Just shy of $2 million is staying in sewer ratepayer pockets in Portland because the City Council accepted a CUB recommendation to make sure developers pay their fair share.

Thanks to those who sent along CUB’s message to Commissioner Nick Fish -... Read More »

CUB’s research and advocacy has reduced Portland’s residential monthly sewer rate increase. The proposed rate increase from the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) in February was 3.85%. Due to some revenue improvements, that percentage came down to 3.8%, but CUB’s efforts have... Read More »

Workers at the Portland Water Bureau read over 176,000 residential meters every three months. Daily residential routes range from 250 to 725 meters depending on housing density and terrain. The average residential route has 500 water meters and workers typically... Read More »

Aeration tank at Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant, photo from BES website

City of Portland budget development is rolling along this spring. CUB gave testimony at a mid-March meeting focused just on budgets for the two utility bureaus. Next, CUB gave... Read More »

CUB provided extensive written testimony along with summary comments to the Portland City Council at a public utility rate hearing on March 12, 2015.

Highlights of CUB’s written testimony included:

• A recommendation to allow the Bureau of Environmental Services to charge developers the... Read More »

It is City of Portland budget time! I have been diligently reviewing proposed budgets from the Water Bureau and Bureau of Environmental Services in preparation for an upcoming rate hearing before the City Council. Now, I need to hear from... Read More »