COVID-19 and Racism Pandemics: No More Business as Usual
Posted on June 12, 2020 by Bob Jenks
Tags, Energy, Telecommunications, Water/Wastewater, General Interest
On June 9, 2020, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) held a public meeting on the “Impact of Residential Utility Customers during COVID-19 Pandemic and Future Recovery”, where CUB was invited to testify. I discussed the COVID-19 pandemic in the broader... Read More »
COVID-19: How Oregon CUB Is Responding
Posted on March 27, 2020 by Bob Jenks
Tags, Energy, Telecommunications, Water/Wastewater, General Interest
The COVID-19 virus has changed our lives. While we hope everyone is managing this crisis appropriately and staying healthy, we recognize that thousands of our neighbors will struggle with this pandemic’s economic and public health impacts.
The CUB staff is working from... Read More »
CUB Applauds PGE, Pac Power, PWB Disconnect Suspensions Due to COVID-19
Posted on March 12, 2020 by Mike Goetz
Tags, Energy, Water/Wastewater
Editor’s Update: in response to the COVID-19 crisis, additional utilities serving Oregon customers have joined in enhancing service and/or suspending shutoffs:
- NW Natural has announced that it will not disconnect customers who are unable to make bill payments due to the outbreak. (The... Read More »
CUB Remembers Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish
Posted on February 26, 2020 by Janice Thompson
Tags, Water/Wastewater, General Interest
A recent memorial service highlighted Portland Commissioner Nick Fish’s extensive record of public service. Fish died in early January of stomach cancer and served 11 years on the Portland City Council.
“It was not words that defined Nick Fish, you could sense his... Read More »
Portland Public Utility Budget Challenges
Posted on May 22, 2018 by Janice Thompson
Tags, Water/Wastewater
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) requirement to treat Portland’s water to remove Cryptosporidium boosted the Water Bureau’s fiscal year 2018-19 budget over earlier expectations. Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can cause gastrointestinal distress. Though it is not a pervasive issue in... Read More »
Portland Water Bureau: National Leader on Help for Low-Income Renters
Posted on February 15, 2018 by Janice Thompson
Tags, Water/Wastewater
The Portland Water Bureau (PWB), in consultation with CUB, has figured out an innovative approach to help low-income renters cover the cost of their City of Portland water and sewer bills. The major problem facing water and sewer utilities across... Read More »