Portland General Electric (PGE) Customers to See Another Bill Increase in January
Posted on December 20, 2024 by Charlotte Shuff
Tags, Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2024
Portland General Electric (PGE) Customers to See Another Bill Increase in January
Utility watchdog Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board warns of another year of record disconnections as regulators approve PGE to raise household utility bills 5.5% in January.
After nearly a year of outcry from Portland General Electric (PGE) customers, regulators have approved a billing rate increase of 5.5% percent, bringing an average bill to over $160 each month. Winter bills will be higher as low temperatures drive up energy use. This increase will hit January 1, which is the highest usage month for PGE customers each year.
Last January, PGE raising rates by 18 percent, combined with an ice storm, led to extremely high winter bills. Just three months later, PGE disconnected over 4,700 behind on bills, the highest in recorded history. The increase next January will raise bills by nearly 50 percent since 2019.
“Electricity is an essential service and there is no reason why we should be pricing it like it is a luxury,” said Bob Jenks, Executive Director of Oregon CUB. “Raising bills last January is how we saw record numbers of disconnections in 2024. With another January increase this year, we’re left praying for mild weather yet again.”
Utility watchdog, Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board (CUB), asked for a 10 percent cap on utility rate increases to slow Oregon’s rising energy affordability crisis. Regulators rejected this proposal, indicating that it would be too difficult to implement. Instead, new temporary rules will pause shut-offs for the most vulnerable customers this winter with permanent rules coming next spring.
The Oregon Public Utility Commission did work to decrease this rate increase as much as possible using traditional tools. One tool the Commission used was to decrease profit margins because of financial pressure on customers, saving Oregonians more than $10 million annually.
PGE customers have called for a change in how the state’s largest electric utility decides customers’ bills this year. Citizen petitions gathered hundreds of signatures. Customers submitted over 3,000 public comments to regulators opposing a rate increase. Lawmakers across the state also weighed in, including Portland Mayor Wheeler and Senator Wyden.
CUB is now calling on regulators and lawmakers to address the impact of large industrial customers, like data centers, on rising household energy bills. In November, PGE responded to a letter from Sen. Wyden showing that household bills are increasing to meet growing energy needs, despite industrial demand far outpacing that of residential.
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 broadband access.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Charlotte Shuff
Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board
503.719.8744 | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
