In this blog series, we go utility by utility to explain the language included in your monthly gas and electric bill. Find the blog that covers your utility below!

Utility Guides:

• Portland General Electric
• Pacific Power
• Idaho Power
• NW Natural Gas
• Cascade Natural Gas
• Avista Gas

Please note that CUB primarily works with for-profit utilities, so this list is limited to those utilities. If you have a question about a utility not on this list, you can still contact us at !

Thankfully, starting October 2026, Oregon’s largest electric utilities rolled out permanent past-due bill relief programs to help their lowest-income customers pay down debt. PGE, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power’s relief programs will help customers who have fallen behind on their bills, combating energy insecurity in Oregon.

What Is an Arrearage Program?

So what is an arrearage, anyways? An arrearage is unpaid or overdue debt. An arrearage program helps customers pay off debt. For example, when a customer is unable to pay their energy bill, their account is considered past due.

Before 2026, Oregon’s electric utilities only had limited, temporary arrearage programs. But with energy bills at an all-time high, there was a clear need for permanent programs to help households. In 2025, state regulators directed electric utilities to create permanent debt relief programs to help struggling low-income customers.

You might be familiar with other programs that help customers. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program that helps eligible families and individuals pay their energy bills. To access the program, customers apply through a Community Action Agency, rather than applying directly through their utility.

Unlike LIHEAP, electric customers in need of debt relief must work with their electric utility directly to opt into these programs. These electric programs also won’t face a funding limit, avoiding the issue of money running out quickly, like in federal programs. That means more households will be able to access assistance and pay down past-due bills–a big win for customers!

PGE’s Debt Relief Program

Starting October 1, 2026, qualified PGE customers can receive up to $500 of debt relief per program year. The program year begins in October and ends in September of the following year.

Customers can also apply for debt relief more than once, up to the $500 yearly limit. For example, if a household owes $200 in unpaid energy bills, they can apply for $200 of relief now and still have up to $300 available for the rest of the program year should they need it.

Who Qualifies

Customers with an income between 0% and 15% of the State Median Income (SMI) qualify for the relief program. If you already receive the following bill discount from PGE, you qualify for the program:

Tier 1 - 80% Monthly Discount (incomes 0-5% SMI)

• For example, a 4-person household would qualify if they made up to $6,462 in gross income annually.

Tier 2 - 50% Monthly discount (incomes 6-15% SMI)

• For example, a 4-person household would qualify if they made up to $19,387 in gross income annually.

Benefits

Up to $500 in past-due bill relief per program year, from October to September.

How to Sign Up

Households can apply for debt relief by contacting PGE’s customer service line at 800-542-8818 or 503-228-6322 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Those with past-due balances will not automatically be enrolled in the program; customers must reach out to PGE to apply for the benefits.

For qualifying customers already enrolled in the monthly bill discount program, PGE should have sent an informational letter about this new additional program. These households will also receive a reminder letter in May and September each year.

Customers will also receive confirmation of whether they are approved or denied shortly after applying. Communications will be in English and Spanish.

Pacific Power’s Updated Bill Discount & New Debt Relief Programs

Pacific Power is updating its debt relief program and restructuring its bill discount program. Starting October 31, 2026, qualified Pacific Power customers can receive up to $500 (Tier 1) or $250 (Tier 2) in debt relief and a 24-month repayment plan per program year. Future program years will begin October 1 and end on September 30.

Updated Bill Discount Tiers:

NEW Tier 1 - 80% Monthly Discount: Income limit increases from 0%-5% to 0%-10% of State Median Income. This means some customers who were previously receiving a 40% discount are now receiving an 80% monthly bill discount–another win CUB and energy justice advocates secured for customers!

• For example, a 4-person household would qualify if they made up to $12,925 in gross income annually.

NEW Tier 2 - 40% Monthly Discount: Income limit changes from 6%-20% to 11%-20% of State Median Income

• For example, a 4-person household would qualify if they made up to $25,850 in gross income annually.

Tier 3 - 20% Monthly Discount: Income limit stays the same at 21%-60% of State Median Income

• For example, a 4-person household would qualify if they made up to $77,550 in gross income annually.

Who Qualifies for Debt Relief

Customers with an income between 0% and 20% of the State Median Income (SMI) qualify for the new relief program. Customers with incomes 0-60% of State Median Income qualify for 24-month repayment plans. This is how these new offerings impact each monthly bill discount tier:

Tier 1 - 80% Monthly Discount (Incomes 0%-10% of SMI): Eligible for up to $500 relief each program year and 24-month repayment plans; Can split $500 into 2 payments or use it all at once

• For example, a 4-person household would qualify if they made up to $12,925 in gross income annually.

Tier 2 - 40% Monthly Discount (Incomes 11%-20% of SMI): Eligible for up to $250 relief each program year and 24-month repayment plans; Can split $250 into 2 payments or use it all at once

• For example, a 4-person household would qualify if they made up to $25,850 in gross income annually.

Tier 3 - 20% Monthly Discount (Incomes 21%-60% of SMI): Not eligible for debt relief but qualifies for 24-month repayment plans

• For example, a 4-person household would qualify if they made up to $77,550 in gross income annually.

In addition, the 24-month repayment plan is available for all medical certificate holders. CUB and energy justice advocates pushed hard to secure this win for customers!

Benefits

Either up to $500 (Tier 1) or $250 (Tier 2) of debt relief and a 24-month repayment plan per program year.

How to Sign Up

Households can apply for debt relief by contacting Pacific Power’s customer service at 1-888-221-7070 for English or 1-888-225-2611 for Spanish. Those with past-due balances will not automatically be enrolled in the program; customers must reach out to Pacific Power to apply for the benefits.

The electric utility will include information about the program in disconnection notices and with bill discount information. They will also send out reminders about the program in May and September each year. Communications will be in English and Spanish.

Idaho Power’s Debt Relief Program

Starting October 27, 2026, qualified Idaho Power customers can receive up to $500 of debt relief per program year. The program year begins on October 1 and ends September 30.

Customers can apply for debt relief up to two times per year. For example, if a household owes $250 in unpaid energy bills, they can apply for $250 of relief now and still have $250 for the rest of the program year should they need it.

Who Qualifies

Customers with an income between 0% and 20% of the State Median Income (SMI) qualify for the relief program. If you already receive the following monthly bill discount, you qualify for the program:

Tier 1 - 70% Monthly Discount (Incomes 0-20% SMI)

• For example, a 4-person household would qualify if they made up to $25,850 in gross income annually.

Benefits

Up to $500 in past-due bill relief per program year, to be used up to two times from October 1 to September 30.

How to Sign Up

Households can apply for debt relief by contacting Idaho Power’s customer service line at 208-388-2323 or 1-800-488-6151 (toll-free) from Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (MT), except holidays. Those with past-due balances will not automatically be enrolled in the program; customers must reach out to the utility to apply for the benefits.

If a customer is already enrolled in their bill discount program, Idaho Power will send them information about the debt relief program at least twice a year. These households will also receive a notification about the program with disconnection notices.

Supporting Struggling Households

It’s hard to keep up with everyday expenses. No one wants to fall behind, but with the cost of living on the rise, it can happen to anyone. What matters is not to feel ashamed and to ask for help.

These debt relief programs will help Oregonians struggling with energy insecurity, keeping more people connected to electricity. CUB and energy justice advocates have long pushed to expand customer assistance programs. We’re proud of these wins and applaud state regulators for their leadership!

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 Expect as a Gas Customer

Each gas utility will have a different increase based on its unique situation. New rates start October 31, 2026.

Average monthly increase:

• NW Natural: $5.09 (6%)
• Avista: $5.83 (8.5%)
• Cascade: $7.38 (10.7%)

These monthly increases reflect an average across the whole year for a home with average usage. Households with higher than average usage will see larger increases across the year. And all customers can expect higher dollar amounts than the average in the winter heating months.

Why Are Gas Rates Increasing?

NW Natural and Avista increases are both exclusively fuel cost-related. Cascade has a much larger increase because the utility is also adding new costs from investments to its system for the first time since 2020.

NW Natural and Avista: Fuel Costs

Every year, gas utilities do a lookback at fuel costs from the previous year and adjust rates accordingly. Because gas utilities purchase methane gas in bulk ahead of the winter heating season, the purchases are based on the utility’s best estimate of what customers will need.

While this process may sound counterintuitive, it helps ensure that everyone has gas when it is needed most! This method also helps prevent utilities from having to purchase extra fuel in the middle of the winter, when prices are highest because of high demand. In some years, this process can actually result in lowering bills.

Last winter, temperatures were much warmer than expected, meaning that gas utilities in Oregon spent more on fuel than they made up in sales to customers. Because of this, a mechanism was triggered that allows them to recover some of those expected profits from customers. This mechanism protects utilities in mild winters to ensure that they can continue to provide high-quality service to their customers.

CUB continues to actively evaluate these mechanisms and recommend adjustments as necessary to protect home gas bills.

Cascade: Fuel Costs & System Investments

In January, Cascade Natural Gas asked regulators to approve a 17.4% increase in home billing rates. This was the first time Cascade has asked for a big increase since 2020.

The biggest reason Cascade’s increase is so high is that the utility has been quietly accumulating costs since it last raised rates in 2020. While rates have gone up some in recent years because of the rising cost of methane (natural gas’s main component), the costs of big projects and investments have been piling up. We saw a similar issue with Idaho Power in 2025, with the utility waiting ten years before requesting a 27% increase.

Overall, Cascade’s gas bills are going up because of:

• Operations costs up from inflation
• Big infrastructure projects (pipes and other equipment)
• A small increase in shareholder profits

Big Wins for Customers: In addition to significantly reducing the total increase, CUB helped secure big wins for customers. This includes rejecting large profit margin increases, removing expensive renewable natural gas costs, and phasing out a customer-funded subsidy to add new buildings to the gas system. Customers will also now have access to a pilot program to fund heat pumps in homes, without having to stay on the gas system.

Read More: Agreement Reached for Cascade 2026 Rate Increase

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!

Bill Payment Management Options

• Equal Pay Programs. Equal pay programs allow you to pay the same amount for your energy bills each month, avoiding the sharp increases that can come seasonally. Find out more from your utility provider at the links below:
  • Portland General Electric (PGE), Pacific Power, Idaho Power, NW Natural, Avista, Cascade Natural Gas.
• Ask your utility about Bill Payment Arrangements. Many Oregonians are struggling to keep up with their current bills. If you need more time to pay, are having trouble making your payments, or have outstanding bills, ask your utility provider for more information about their bill payment arrangement options. Remember that utilities need you as a customer and they are willing to work to keep your business.

Low Income Bill Discounts
Oregon households can find some relief through monthly bill discounts from their energy utilities. Bill-discount programs are available to customers of Portland General Electric (PGE), Pacific Power, Idaho Power, NW Natural, Avista Utilities, and Cascade Natural Gas.

The discount programs are available for customers at or below 60% of the state median income (SMI). When signing up, eligible customers will provide their monthly or annual income and household size. Eligibility requirements, by income and household size, can be found on the Oregon Housing and Community Services’ website.

Depending on the utility program, customers will be able to sign up via an online application, calling the utility, or visiting their local Community Action Agency. Eligible customers with dual-fuel homes qualify for assistance with both their electricity and natural gas providers.

Low-Income Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Programs

• OHCS Low-Income Home Weatherization Assistance
  • These programs provide weatherization assistance to households at or below 60 percent of the state median income. If you qualify for other services such as SNAP benefits, you will also qualify for this program.

• Find local assistance programs with 211 Info
  

  • Search “Weatherization” in the Community Resource Database (211info.org)
  • Call 211 or 1-866-698-6155 (For TTY dial 711 and call 1-866-698-6155)
  • Text your zip code to 898211 (TXT211); (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
  • Email

• Take a DIY Weatherization Workshop with Community Energy Project
  

  • Community Energy Project offers weatherization workshops in the Portland area, supporting low-income participants with training and free materials, and an additional workshop instructing people on how to insulate their unused attic space.

No- or low-cost energy savings

• Keep your curtains open during the day. Use passive heat from the sun (when it’s out) on your south-, west-, and east-facing windows to heat up your home. Make sure to close your curtains during the evening to keep the heat trapped inside.
• Find and block drafts. Keeping cold air outside will make you feel warmer inside. Find drafts on exterior walls by wetting your hands and feeling for cold airflow. Check doors, windows, and plumbing penetrations, along the top and bottom of your walls, and your fireplace. Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows. For large cracks, use caulking or plastic bags to fill the gaps.
• Cover drafty windows. Windows leak heat due to drafts and heat transfer through the glass. Installing plastic window kits can help prevent both types of heat loss. Using heavy curtains (or blankets) to cover windows can also help slow down the heat lost through windows. This is especially important at night when temperatures drop outside, and there is no sun for passive heating.
• Keep your wood-burning fireplace sealed and avoid using it for heat if possible. Fireplaces can significantly add to the amount of heat being lost in your home, even if you have a fire burning. To avoid heat being lost through the chimney while not burning a fire, seal up the fireplace with a fireplace plug or foam board (either insulation boards or foam poster board will do). Also, be on the alert for possible restrictions on wood burning due to air quality concerns if wood is not your only source of heat.
• Turn down your water heater to 120℉. This saves energy and prevents scalding. Do not go lower than 120℉, as this can allow bacteria to grow in your water heater.
• Adjust your thermostat. While home and awake, set your thermostat as low as is comfortable (68℉ recommended). While away from home or asleep, turn your thermostat down by 10-15℉. For baseboard or similar electric wall heaters, only turn on heaters in the rooms you are actively using and keep the door closed to trap the heat.
• Keep your heating system clean. Clean heating systems are more efficient and use less energy. For furnaces and heat pumps, replace your furnace filters once a month or as needed during the heating season. For baseboard or similar electric wall heaters, vacuum or wipe off dust intermittently during the heating season. For wood and pellet burning heaters, clean the flue vent regularly and use a wire brush to keep the inside clean.

Low-Income Energy Bill Assistance Programs
These programs provide bill payment assistance to households at or below 60 percent of the state median income. If you qualify for other services such as SNAP benefits, you will also qualify for this program.

• Electric Energy Bill Assistance
  • PGE - PGE Income-Qualified Bill Discount Program
  • Pacific Power - Pacific Power’s Low-Income Discount program
  • Idaho Power - Idaho Power’s Bill Discount program

• Natural Gas Bill Assistance
  

  • NW Natural -Oregon Low-Income Gas Assistance
  • Avista - Low-Income Rate Assistance Program
  • Cascade - Oregon Low Income Bill Assistance

These lists are by no means exhaustive, and there may be additional resources in your area. Rising energy costs have impacted many Oregonians, so be prepared for longer waitlists and more demand for services. Make sure that you read through the instructions for how to apply for these services early and understand what documentation you will need.

Remember, starting with weatherization and air sealing can be a good way to prevent having to pursue more competitive programs, like bill assistance programs. Stay warm and stay safe.

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!

They broke their promise to protect the most vulnerable Oregonians.

NW Natural shut off some families during the promised disconnection pause for owing as little as $50.

When we learned about this fiasco, CUB called for NW Natural to make things right with customers. We were able to work out an agreement with the gas utility and other advocates to compensate the customers who were harmed during this year’s heating season. Starting this November, all of the wrongfully disconnected customers will receive benefits from NW Natural— including up to $1,550 in additional bill discounts. While nothing can fully make up for what families had to endure, this is a step in the right direction.

The agreement with NW Natural will also add additional protections for all customers, not just those impacted by the wrongful disconnections. Overall, a big win from a bad situation!

Wrongfully Disconnected Customers See New Relief

Starting November 1, 2026, going through March 31, 2027, customers who were wrongfully shut off last winter will receive new temporary benefits from NW Natural.

New 2026-2027 Winter Bill Discounts
Impacted customers will see temporary additional bill discounts, with amounts broken into four tiers, depending on the length of the wrongful disconnection. These discounts will be split into five monthly chunks and spread across bills this fall and winter for each family.

• Tier 1 (0-1 days disconnected) = $66 total ($13.18 for 5 months)
• Tier 2 (2-7 days) = $135 ($29.97 for 5 months)
• Tier 3 (8-30 days) = $465 ($92.92 for 5 months)
• Tier 4 (31-79 days) = $1,558 ($311.67 for 5 months)

Past Due Bills Paid Off
NW Natural will pay for any past-due bills (arrearages) over 30 days old as of March 31, 2026. This includes any additional amounts impacted customers paid back from the date of wrongful disconnection through March 31, 2026. This will show up as a credit on a customer bill.

Returning Relief Grant Funding
Some of the customers who were wrongfully shut off may have used NW Natural’s arrearage relief grants after losing service. Qualifying household customers are able to access $1,000 over 24 months. If any impacted customers used these funds, NW Natural will make these grants available to be used in the future.

Additional Benefits:

• NW Natural will not charge any customers for any costs related to the payments or benefits credited to impacted customers.
• If any of the impacted customers leave the gas system (moving, stopping service, etc.), NW Natural will put the money owed into relief funds available to other qualifying customers.
• All impacted customers will be refunded reconnection fees and costs paid to reconnect from the wrongful disconnection.

Lasting New Protections for All Customers

While nothing will truly ever make up for shutting off heat during the winter for families, part of this agreement will help protect future customers from losing life-saving utilities. Now, NW Natural has new policies for what can trigger a disconnection.

For customers on payment plans, NW Natural had long begun the shutoff process when a household was just $50 behind on bills. Now, these customers can receive a shutoff notice only when they are $150 or more past due. This is in line with other utility practices.

Customers Will Be Notified if They Are Entitled to Benefits

All of these benefits will be automatically applied for any customer who was wrongfully disconnected last winter. NW Natural will send a letter and include a bill message for impacted customers. Each credit will show up on the bill itself as a line item (ex:  “Credit 1 of 5”) for each qualifying month’s bill. There is no action needed to receive these credits.

After March 2027, for those who are still enrolled in the bill discount program, discounts will go back to normal based on income tier.

Background: The 2025 Winter Shutoff Fiasco

From mid-November through December 2025, PGE, Pacific Power, Idaho Power, Avista, Cascade, and NW Natural agreed to pause disconnections for households with low incomes who receive monthly bill discounts or anyone who had a medical certificate.

These important, but limited, protections came on the heels of the longest government shutdown in US history. The shutdown delayed the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds. These public programs help keep low-income Oregonians fed and connected to power. Additionally, during this time, many changes to federal social safety nets and other negative federal actions worsened energy security.

Read More: Legislators Secure Utility Disconnection Moratoriums for Some Customers (CUB Blog)

But during this entire period, NW Natural continued to disconnect protected customers. Between November and December 2025, the gas utility shut off 198 customers who qualified for protection against disconnections.

How Did NW Natural Allow Wrongful Shutoffs to Happen?

On February 12th, CUB was assessing 2025 disconnection data from NW Natural and noticed a big problem. There were bill discount program customers disconnected in November and December, even though there were supposed to be protections in place. We immediately jumped into action to figure out what happened and reached out to the utility. A week later, NW Natural’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Resource Planning contacted CUB’s Executive Director, Bob Jenks, to inform him of the Company’s error.

In formal responses to CUB’s requests for information, NW Natural stated to regulators that it “discovered that we did not implement the voluntary temporary winter disconnect moratorium for bill discount programs as intended.” It further noted that “processes were in place to do so.” The mistake was made due to an “internal miscommunication.”

CUB called for action to make things right with customers. While the situation was dire, we are hopeful that this situation will not repeat itself in the future. We appreciate NW Natural working to further support these impacted families this coming winter.

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!

Anatomy of a PGE Bill

Viewing Your Bill

Many PGE customers receive physical bills in the mail. If you are one of these, viewing your bill is as easy as opening an envelope.

If you receive your bill electronically, you can access your bill by logging into your PGE account online at www.portlandgeneral.com. Once logged in, select “View Bill” and click “Download bill (PDF)” to see the full billing breakdown. Even if you receive your bill in the mail, you will also be able to view it online.

Your Energy Bill: Front Side

The front page includes basic information about your account and monthly energy usage. This includes your account information (name, account number, and address), as well as your bill amount and due date for this month.

You can also see how your usage for this month compares to previous months with the graph below your account information. Below the graph, you can also see comparisons for how this month’s energy use compares to other months. For many customers, this information is all you need to know how much your bill is for the month.

Additional Resources: PGE’s Understanding the Bill - The Basic Layout Video

Back Side: Understanding Energy Charges

On the back side of your bill, you can see your meter number. A meter is what tracks the amount of electricity you use at home. Most customers now have smart meters, which allow PGE to view their usage remotely. Some customers do not have smart meters and PGE sends someone to look at the usage amount in person. Either way, the number on your bill should match the number on your meter.

7. Service period are the dates your energy use was recorded.

8. The rate schedule is associated with your service type (for example, residential services are listed as schedule 7).

9. My energy use and delivery charges cover the costs of generating, purchasing and distributing energy to you.

10. Regulatory and utility operations adjustments show charges or credits related to regulations, power cost adjustments for the prior year, infrastructure maintenance and operational expenses.

11. State Required pass-throughs and adjustments are charges that support state-mandated programs. While some of these funds are collected by PGE and passed directly to the appropriate organization, others are used by PGE to fund state required programs.

12. My selected program charges and discounts are charges or credits for the optional programs you chose to participate in. You can opt out at any time.

13. City, county and state taxes and investments are funds collected for local government and the state of Oregon, which PGE passes to the appropriate cities, counties or organizations.

The schedule, or rate schedule, is specific to different types of customers. The schedule for residential customers is Schedule 7. Rate schedules lay out the prices utilities charge per unit of electricity for a given customer.

Note: For charges related to energy use, the amount of electricity you used will be measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). A typical PGE household uses about 800 kWh of electricity per month, though amounts vary between households.

There are three major categories of charges you’ll see on your bill:

• Energy Charges: Charges related to your household’s energy use, including the cost of the plants that generate the energy you’re using, the cost of getting the energy to you, and the administrative cost of providing your service. These charges only change every few years.
• Regulatory Charges and Credits: Charges or credits that are not included in the energy charges, including PGE’s fuel costs, and costs associated with recent events such as a natural disaster. These charges generally change each year.
• Taxes and Fees: Taxes and fees are charges tied to the customer’s municipality, like the City of Portland Tax, or statewide fees for consumers, such as Low-Income Energy Assistance. These funds do not go to PGE but rather are used to fund public programs, like those provided through the Energy Trust of Oregon.

These individual line items change depending on where you live, the type of billing you use, and if you have opted into additional programs. You can tell where you are receiving a credit if the line item says “CR” to the right of the dollar amount. All items without that label are charges on your bill.

Energy charges are the largest part of your bill. These charges are based on the energy you are using. The five categories are the same for all residential customers, though the amount will vary depending on how much electricity you used that month.

• Basic Charge: Same amount each month, covers administrative costs like customer service and billing, and fixed costs like the cost of the meter.
• Energy Use Charge: The cost of PGE’s generating electricity, including gas plants and renewable investments. For residential customers, there are two tiers of monthly energy use charges: a lower charge ($) for the first 1,000kWh (what most residential customers pay) and a slightly higher charge ($) for anything over 1,000kWh.
• Transmission Charge: the cost of bringing energy from power plants to your area via substations. For example, building and maintaining equipment that transmits electricity over long distances.
• Distribution Charge: the cost of bringing energy from substations to your neighborhood. For example, building and maintaining neighborhood power lines, transformers, and other equipment.
• (If opted in) Renewable Energy (Green Future Block or Habitat Support): programs to support renewable energy in “blocks” for a fixed price. Each block costs $1.88 per month and matches 200 kWh with renewable energy certificates. Charges will only show up if you opt into the programs.

Regulatory Charges and Credits are generally small in total dollar amounts but are likely the largest in quantity of line items on your bill. These charges change annually based on PGE’s costs from the previous year and are approved by the Public Utility Commission. This could include the cost of building a new renewable power plant, investments in energy efficiency, costs associated with natural disasters, or other expenses outside of a household’s energy charges.

Additional Resources: PGE’s Energy Charges Video

City, State, and County Taxes and Fees

• City/County Tax: Local governments charge an additional tax or fee, like the “City of Portland” in the example above. These additional charges vary depending on where you live.
• Low Income Assistance: A set $1.24 per month for residential customers, as required by the state. These funds go to bill payment assistance programs that help households with low incomes who are struggling to pay their energy bills.
• Public Purpose Charge: This charge is equal to 1.5% of your bill. These dollars are dedicated to energy efficiency programs, market transformation programs, residential low-income energy efficiency programs, and residential low-income bill payment assistance programs. PGE does not keep these funds; they are distributed to organizations with energy-efficiency programs, such as Energy trust of Oregon.

Additional charges and credits may come from opting into certain programs, such as Peak Time Rebates, Community Solar, or if you own or rent solar panels that use net metering. These will show up under Taxes and Fees where applicable.

Additional Resources: PGE’s Taxes and Investments Video

Bill Support: Contacting PGE

Still have questions about your bill? Call PGE’s customer service line at 800-542-8818 or 503-228-6322 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, to ask for an explanation of your adjustments. They can assist you in 200+ languages. When talking to customer service, either ask for a full explanation of the adjustments or reference a specific line item on your 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!

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!

PCEF has done many wonderful things, ranging from building Portland’s only in-city community solar field to providing grants for micro mobility for Portlanders. These funds also helped to meet the moment and protect Portlanders after events like the 2021 heat dome by providing heat pumps and ACs for those who need them.  PCEF funding has gone to materially help Portland from the increasingly encroaching effects of climate change on the Pacific Northwest.

Today I want to share a story with you about a 100-year-old Portland home, aging gas pipes, and a cold holiday season. This is the story of how PCEF is helping Julia get her heating back and protecting her against future extreme winters and summers all at once.

Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) in Action: A Story About a Portland Home

Jeremy (he/him), an In-Home Auditor with Community Energy Project, stands outside with Julia (she/her), inspecting a cold spot on the exterior of Julia’s home.

Julia is a resident of SE Portland, living in a hundred-year-old home. She was fortunate enough to purchase her home a few years ago after some big life changes, a big win for many Americans.

Her home had natural gas for heating in the winter, and like many Portland homes, she had no AC. A decade ago, this wasn’t an issue because of our region’s historically beautiful temperate weather.

In late 2025, Julia’s home had a gas leak in the walls. She did the right thing and called NW Natural. They determined that the leak was not easily fixed without being costly to Julia — costs she couldn’t take on by herself — so NW red-tagged her meter, leaving her without any gas service at all.

Julia spent the holidays and all winter without gas. And this wasn’t just losing her furnace to heat her home. Julia not only couldn’t keep her home warm, but she also couldn’t cook on her stove because all her appliances were built for a gas system. And if having a cold home and not being able to cook a meal at home weren’t bad enough, she went the entire winter taking cold showers in order to save money.

The winter was an uncomfortable experience, but she made it work. However, comfort is one thing; the finances hit harder. She shared with me that her electric bill was a sore spot due to trying to heat her home with portable heaters. These heaters are made to warm small spaces, not someone’s whole home that they spend much of their time in. The longer she used these inefficient portable electric heaters, the higher her power bills rose.

High heating bills are not unique to Julia. Many Portlanders feel the effects of inefficient heating, particularly those with cadet or baseboard heaters common in apartments. Too many people have outdated, inefficient heaters, contributing to astonishingly high electric and gas bills.

With the help of the Portland Clean Energy Fund and the organizations it supports, homes like Julia’s have the opportunity to benefit. For Julia, the benefit is not in going back to old gas appliances, but in moving toward an even more resilient home than she had before.

Community Energy Project: Over 45 Years of Helping Portlanders

Julia reached out to me in January of 2026. She shared with me what she’s going through, knowing I worked with or around utilities. She asked if there was anything I could do to help or point her in the right direction. Right away, I reached out to my colleagues at the Community Energy Project (CEP) about what steps she can take to find help.

Thankfully, this is CEP’s lane! For over 45 years, CEP has been helping Oregonians weatherize and update their homes to be energy efficient. Importantly, CEP does much of its work thanks to PCEF grants.

Energy Assessment for the Whole Home

Within a few months, we had folks on the ground doing an energy assessment on Julia’s home.

Community Energy Project sends out its In-Home Auditor, who does a whole-home inspection to get an understanding of what issues are creating an energy burden in the home. This also helps them determine if the energy upgrades the home could use are a good fit for what their program can fund.

These issues can include:

• Holes and openings allowing air to leak between the inside and outside of the home
• Outdated or broken appliances
• Poorly functioning or missing mechanical ventilation in high humidity areas like bathrooms and kitchens
• Outdated or missing insulation
• Poor sealing and insulation in basements, attics, and other areas of the home
• Replacing outdated and non-functioning gas appliances with high-efficiency electric appliances.

This entire time I’ve tagged along for the visits like a fly on the wall, trying to learn about what the process is like. Very simple, honestly.

Finding the Right Fixes

Community Energy Project’s PCEF Program Manager, Geoff (he/him), heads into the attic of Julia’s home to get a better look at what areas of concern need to be addressed to ensure the home is properly sealed, insulated, and healthy.

After the first home assessment, Community Energy Project does a second one, looking to get an exact scope of work that can be covered for the homeowner. Here they’ll also do a blower door test to understand how sealed the home is and where there are gaps to seal that a simple visual inspection might not reveal.

Julia’s second home inspection was done this past August, and the plan for energy upgrades was created. CEP shared that Julia could expect to hear back from a contractor in the next month. She now has a real possibility of getting a high-efficiency electric heat pump that would provide heating and cooling, using the same ductwork that used to serve her gas furnace. Ductwork that’s currently sitting unused. All by November of 2026. All funded by the Portland Clean Energy Fund.

All of this likely would have been difficult or extremely expensive for Julia if we didn’t have organizations like CEP or programs like PCEF.

“This work is still expensive, but the burden shifts from an individual homeowner to a collective community-based fund.” - Abasi Umoh, In-Homes Auditor, Community Energy Project

Each project, including Julia’s, goes through an approval process to guarantee the project will significantly reduce the home’s carbon emissions. If Julia’s project is approved, PCEF will cover 100% of the cost burden of all the upgrades, including a new high-efficiency heat pump.

The Humans Behind the Funding

Abasi (they/them), a Community Energy Project In-Homes Auditor, walks Julia through some of the details of the inspection and areas where they can help in reusing the existing ducting for a possible ducted heat pump to provide both heating and cooling.

Through this entire process, I’ve seen the toll that living without a functional home has taken on Julia. The stress of having to take an uncomfortable cold shower every day. Having to sit with hot, still air in the summer. The inability to cook like normal because her stove hasn’t worked all year.  The stress of seeing higher-than-average bills in an attempt to warm and cool her home. And the stress of having to move budgeting priorities around to ensure the bills get paid. It all adds up over time and can be draining.

It can be so easy to grow accustomed to the new added stressors until a bad situation just becomes our new normal. Julia got through this past winter and this recent summer. I’m sure she could have grown accustomed to this new norm, but she shouldn’t have to.

The Portland Clean Energy Fund exists exactly for the purpose of helping our community with big issues like this. This is why it is so important for PCEF to be preserved and continued.

There are real-life Portlanders who are being helped out by PCEF and the community initiatives that utilize the fund. There are important projects that have been awarded. PCEF isn’t just a pool of money. The program is going to help people like Julia. And likely neighbors and community members that you may not even know have been touched by the fund!

Beyond Portland: Eugene Seeks a Clean Energy Fund

In Eugene, community organizations are trying a similar approach to reaching local climate goals: passing the Eugene Clean Energy Fund (ECEF).

Activist and grassroots organizations have come together to launch a ballot initiative campaign. If passed, the ballot measure would establish a fee on large corporations to fund local climate actions.

CUB has officially endorsed the initiative and encourages other organizations to support these local efforts.

Editor’s Note: The name of the main subject of this story, Julia, has been changed to protect her privacy.

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!

Today, we’re excited to spotlight the voices of our members. From affordability to climate justice to data centers, people join CUB for all kinds of reasons and from all walks of life. Hear directly from them on why they keep supporting CUB throughout the years.

Member Spotlight

Energy Affordability and the Cost of Living

Over the last 5 years, household energy bills have skyrocketed. Many Oregonians are struggling with the rising cost of living, and disconnection rates have hit all-time highs. Our staff often hears from folks deeply affected by Oregon’s energy affordability crisis.

For many members, advocating for more affordable energy is what motivates them to support CUB. We don’t take that support for granted. Thank you to our members for tirelessly pushing for more affordable energy rates!

“As a public school educator for 38 years, I am very aware of the connection between the lack of reliable access to basic human services such as water and electricity and the negative impact on our most vulnerable children/youths’ housing stability and educational outcomes. As a retiree in Portland, OR, I am very aware that continually rising electricity and water costs are a very real part of our housing crisis. It is vitally important that we work to stem the tide of ever-increasing rate hikes from PGE. We need concerned citizens to work together with our government and utility companies to ensure reasonable rates and practices that support the well-being of our community.”

- Carol M.

“I moved into a new place May 15th, and since then we’ve dealt with power loss three times, for around 6 hours or longer each time. Today is August 9th, so it has not even been three months of living here. Hearing rates would be raised again, and at such a high rate of increase is preposterous. We can’t rely on service, yet are going to be forced to pay on average $30 more a month (avg $360 more a year) on what’s already a roughly $150 monthly bill? Power, heat, and more are vital services. They’re necessary to keep people safe, healthy, and ultimately alive. When looking at the possibility of a recession and growing economic instability in the near future, how do you expect your customers to make ends meet to pay your increasing rates (with no guarantee of better service)?”

- Lex S.

Clean Energy: Reducing Utility Emissions

For some Oregonians, addressing climate change by reducing emissions is what draws them to CUB. Our work to transition the utilities to clean energy impacts all customers. In this respect, our members are doing the work to help everyone in Oregon transition to cleaner energy.

“I’ve worked in or around the clean energy sector for decades. As clean energy is almost always the best way of keeping emissions and utility rates down, Oregon policymakers consider CUB as one of the most credible and respected voices in this subject matter arena. Keep up the great work!”

- Jay W.

“CUB works for the benefit of all Oregonians—holding down unnecessary utility costs, advocating for clean energy, supporting needed help for those in financial difficulties with utility bills, plus other helpful deeds. Not everyone can afford to support the work CUB does. It is necessary for those of us who can donate to do so. OREGON NEEDS CUB to be our spokesperson with the PUC Board!”

- Bj S.

“I’ve been a CUB member for many years. I’ve now been retired for ten years, living on Social Security, but it’s still important to me to contribute to CUB. I look at it as an investment which has kept my utility bills lower than they would be otherwise, but also as an investment in the future for all Oregonians to have cleaner and more affordable energy.”

- Beverly W.

Energy Issues: Data Centers

For some members, specific energy issues, like data centers or corporate greed, were the catalyst to get involved. They understand that when data centers pass on their costs to customers, it drives up energy bills, hurting all Oregonians. Thank you to our members for advocating for more data center protections!

“I donated because I think it’s important that people place a check on private utility companies, especially with the emergence of AI data centers and the fact that these utility companies have decided to shift the cost burden to working-class ratepayers, and not to the billionaires who own these AI companies.”

- Brian A.

“For decades, I have supported CUB because unless giant corporations are challenged, they will justify and implement rate increases to the benefit of not only the corporation but also the stockholders, while the ratepayers bear the burden. I have no problem with normal expenses to maintain and improve the system as it stands. This is when CUB intervenes to balance out and justify the rate increases. Bravo CUB!!”

- John G.

A Lasting Impact: Supporting CUB Since the Beginning

Some of our members have been with CUB since we were founded in 1984. They’ve stuck with us and watched our organization grow from a tiny, scrappy group of volunteers to the well-respected nonprofit we are today.

“It must have been 1984 (I thought it was earlier) that a CUB supporter knocked, and we talked about the value of supporting CUB. Over the following years, I’ve come to better appreciate the impact and importance of having a Citizens Utility Board. After intermittent contributions, I became a sustaining member. All because an individual made that effort to share his conviction in a way that convinced me to listen and better understand the value of having a citizen’s lobby.”

- Hugh S.

“We have been a member/donor to CUB from its inception. As a non-profit organization, serving as our citizen lawyer, researching, watchdogging, and testifying on our behalf, we appreciate you. You’ve saved us untold dollars in energy charges over the years. Every user of energy in Oregon would benefit themselves and their neighbors by being a member of CUB. Thank you!”

- Fran G.

Thank You to Our Members

Our members truly empower us to advocate for all of Oregon’s utility customers. Together, we will keep pushing for more affordable and equitable utilities. Thank you to our members for making this work possible!

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!

Types of Energy Assistance Programs

There are three main types of energy assistance programs in Oregon. The programs help households afford their energy bills, stay connected to power, or provide emergency payments in the case of disconnection.

Monthly Energy Bill Discount Programs:
Contact your energy service provider(s) to enroll in an electric or gas bill discount program if you meet the eligibility criteria. This is available for electric customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power. It is also available for gas customers of NW Natural, Avista, and Cascade.

One-Time Energy Bill Payment:
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded heating assistance program for all home heating costs, including electricity, natural gas, firewood, propane, pellets, and oil. Typically, this assistance can be used by a household twice a year.

Emergency Shutoff Payment:
If you have received a shutoff notice, there may be assistance available for you! Some utility assistance programs prioritize those who have received shutoff notices.

These assistance programs often require proof of shutoff or a shutoff notice, so be sure to have one in hand when applying. To find these programs, you can use the same tools as you would to find regular assistance programs. Search for emergency assistance or shutoff assistance to find these funds.

Monthly Bill Discount Programs

Oregon households can now find some relief through monthly bill discounts from their energy utilities. The discount programs are available for customers at or below 60% of the state median income (SMI). When signing up, eligible customers will provide their monthly or annual income and household size.

Depending on the utility program, customers will be able to sign up via an online application, calling into the utility, or visiting their local Community Action Agency. Eligible customers with dual-fuel homes qualify for assistance with both their electricity and natural gas providers.

Portland General Electric
503-228-6322
www.portlandgeneral.com

Idaho Power
1-800-388-6040 (toll free)
www.idahopower.com

Pacific Power
1-888-221-7070
www.pacificpower.net

NW Natural
1-800-422-4012
www.nwnatural.com

Avista
1-800-227-9187
www.myavista.com

Cascade
1-888-522-1130
www.cngc.com

How to Access Payment Assistance Programs

In Multnomah County, community action partners (CAPs Agencies) administer energy assistance for one-time payments and emergency shutoff payments.

See if you Qualify
To be eligible for energy assistance, a household income must be at or below 60% of Oregon´s median income. Income levels are based on household income and household size. Households may rent or own their property. A household must also have documented energy costs (a past utility bill).

Documents Needed to Apply

• Identification for all adults (18 years and older)
• Social Security cards for all household members
• Current proof of income (including Social Security benefit letter)
• Most recent energy bill (applicant’s name must be on the account)

Other supporting documents may be required as needed — check with the assistance provider!

Impact NW
10550 NE Halsey St, Portland, OR 97220
www.impactnw.org
(971) 308-7356

Our Just Future
10550 NE Halsey St, Portland, OR 97220
www.humansolutions.org
(503) 548-0200

El Programa Hispano Catolico
333 SE 223rd Ave #100, Gresham, OR 97030
www.elprograma.org
(503)669-8350

Self Enhancement, Inc.
3920 N Kerby Ave, Portland, OR 97227
www.selfenhancement.org
24/7 Hotline: (503) 713-5590

Latino Network
410 NE 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97232
16515 SE Oak St, Portland, OR 97233
www.latnet.org
24/7 Hotline: (503) 208-2174

Native American Youth & Family Center
5135 NE Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR 97218
www.nayapdx.org
24/7 Hotline: (503) 946-9898

Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization
709 NE 102nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97220
www.irco.org
(503) 235-4932

Ask Your Utility About Spreading Out Repayment
Utilities will have options to spread out payments over multiple months. If you are unable to pay your bill, call customer service for options

Accessing Assistance Can Be Challenging

It is important to note that getting utility assistance can sometimes take a while. The demand for help is often high, and the availability of funds can vary. Many programs have specific funding cycles, which means they might only have money to distribute at certain times of the year. When funds run out, applicants may have to wait until the next funding cycle to receive assistance. This can be frustrating, but staying in contact with the nonprofit or agency and regularly checking the status of their application windows can help.

Local nonprofits play an important role in helping people access utility assistance. They offer support through resource navigation and case management, helping Oregonians with their bills to the best of their ability. Using resources like the 211info database can help people find the assistance they need quickly and efficiently. Reaching out to these organizations can provide valuable support and make managing utility bills a bit easier.

Local Organizations Can Help You Find Utility Assistance

Local nonprofits often provide two main types of help: resource navigation and case management. While both aim to assist individuals and families, they do so in different ways.

Resource Navigation
Resource navigation is like having a guide. A resource navigator helps people find the right programs and services to meet their needs. They might give information on where to get help paying utility bills, how to apply for assistance programs, and what documents are needed. Resource navigators are great at pointing people in the right direction quickly and efficiently. However, they cannot offer direct assistance.

One useful tool for finding utility assistance is the 211info database. This is a free service that connects people with local resources. By dialing 211 or visiting 211info.org, people can get information on various assistance programs, including those for utility bills. The database is easy to use and provides up-to-date information on available services.

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!