Portland General Electric Customers Will See Rates Increase in January
Posted on November 1, 2023 by Charlotte Shuff
Tags, Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 1, 2023
Portland General Electric Customers Will See Rates Increase in January
Consumer advocate Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board criticizes PGE for lack of transparency as customers face the largest increase in 20 years.
On Monday, regulators at the Oregon Public Utility Commission approved a rate increase of an estimated 17 percent for residential customers of Portland General Electric (PGE). This could be the largest rate increase in more than 20 years. An average household could experience an additional $22 per month on PGE bills starting in January. This estimate may increase pending additional rate adjustments this year that regulators have not yet ruled on, leaving customers uncertain about what to expect on their electricity bills this winter.
Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board (CUB), the state’s utility watchdog organization, is criticizing PGE’s lack of transparency on what to expect in January. Although the utility has publicized an increase, PGE is keeping its estimates of the actual final number confidential. The utility has several outstanding requests to regulators that CUB fears could push the rate increase higher than the currently estimated 17 percent. In November and December of 2022, PGE filed updates that added about $75 million to rates. If similar updates occur this year, then the January rate increase could be about 20 percent.
“Not telling customers the best estimate of how much their bills will increase is absurd,” said CUB Executive Director Bob Jenks. “Families need to know what to expect to pay for heating. Government agencies need to be able to plan for bill assistance demands. With a rate increase this high, people will struggle this winter.”
This week’s approved rate increase includes new investments in utility infrastructure and adjustments for increased power costs. Consumer advocates, including CUB, were able to push down costs by $34 million for investments at the Biglow wind farm and Faraday hydro facility, among other projects. The increased power costs are largely from a volatile electricity market last winter. The total rate increase currently stands at $378 million total.
Still to come this year are Commission approvals for additional rate adjustments PGE has requested. The utility has asked for adjustments for programs including energy efficiency, demand response, transportation electrification, community solar, energy storage, and the Colstrip coal plant. PGE is also requesting adjustments for wildfire mitigation costs. The Commission will decide on these issues in November and December. New rates will go into place on January 1, 2024.
About the Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board (Oregon CUB):
Oregon CUB is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit established by initiative process to represent the interests of Oregon’s residential utility customers. CUB advocates for customers by working to develop energy systems that are affordable, accessible, reliable, and clean, and ensure telecommunications policies that support universal access to broadband.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Charlotte Shuff
Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board
503.719.8744 | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
