they say they are, or you feel that the situation is not right, do not open the door. Remember, you are not required to speak with anyone at your door, and they can’t make you open up.

Criminals and scams rely on social graces and people’s desire to cooperate to get what they want. If you don’t feel safe, it is ok and necessary to take a step away to disengage. Think about your safety and that of your community first.

Steps to Take If You Have Interacted

Sometimes, you don’t realize an interaction feels off until you have already opened the door. Once you’ve got the name of the utility the person is claiming to represent, ask for identification, close the door, and call your utility’s hotline:

• Portland General Electric (PGE): 1-800-743-5000
• Pacific Power: 1-888-221-7070
• Idaho Power: 1-800488-6151
• NW Natural 1-800-422-4012
• Avista: 1-800-227-9187
• Cascade: 1-888-522-1130

When you speak to customer service, ask if they are expecting any utility workers in the area or at your address. Make sure to inform your utility of the suspicious activity as well.

If you can get a good look at the individual at your door, take a photo of them and any vehicle they may be traveling in, if they are not clearly a utility employee.

Rise in ICE Activities and Ways to Protect Your Community

We find ourselves in a scary moment where the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking to massively expand its enforcement. This means we’re seeing not only undocumented community members being picked off the streets, but also Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs/Green Card Holders), asylum seekers, Authorized Aliens, and even U.S. citizens being targeted.

It’s not just our immigrant neighbors being impacted. Having immigration enforcement operate in dishonest ways exposes everyone in our communities, including you, to come in contact with and be hurt by the ICE presence.

Think as a community, think as an ally.

On June 3rd, ICE portrayed themselves as utility workers for Tucson Electric Power Utility in Arizona in an attempt to deceive to gain access to the home. The only reason this was stopped was because a neighbor saw the suspicious figures and began warning the family of the scheme at hand.

ICE is in our communities and attempting to take our neighbors. If you see something suspicious, tell your community. Document the instance and keep an eye out for the folks being targeted.

Call and report possible ICE activity to local immigrant rights groups and keep your community informed and watchful:

Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC): 1-888-622-1510
The PIRC Hotline is for any suspected ICE activity. Remember to be CLEAR with the information you provide: Count, Location, Equipment, Activity, and Report Time.

Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ): 1-844-926-7829
Use the Oregon Department of Justice hotline only if you suspect that Oregon’s sanctuary state laws are being violated.

Graphics from Barrio Drive, providing useful Know Your Rights information.

Know Your Rights

ICE and scammers alike use dishonest tactics to get what they want. To protect yourself, remember and know your rights:

• Do Not Open The Door: Your 4th Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution protect you from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government unless they have a warrant to enter signed by a judge or magistrate with your name on it.
• Do Not Answer Any Questions: If any Immigration agent tries to talk to you, you have the right to remain silent based on your 5th Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution.
• Do Not Sign Anything: Tell the agent that you choose to exercise your constitutional rights. Don’t sign anything without speaking to a lawyer first

You have the right to speak to a lawyer!

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.

Donate to CUB

To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!