#OregoniansGive on #GivingTuesday Alert: Top 10 Reasons to Support CUB

If you read our blog regularly you already know that since our inception in 1984 we have saved Oregon Ratepayers (that’s you!) more than 6.7 BILLION dollars. You probably also know that as a member you give us clout – we can say to regulators and legislators that we represent YOU and other Oregon ratepayers! But, truthfully, in my opinion the true top nine (okay, ten) reasons that you should support CUB on Giving Tuesday (December 1, 2015) are the people who do the work – our staff (listed alphabetically, NOT by importance!)

1) For 17 years, Jeff Bissonnette, MBA, CUB Policy Director has led the charge to educate legislators and other policy-makers about the issues facing telecom and utility consumers. From unfair practices by telecom and energy utilities to issues like climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency, as well as net neutrality and equitable internet access; Jeff fights in the best interest of Oregonians. There is little doubt that the Energy Trust of Oregon would not be able to offer customers a great set of energy efficiency programs without Jeff’s tireless work.

2) As part of the regulatory team, Utility Analyst Nadine Hanhan, MS spends a great deal of her time researching the costs of generating electricity, integrated resource planning, and solar energy; with a special interest in the ongoing challenge of transitioning from coal. Nadine’s work in convincing a utility to change its investment plan is never easy, but it’s critical to keeping rates low as we address climate change.

3) Communications and Social Media rock star, and Web Master, Amelia Lamb, Communications and Marketing Associate keeps all of us on track telling CUB’s story through print, social media, our websites, and other online platforms. As part of the Development and Communications (Dev/Com) Team, she also works with Oregonians through our CUB Connects program to help them understand phone and broadband issues. Without her, Oregonians like you would have a hard time following our work.

4) Regulatory Team expert Senior Economist Jaime McGovern, Ph.D loves nurturing “the nerdy side” of her brain. By digging into the numbers associated with rate increases and Integrated Resource Plans, she makes sure that energy utilities are getting it right when it comes to the economic assumptions they make about costs and investments; keeping them accountable. Her three-year effort analyzing utilities pension ratemaking will save customers $20 million per year for the foreseeable future.

5) Office Goddess (oops) Manager Leslie Murray does everything from managing our finances and supporting the board, to paying the bills, maintaining our IT infrastructure, and well…often even doing the dishes in the staff room. So let it be known that the organization could not run without her logistical prowess.

6) Being a donor database guru and an events specialist is what keeps Development Associate Samuel Pastrick busy. As part of the Dev/Com CUB Connects Team, he also offers seminars on telecom related issues at Free Geek and other community gathering places. If that isn’t enough, he is also becoming CUB’s resident expert on telecom issues and policy. Sam’s strong attention to detail has given us new and strong analytical data on which to base our fundraising and makes our annual Policy Conference run seamlessly.

7) When CUB needs to file a case with the PUC or other state/federal court against an energy or telecom utility, Staff Attorney Sommer Templet Moser makes the important legal arguments we need to protect Oregon ratepayers (again, that is you) from bad decisions by utility companies. Sommer rounds out the regulatory team giving a legal perspective to our economic analysis. PUC decisions can be appealed to Oregon courts and Sommer’s capabilities give us the confidence that when we need to sue, we will.

8) Working on behalf of Portland Water and Sewer Customers, Janice Thompson, Water and Wastewater Consumer Advocate actively watches the new Portland Utility Board and the City Commission. As your advocate, she has already served on the Blue Ribbon Commission and found and fixed an annual 2 million dollar drain (pun intended) on ratepayer dollars when she ended the developer subsidy. In addition, Janice’s advocacy has allowed ratepayers to sign up for monthly billing, which makes it easier to manage sewer/water bills.

9) A practiced multitasker, Development and Communications Director Pamela White leads CUB’s fund development and messaging efforts from blogs to policy conferences. Using traditional and social media communication strategies and best-practice fundraising, she and her team communicate CUB’s mission to successfully raise both money and members! As we try to wrestle with the challenges that consumers face, Pamela is the key to having the resources necessary to take on powerful special interests.

10) And at the insistence of my staff (and not in alphabetical order) I guess I should count my 25+ years as Executive Director as a real asset to the work CUB does. As an experienced and highly regarded energy economist and advocate, I work diligently to find least cost/least risk solutions for utility customers. In addition to the billions of dollars we have saved, since I have been at CUB, my team and I have:
• Protected ratepayers against being charged millions in profits on the closed Trojan Nuclear Plant
• Helped establish the Energy Trust of Oregon
• Joined with other concerned Oregonians to establish the state renewable energy standards that paved the way for alternative energy sources like wind and solar
• Created economic analysis showing that closing coal plants is cheaper than retrofitting them to meet emissions standards (and closed Oregon’s only coal plant, Boardman, as a result)

Of course, describing the work people do does not show that they are also a group of hardworking, friendly, empathetic, wonderful human beings. For that, you will have to take my word.

So, now that you know WHY you should support CUB on #OregoniansGive on #GivingTuesday*, go ahead and make a contribution today! 

*There is a day for giving thanks, two days for getting deals, and now…a day specifically set aside for giving! #OregoniansGive on #GivingTuesday is a movement to get Oregonians excited about giving. As part of the celebration, we are asking you to join us as an Oregonian who gives on #GivingTuesday.

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