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, General Interest, Water/Wastewater
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 »
Council Vote for Filtration Treatment Includes Cost Containment Oversight
Posted on August 3, 2017 by Janice Thompson
Tags, Water/Wastewater
On Wednesday August 2, the Portland City Council met a public health requirement by selecting filtration to treat for Cryptosporidium. CUB supported this decision due to the significant system resiliency benefits of filtration over UV treatment. CUB takes our cue... Read More »
CUB on OHA Revoking Cryptosporidium Treatment Variance
Posted on May 24, 2017 by Janice Thompson
Tags, Water/Wastewater
CUB anticipated the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) revoking the Portland Water Bureau’s Cryptosporidium treatment variance because our monitoring of sampling results indicated that the allowed annual Crypto level was exceeded.
Indeed, we testified at the May 18 utility rate hearing on the... Read More »